The Impact of Critical Demographic Variables on the Instructors’ Teaching Competencies in an Online Mode of Education

Abstract

The demographic variables of the instructors influence their teaching competencies. The main aim of this research was to identify the influence  of demographic variables on the teaching competencies of instructors in online teaching. The ‘online teaching competencies (OTCs) matrix was applied as the theoretical framework for the current research. An explanatory study was conducted in a virtual university, and the Open University. . The sample of the study consisted of 250 online instructors. Data was  collected through a standardized Five-point Likert scale  developed by Bigatel, Ragan, Kennan, May, and Redmond (2012). Multiple regression analysis was applied to analyze the data. The finding shows that the demographic variables ‘qualification’ and ‘ years’ of experience’ influence instructors’ teaching competencies as compared to their ‘age’ and ‘‘number of professional trainings’. The finding suggested that the quality of the professional trainings for the instructors should be conducted. The findings of this study could be utilized by the administration and management of the universities to organize the professional development training programmes for the instructors to improve their online teaching competencies in higher education.