Just posing a question for you all, as this is something I'm wondering. Do you think having earned a degree via distance learning would look good when applying to teach courses via distance learning?
I don't think it matters but I have a line in my cover letter that states that I "...have completed most of my education online so I understand the unique needs of the online students."
I think it can matter, but may not in any individual situation. I like Randall's idea: if you're applying to teach in a distributed environment, play up the fact that you yourself did such a degree, for (I hope) obvious reasons.
I earned my degrees more non-traditionally than by true DL (evening & off-campus courses with CLEP/DANTES, portfolio credit and correspondence courses thrown in), and I do much like Randell; play up the "adult non-traditional student" angle in my cover letter.
All, Thanks for the advice. I'm just trying to plan for the future. I seriously doubt I'll be able to get anything for a while. With barely three years of teaching, and just earning a masters, I think I'll have a few more years before I'd even be considered. -Matt
I started sending apps for online teaching jobs before I completed my masters program. I finished my masters in 9 months (August that year) and started applying in May. By Sept, I had my first online teaching job and built from there over the years. I hate to say this but an MSED isn't going to be helpful in getting an online teaching position. There aren't that many undergrad Ed courses around and you have to have a doctorate to teach Ed grad courses. I completed 6 grad courses in several subject areas (I also have work experience other than teaching in those subject areas). It was a good move because now I have plenty of work (I'm turning down offers including Ashford, Baker, UoP, Embry-Riddle, and some others in the past year). I like teaching different levels and different subjects -- keeps things from getting boring. And I pick my schools based on which ones pay the most for the shortest course terms. (Sorry I don't share on public forums where I'm teaching). The key is to have 6 graduate courses (included with or in addition to your MSED) in whatever subject you want to teach. And with my Masters plus 30 (additional grad hours) I get paid at the phd level not the masters level at schools where they pay more for doctorates. Have you thought about teaching virtual high school history? That might be a way to go! Lots of opportunities in state supported and private virtual high schools these days. ~VP~
Actually, this is not exactly true. A person with a masters can teach graduate level in education. The North Central Association, which accredits both UoP and Walden, states in their qualifications for faculty that an individual with a masters in education can teach graduate courses. The Commission Guidance on Determining Qualified Faculty states "A faculty member teaching the clinical courses in a master’s program in education might not have a doctorate in education but, instead, might have documented recognition of excellence in teaching;" The College of William and Mary, the second oldest college in the country with one of the best educational programs in the US, actually allows teachers with a bachelors degree to teach graduate courses in education as part of their clinical faculty program. William and Mary is accredited by SACS. I'm not sure what's next for me, but I think I may be going for another M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision this time. I was originally planning on studying history, which I would still love to do, but there's no money in that. With admin, I would be eligible for a bunch of promotions. -Matt
