Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Online Instructor

🎯 Role Definition

An Online Instructor delivers high-quality, learner-centered instruction in virtual environments by designing engaging asynchronous and synchronous coursework, facilitating active online learning, assessing student mastery, and continuously improving course materials using learning analytics and instructional best practices. This role combines subject matter expertise with digital pedagogy, LMS administration, accessibility compliance, and effective virtual communication to maximize student success and retention in online programs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Adjunct Instructor or Part‑time Faculty with online teaching experience.
Corporate Trainer, Learning & Development Specialist, or Instructor-Led Trainer transitioning to higher education or online programs.
Instructional Designer or Subject Matter Expert (SME) who has supported online curriculum or course content.

Advancement To:

Senior Online Instructor / Lead Online Faculty who mentors peers and leads curriculum initiatives.
Online Program Coordinator or Course Manager overseeing multiple courses and faculty.
Instructional Design Manager or Director of Online Programs responsible for strategy and growth.
Academic Director or Dean of Online Education with oversight of program quality and enrollment.

Lateral Moves:

Instructional Designer or E‑Learning Developer responsible for course build and multimedia.
Student Success Manager or Academic Advisor focused on retention and student outcomes.
Learning Analytics Specialist or Educational Technologist supporting data-driven improvements.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and develop fully online and blended course curricula including detailed syllabi, weekly modules, learning objectives, lesson plans, graded assignments, rubrics, and assessment plans that align with program outcomes and institutional standards.
Create engaging multimedia learning content—lecture videos, slide decks, interactive activities, simulations, readings, and downloadable resources—optimized for accessibility (WCAG) and mobile learners.
Facilitate synchronous virtual classroom sessions using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or similar platforms, applying best practices for learner engagement, breakout activities, and live formative assessment.
Lead asynchronous discussion forums and threaded conversations to drive critical thinking, community building, and deep engagement, while moderating discourse and ensuring academic standards.
Provide timely, constructive feedback on student assignments, projects, and assessments that clearly explains performance relative to rubrics and learning goals to support continuous improvement.
Grade assignments, exams, and projects consistently and fairly according to established rubrics, maintain accurate gradebooks within the LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L), and communicate grade rationale when requested.
Design formative and summative assessments—including quizzes, proctored exams, performance tasks, and authentic assessments—using principles of validity, reliability, and academic integrity.
Apply instructional design methodologies (backward design, Bloom’s taxonomy, ADDIE) to create measurable learning outcomes, align activities to outcomes, and iterate course design based on assessment data.
Use learning analytics and LMS reporting tools to monitor student engagement, identify at‑risk learners, analyze performance trends, and implement targeted interventions to improve retention and completion.
Provide individualized mentoring and academic support through virtual office hours, one‑on‑one coaching sessions, email, and timely responses to student inquiries, fostering a supportive learning environment.
Ensure courses meet accessibility and inclusion standards by captioning videos, providing alternative formats, and implementing inclusive language and culturally responsive teaching strategies.
Maintain current subject matter expertise by staying abreast of industry trends, new research, and certification changes, and integrate contemporary examples and resources into course content.
Collaborate with instructional designers, multimedia developers, librarians, and subject matter experts to build, revise, and publish course shells that meet institutional quality review standards.
Develop and maintain course documentation—session plans, module maps, learning object inventories, and version control—to support continuity and scalability across program cohorts.
Participate in program-level accreditation and quality assurance activities, supply evidence for program reviews, and implement recommendations from instructional quality audits.
Implement and enforce academic integrity policies, utilizing plagiarism detection (e.g., Turnitin) and secure proctoring platforms while educating students on ethical scholarship and citation practices.
Troubleshoot basic technical issues for students and escalate complex LMS, video, or assessment problems to instructional technology teams, ensuring minimal disruption to learning.
Contribute to marketing and recruitment activities by creating course descriptions, sample lesson content, and promotional videos, and by participating in information sessions and webinars.
Supervise and mentor teaching assistants or adjunct instructors, provide onboarding and training on course policies and grading standards, and perform peer reviews to ensure consistency across sections.
Continuously iterate course materials by collecting student feedback, analyzing post‑term evaluations, and applying data-driven improvements to content, pacing, and assessment strategies.
Coordinate scheduling, deliverables, and timelines for course launches, term resets, and content updates in partnership with program coordinators and LMS administrators.
Build and moderate community-building initiatives—virtual study groups, cohort projects, and alumni engagement activities—to support social learning and long-term program loyalty.
Ensure compliance with privacy, FERPA, copyright, and licensing regulations when creating and distributing course materials and when storing student records.
Create clear communication plans and templates for announcements, weekly check-ins, progress reminders, and escalation paths to keep learners informed and on track.
Pilot and evaluate emerging educational technologies (adaptive learning systems, micro‑learning platforms, xAPI/SCORM modules) and recommend scalable solutions for program adoption.

