Call me Ishmael

Discussion in 'Online & DL Teaching' started by mdg1775, May 12, 2016.

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  1. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    I have been chasing the opportunity to become an Adjunct, Online, or Distance Education professor. I cannot land that opportunity. I want to break into the craft, but I have had the proverbial door slammed in my face each time. Any advice?

    Thanks.

    Mike
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    It can be tough to break into the online adjunct world, most positions require experience, but how do you get the experience if no one will hire you?

    Persistence is the key; check the hiring boards daily if possible, you'll be surprised how often jobs become available. The ones I always recommend are;

    https://www.higheredjobs.com/ - They have a section specifically for online/remote positions, but be sure to check the adjunct and regular faculty sections, also.

    https://chroniclevitae.com/job_search/new - Search feature is a bit clunky.

    Job Search | one search. all jobs. Indeed.com - Use search terms such as "online adjunct", "online instructor", and "online faculty". Leave the "location" box blank, or use "remote".

    If you're really motivated, take some time to search the employment sections of accredited schools, most have at least online courses, if not complete programs (you can skip the usual suspects like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.). Many schools have an adjunct pool, which usually isn't advertised anywhere but on the school website. The websites of the accrediting agencies is a good place to get ideas and website links, and don't forget DEAC and ACICS. It's time consuming, but you will find some leads.

    Good luck!
     
  3. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    Thanks Bruce,

    I will begin my daily checks.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    What subjects are you academically qualified to teach? There's a lot more competition for some fields than others.
     
  5. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    Good Question

    I have a Masters in communication with Emphasis in Project Management. I also have 30 years experience managing logistics and facilities for the Department of Homeland Security, Justice, and Veterans Affairs. I built Federal Prisons from dirt to function and I think I could do a heck of the job teaching projects.
     
  6. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I believe you.

    The problem is that to be academically qualified to teach something, most schools require instructors to hold a graduate degree in that field or at least to have 18 graduate level semester-hours specifically in that field. It sounds like you have that specifically in communications, but that otherwise you may not be academically qualified to teach project management, especially since schools will often go by course code. This happens even though it often leads to ridiculous exclusions -- I once knew someone with a PhD in bionucleonics who wasn't considered to teach introductory biology.

    Are you getting any feedback from schools along these lines?
     

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