Saturday, September 27, 2014

Online: It Is Not Like Any Other Classroom



Because I have been in the online teaching world for so many years, I am often asked "How do I get hired".


Sorry- there is no magic bullet.
You can read books and go to seminars and join newsgroups. Helpful to an extent.

But the fact is there are three ways to get a job as an online instructor:
1. apply
2. apply
3. apply

But beyond that, here are some ideas that may assist:

Getting started is the hardest part.
 If you have no online teaching experience, that can be a challenge. If you are teaching on the ground, and your school has an online program, ask for at least one class.

Attend an online university: 
If you are reaching for a higher degree and your hope is to teach online in the future, attend an online university. You will be able to use that "other side of the desk" experience as a selling point.

Keep an online profile and do not be shy:
Let people know you believe in online teaching and that you want to be a part of this growing trend.

Familiarize yourself with as many LMS (learning management systems) as possible:
Some schools have proprietary systems developed in house, but as there are only so many configurations for these platforms, getting to know BlackBoard, eCollege, and Moodle for example will be something you can use to your advantage. If it is possible to get a certificate in training for any of these put that on your resume!

Truly understand what online teaching is all about:
Be prepared when you speak to the initial screener and in your cover letter to make it clear you understand both the benefits and the challenges of teaching online.
I will be posting information on an ongoing basis as to what it really means to be an online instructor and administrator, but just for today let me say:
It is not as easy as it sounds if you want to be great at it
It takes time
It takes skill
It takes daring

But the benefits for you and your students are enormous.





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