Hi, I was searching for online teaching opportunities and I happened to find the forum. From what I have read it would seem this is the right place to address my questions. Having read several threads on the subject, I still am unclear on my next steps. First, background: Over the past two years I have obtained two Masters (Strategic Leadership, Management) and would like to begin teaching via distance learning/online learning. Specifically, I would like to target community colleges and online universities. That said, I have no clue how to start. My background includes 15 years of IT experience (8 management). Also, I’ve acting as a Teacher Aide in a class room setting (leading classes), as well as a TA via the distance program I obtained my MSL at (Blackboard Experience). With that said, here is where my questions start: How do I locate institutions to apply to? What are the biggest challenges you have faced finding jobs/starting teaching? How many classes do you teach per year via DL? Can you provide some tips to the beginner who is going into this? I’m really at a loss for this, and I want to be successful at growing and building my experience. Can anyone help out? Thank you, DJ
Welcome How do I locate institutions to apply to? I applied at many, most of which I just pulled out of the air-very scattershot. University of Phoenix is out for you, as they require two-years in between your Masters and the hiring date. I would try to find a connection to a local community college and talk to the deans there. That's what I did: I found the hiring dean and was hired on the spot. Try higheredjobs.com and use their automatic notification system. What are the biggest challenges you have faced finding jobs/starting teaching? I think I sent out about 50 applications before walking into the local CC. Sometimes it's just luck. The hardest part now competing with folks who have doctorates, which is a change from prior years. How many classes do you teach per year via DL? I teach about 6 short six-week grad classes and 2-3 twelve-week undergrad classes. (Some folks here do more but I have kids at home.) Juggling two classes or two schools at once plus working a "day" job takes practice - not something that you can do right out of the gate. There are economies of scale and you get better with practice and you can re-use questions, rubrics, lesson plans and notes. Can you provide some tips to the beginner who is going into this? Emphasize your online learning experience and your training/teaching experience. Also, organizational skills are important, so play up your ability to go to school, and excel at that while working a full-time job. Keep applying it may take a while.
Start with this link. Put you education on top of the resume and in the cover letter state, very clearly, "I want to teach and here is what I am qualified to teach...I have experience teaching online and in class from...." I sent out about 25-30 resumes and it took a year to get my first teaching job. I teach or a few schools and get steady classes (going on 4 years). I applied to a few schools recently and never go a response so you have to get lucky also. Main thing - don't give up.
mbaonline & Randell1234, Thank you both for your advice and views on your experiences. The resume writing aspect, I feel, will be a big one. This is something I will spend time working on so that it is a clear as possible to show what I wish to teach and why I am qualified. I spent some time playing with the Higher Ed Jobs search function. One big problem I have, which may be eliminated with experience on the site, is that the online positions do not seem to be obvious. Any tips on how to search? Thanks.
Maybe select Adjunct and type "online" as the search term. I just did it and came up with 786 hits. They are not all online adjunct positions but it is a start.
