Just out of curiosity, I was wondering if any of you have direct experience with teaching online. What are your thoughts about it? What do you like about it ? What do you dislike about it ? Does it pay enough to live comfortably on, or do you have to suppliment your income?

Ofcourse, I am relatively new as a student, and have quite a while before I could apply to be an instructor; Actually, I never even thought about doing that until now, and it's just a thought and not necessarily a plan.  I am interested in feedback though from those who have had experience with teaching online, or who do teach online.  Thanks

I'm doing it for the first time this term, for a small community college out West.  It's a good side gig, but it would be very tough to live off it.  I understand that people do, but I wouldn't want to try it unless I were back living offshore where it takes a lot less income to get by.

I like it mostly because it's a kick when my students have that "eureka!" moment and I know I helped them get there.  I haven't really seriously disliked anything about it.  I guess one thing would be how hard it is to get into it -- there's a lot of competition for online teaching gigs, and I'll be the first to admit that I lucked into the one I have this term.

-=Steve=- 

I know it doesn’t count for online traditional schooling but I have had a “teaching” gig with my current large corporation so teaching experience would not limit you to working for a college.  My teaching duties includes making a video of procedures and setup and then hosting sessions with participants to cover the material and assign “homework” to get hands on training.  A typical new hire training takes about 3 weeks.  We have hired a full time teacher now who heads up the program and updates it on an ongoing basis.  The average "class" size is 10 - 15.

I started this program because of the feedback from new hires that learning the processes and procedures is the most confusing and stressing part of the job.

<The opportunities out there are only limited by OUR imagination>

Steve,

In order to teach online, do you need prior teaching experience? Do you have to go to the school campus? Is everything done online including training?

marjie14:

In order to teach online, do you need prior teaching experience? Do you have to go to the school campus? Is everything done online including training?

It's tough to break into teaching online college courses.  It's a convenient side job, so there's a lot of competition from other would-be adjuncts.  One thing that makes a big difference is what subject you're qualified to instruct. It can be more difficult for school to find qualified instructors for accounting, finance, and statistics, for example.

Usually everything is done online and you can apply no matter where you live. 

-=Steve=-

Jay,

 Go to higheredjobs.com  

Good luck!