Distance Learning Teaching

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Rob Coates, Apr 20, 2004.

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  1. Rob Coates

    Rob Coates New Member

    I am curious about teaching via distance learning and have some questions: How easy/difficult is it to get a position? What kind of job satisfaction do people have that do teaching via distance? What's the pay like? If someone that has never taught before were looking for a part time retirement gig would this be worth pursuing or something to stay away from?
     
  2. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Rob,

    Depending on what level of teaching and what your personal expectations are you can check monster.com under "adjunct" to get some of your answers. I enjoy the experience. You will not get rich but I sought the postition as a lead in to retirement and in an effort to give something back to education. I regularly discourse with other distance educators and as a group most seem very satisfied. The issue of asynchronous versus synchronous seems to be a topic of discussion. As for difficulty to acquire, be realistic in your goals. Educational positions are very competitive. I believe that others on the board can provide better insight than me regarding full-time academia.

    Good luck in your effort.
     
  3. It is difficult even with a RA degree

    I have a degree from a well respected RA university as well as several teaching credentials, including CLAD (required in many states). While I have had some offers, most are either in dangerous neighborhoods or the positions, while essentially permanent, are only offered with temporary status. One cannot obtain tenure until permanent.

    Many of my classmates are in the same situation. Your best bet for securing a position is approaching desperate principals close to the time school begins and working under an emergency credential. Although this approach is at odds with NCLB, many cash strapped districts, such as Long Beach Unified, hire a large number of teachers lacking credentials because they have either alienated credentialled teachers or have waited too long.

    Since I have a fairly decent job, I plan to stay with my present employer and provide professional education classes. There are no discipline problems with adults because they need the class in order to keep license or job.
     
  4. mourningdove

    mourningdove New Member

    Teaching online can be very rewarding. The best part is there is no commute to work. Pay varies from school to school. It is difficult to get started and requires networking and perseverance. Most schools require you to take a training course before they offer you a course to teach and there is no guarantee that you will get a course. I had this happen to me after taking a very intensive 6 week course. Good luck.
     
  5. cogent

    cogent New Member

    Online Teaching

    If you have at least a masters degree, you can check the Chronicle of Higher Education or Virtual University Gazette for ads asking for online faculty. There are many places where you can get certification such as the Thomas Edison State College program (not that it is needed, but it will help you get your first job).

    I've taught online since 1997 or so... have the Thomas Edison certificate in distance education and several grad degrees. That makes it easier for a university to want to hire you. Now, keep in mind they will train you in their methods, too. That was true for Devry and University of Maryland University College (I teach online for both of them).
     
  6. Mr. Engineer

    Mr. Engineer member

    I am thinking about getting a teaching job either on line or for a UoP, DeVry, or Heald college type of setting. I am an EE by profession and think I can do a good job teaching basic and intermediate electronics to young minds (and some old farts too!). Does anyone know of any volunteer type of positions either online or B&M in the SF Bay area where I could get some teaching experience? I heard that UoP instructors make $1K for the 5 week course which is a pretty fair amount considering the amount of work required.
     

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