One of the toughest parts of working from home as an adjunct professor is that I work alone. I have students I am reaching out to. I have a husband that comes home for lunch (occasionally), I go out to lunch with friends a tiny bit...but mostly I am on my own.
So for the online teacher wannabe...I devised a quiz. This should let you know whether teaching online is for you:
Do you have a computer?
Do you have reliable high speed internet access at your home?
Do you have a back up plan for when your internet does not work?
Can you convey your experience, your personality online?
Are you comfortable enough to communicate almost entirely through writing?
Are you a self starter? Can you be self disciplined enough to work with out a direct supervisor? Do you have the proper credentials (in most cases a masters degree or higher)?
Are you willing to take training of up to 6 weeks with out pay to get your online teaching position?
Are you a salesman? Can you sell your self via email or by phone to get additional courses?
Are you willing to follow up for up to a year to attain a job?
Do you have the time to participate in the teaching process?
Are you willing to work 6 days per week?
Are you able to absorb the risk that comes from working for yourself?
If you answered no to any of these questions then getting into online teaching might not be for you.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Know your place
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4 Mad Ramblings:
Great list!! I would add this:
Are you willing to follow the teaching rules and regulations even though they may be unrealistic timewise (which means giving up family time and sleep)?
Are you able to take criticism (some of it ugly) from students on anonymous evaluations and know that their ratings affect whether you keep your job or not?
Are you willing to be micromanaged (meaning someone checks up on you weekly to make sure you're following the rules -- like answering 25% of students postings every week in the discussions or participating 7 days a week)?
There's more but I'm braindead from grading the most gosh-awful graduate research papers I've EVER seen!! UGH!! Back to it.
VP
I like those additions...have you had some interesting comments on the list?
;)
IPG
Are you willing to take the blame when students drop out of online college?
Are you willing to change your course shell again even though you already wrote the entire quarter out ahead of time?
Are you willing to email, call and chat with your students at all hours?
hee hee...loved YOUR first questions you had on the blog.
How the HECK do YOU have time to blog woman????
Multitasking and insomnia
ha!
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