Secondary Functions

Support program-level data collection and reporting to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as course completion, retention, and net promoter score (NPS).
Assist with faculty development workshops, webinars, and peer mentoring programs to disseminate effective online pedagogy and LMS best practices.
Contribute to cross-functional project teams (marketing, enrollment, student services) to align course experiences with student lifecycle and revenue goals.
Participate in regular curriculum review meetings and collaborate on the development of stackable credentials, certificates, and micro‑credentials.
Maintain an up-to-date professional portfolio of course examples, student work samples, and evidence of teaching effectiveness for internal review and external accreditation.
Provide input on pricing, scheduling, and resource allocation for online course offerings based on workload estimates and student demand trends.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Blackboard Learn, Moodle, or D2L including course build, gradebook management, and analytics.
Experience facilitating synchronous virtual classrooms with platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or BigBlueButton and leveraging breakout rooms, polling, and screen sharing for active learning.
Instructional design fluency: backward design, ADDIE model, Bloom’s taxonomy, and writing measurable learning objectives and rubrics.
Multimedia production skills: recording and editing lecture videos, screencasts, and audio narration; familiarity with tools such as Camtasia, Adobe Premiere Pro, or CamStudio.
E‑learning authoring: development of interactive modules using Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, H5P, or similar SCORM/xAPI‑compliant tools.
Assessment design and academic integrity tools: quiz/test creation, proctoring platforms (ProctorU, Examity), and plagiarism detection (Turnitin).
Accessibility and universal design for learning (UDL): applying WCAG guidelines, captioning video, and creating alternative text and accessible PDFs.
Data literacy and learning analytics: using LMS reports, Google Analytics for learning content, and spreadsheet tools to analyze learner behavior and outcomes.
Basic web and content skills: HTML/CSS familiarity, content formatting, and SEO best practices for course descriptions and marketing copy.
Familiarity with student information systems (SIS) and CRM tools (e.g., PeopleSoft, Banner, Salesforce) for enrollment and student record coordination.
Experience with collaborative tools: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Trello, or Asana for remote team coordination and project tracking.
Knowledge of pedagogy for adult learners and competency‑based education, including strategies for scaffolding, mastery learning, and authentic assessment.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills tailored for clear, empathetic virtual interactions with diverse learners and stakeholders.
Strong facilitation and classroom management skills in online environments, capable of fostering participation and maintaining academic rigor.
Student‑centered mindset and high emotional intelligence to identify learner needs, provide supportive feedback, and de-escalate conflicts.
Time management and organizational skills to balance content development, live instruction, grading, and administrative duties with consistent deadlines.
Critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude for diagnosing learning gaps and adapting teaching strategies quickly.
Collaboration and interpersonal skills to work effectively with instructional designers, program leads, and academic support teams.
Cultural competence and inclusive teaching practices to support diverse global learners and create equitable learning experiences.
Attention to detail for maintaining accurate records, aligning assessments to outcomes, and following accessibility and compliance standards.
Adaptability and continuous learning orientation to adopt new tools, pedagogies, and course improvements iteratively.
Feedback literacy: ability to solicit, interpret, and act on learner and peer feedback to improve instruction and learner outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (education, communications, subject area discipline, instructional design) and demonstrable online teaching experience.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree or higher in Education, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Curriculum & Instruction, or the relevant discipline for the course content.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Education and Instructional Design
Educational Technology and Learning Sciences
Subject-area degrees (e.g., Computer Science, Business, Nursing, English) when teaching discipline-specific courses
Adult Learning (Andragogy), Curriculum Development, Psychology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5+ years of online teaching, blended instruction, or corporate virtual training experience; alternatively, 3–7 years combining subject matter expertise and curriculum development.

Preferred:

3+ years teaching fully online at the postsecondary level or delivering remote professional training, experience with multiple LMS platforms, and demonstrable experience using learning analytics to improve course outcomes.