Exploring Four Dimensions of Online Instructor Roles: A Program Level Case Study 29 EXPLORING FOUR DIMENSIONS OF ONLINE INSTRUCTOR ROLES: A PROGRAM LEVEL CASE STUDY Xiaojing Liu Kelley Direct Online Programs Indiana University Seung-hee Lee Kelley Direct Online Programs Indiana University Curt J. Bonk Department of Instructional Systems Technology Indiana University Bude Su Department of Instructional Systems Technology Indiana University Richard J. Magjuka Chair of Kelley Direct Online Programs Indiana University ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to understand the practice of online facilitation in a Midwestern university which has a highly successful traditional MBA program. This study explored the instructors’ perceptions regarding four dimensions of instructor roles using Berge’s [1] classifications: pedagogical, managerial, social, and technical. This study also examined the challenges and issues confronting online instructors when fulfilling these roles. The results suggest that instructors carried out several important roles to varying degrees. The findings reveal a stronger emphasis on the pedagogical roles (course designer, profession-inspirer, feedback-giver, and interaction-facilitator). Emphasizing those roles, the instructors promote three types of interactions: student-content, student-student, and student-teacher. A lesser emphasis on social roles represented mixed feelings regarding its importance to the instructors. While students rated the instructors very positively, the results also indicate that instructors still need to have their roles transformed pedagogically, socially, and technologically if they are to establish a more engaging and fruitful environment for online learning. KEYWORDS Instructor Roles, Online Learning, Facilitation, Pedagogical Role, Managerial Role, Social Role, Technical Role I. INTRODUCTION With the development of new and emerging technologies, the values and beliefs underlying the teaching and learning process are being reconceived. As online learning gains wider acceptance in higher education, there is an increasing awareness of the facilitative roles of instructors in virtual space. The facilitative role is especially important when students are required to engage in complex learning tasks. In fact, Morine-Dershimer [2] found that instructor guidance nurtures a richer understanding of complex problems by enabling students to process a greater complexity of information.