I'll start with myself. I got into teaching totally by a fluke. How else would a cop end up teaching? Having said that... I have experience teaching emotionally challenged children (k-12) and traffic school for adults (ages ranging from 17 to 75). Teaching the adults is much more rewarding because they pay close attention, much more than the EH children. Teaching traffic school also has its advantages, as opposed to being an adjunct professor at a CC or at a uni. As an adjunct, you oftentimes have to develop a curriculum and, after class is done, you still have to read all of those 6-10 page papers that you assigned. LOL But at traffic school, once you leave the classroom, your work is over. Now its time for refreshment. I frankly hate teaching EH children, albeit I loved it in the begining. Alas, the love affair is over. Teaching adults is much more rewarding. Now, I'm sure that many of you have much more teaching experience than I do... and many of you don't. So what is your level of experience... and what is your novice or sage advice?
I've taught Criminal Justice at the college level, taught at the Citizen's Police Academy, and also at the regular Police Academy. I'm doing none of the three right now, but I may get back into academia for the spring semester.
Since 1990, I have taught at the middle school, high school, community college and university (both undergraduate and graduate) levels. I have taught face-to-face, videoconferenced, online and hybrid classes. I have taught at both public and private institutions and have also work in corporate training and development. Much of my career has been dedicated to training teachers and college faculty to utilize technology. For my current position, I have crossed into the "dark side" (i.e. from faculty into administration) at a mid-sized state university that is building its online distance learning program from the ground floor. I was brought in to help get it set up (a wonderful opportunity for someone in my position). The thoughtful and informed folks at Degreeinfo have been a great source of information for the past couple of years. Thanks to all! Tony Piña Northeastern Illinois University
A few years ago, for several years, I was a part-time community college instructor in Santa Fe and Las Cruces. I had every instructor's dream students: bright, interested, always on time, always prepared, always neatly dressed... I taught prisoners in the New Mexico Corrections Department!
11 years RA high school (2 schools) 9 years at 4 year RA university (2 schools) 5 years as TA. 17 years RA JC (3 schools) 1 school for all 17 years Full time teacher at some level 21 years; experience all overlaps Subject area: English
1980-1992 Part Time Corporate Training - Corporate & Tax Law; Profitability Maximisation 1992-1996 FT Senior teacher/coordinator Post Y12 Advanced Diploma Vocational Education - Accounting; Tax & Corporate Law 1997-1998 FT Remedial Education/Behaviour adjustment - active research 1998-2001 FT Director of Studies - Business & IT; National GM Education - 6 PCE IT Colleges 2002 FT VET and Higher Education Bridging programs - Business 2003-2004 FT Corporate and Vocational Training - Business, IT, Manufacturing, Logistics 1998-2002 DE tutoring and course writing - Business, Law, Economics
I started to teach because I had a terrible fear of speaking in public. I tried to figure out a way to get over my fear and I decided teaching would make or break me. I contacted a local tech school and asked if I could volunteer to teach or help teach their computer classes. I went in for an interview and was told that I could not volunteer but the full time instructor was going on vacation and they needed a substitute instructor. They offered $20 per hour. I taught that class and really enjoyed it after I stopped sweating. A few months later, at my full time job, I became part of a team that would re-write the corporate training classes. I felt a bit left out because I was the person with the least seniority. I told them that I have experience teaching and they need to listen to me. The next thing I know I am teaching a weeklong class in the corporate office (me and my big mouth). I did such a great job, I was promoted to Field Trainer; there are only three of us in the country. Lots of background but I think it is a great story. Anyway, I teach medical software applications, computer hardware troubleshooting, and medical equipment cleaning and handling at my corporate job. At the tech school, where I am still a substitute, I teach computer hardware identification, assembly, repair, and Windows 9X and 2000 operating systems all preparing the students for the following computer certifications: A+, Network+, and Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA).
Meant to respond to this earlier -- distracted, research papers due! Since 1997 until this past June, I have taught continuously at the university level: English as a Foreign Language, critical thinking, and academic writing, targeting both undergrads and non-native English speaking doctoral students. I've also done some teacher training on the same subject. Most of my teaching experience has been f2f, but I have included web-based components in many of my classes (e.g., Blackboard, etc.). In terms of training & development, I've written and facilitated sessions on the employment of people with disabilities, choosing a distance education program, and cross-cultural training. Outside of work, I've taught sailing for the USCG in Monterey, CA, and needlework in several extracurriculuar clubs at the unis where I've worked, plus seminars in Texas. I taught high school for one semester, and told my boss that if she ever assigned me that again (it was a private hs affiliated with the private uni in TX where I was teaching), I'd resign with no notice. My hat's off to those of you that teach at the secondary school level -- frankly, I was homicidal after two weeks! Cheers, Adrienne
12 years at the university level. 11 years at the community college level. Oh yes, and 10 years as a volunteer Safety Services I.T. for the Red Cross. marilynd
I love a challenge... This weekend I'm teaching a 12 hour court-ordered DUI program for my first time and it is very enjoyable. It's four hours a day. I've made hundreds of DUI arrests and it is a wonderful change to work at this end of the pipeline because I feel like I'm helping these people by educating them with information that might have a lasting influence on their drinking behavior. In the begining of the class, I had a lot of angry looks on peoples faces. I love the challenge of making angry people think, which always makes them forget about their personal rage. However, it took me over an hour to change those angry faces into smiling participative and enthuastic faces -- but I did it and now they participate in the class with rapt attention. LOL The challenge is fun!!!
Re: I love a challenge... In Florida, there are traffic schools taught by professional comedians. Evidently, as long as the class conveys the required information, there's no prohibition against it also being entertaining. -=Steve=-
My first teaching experiences were in the Boy Scouts. In the late 70's/early 80's when i was a field engineer I taught self developed classes on software & OS for field engineers to help with troubleshooting, diagnosis, etc. In the late 80's I taught data comm and networking internationally for a computer company, along with network design consulting. You know you've been to a country a lot when the immigration officer welcomes you back by name and she hadn't opened your passport. I loved that job! My last teaching experience was at UoPhx in San Jose. I taught there for a few years and stopped in March/April of this year. I occasionally hold a training session on some of our planning tools, but the sessions are ad hoc, not technical, and mainly to familiarize new folks. I don't think I will teach full time in an academic setting. It's a nice thing to do from time to time.
