Online Teaching Jobs

Meeting a Growing Demand

Online learning refers to classes that are taught exclusively over the Internet. Teachers and students communicate using tools such as e-mail, message boards, chat rooms, and video conferences. Lectures can be delivered through downloadable MP3 files and PDF handouts may be used to supplement other educational resources. While an online course has many similarities to a traditional classroom learning experience, it does require that the participants work hard to keep the lines of communication open.

Several factors have lead to an increase in the demand for instructors who are willing to teach online courses:

• High school students in rural areas take online classes when their schools don’t offer the advanced college preparatory courses they need.
• College students use online courses as a supplement to traditional classroom-based learning, cutting their educational costs and making it easier to graduate on time.
• Working adults turn to online courses to help them gain the skills and credentials they need to advance their careers.
• People who want to learn more about a particular area of interest, such as photography or art history, take online courses for personal enrichment.

Becoming an Online Teacher

Requirements for becoming an online instructor typically include:

• Skill in the designated subject area. Although specific educational requirements for online instructors can vary, most colleges or universities will want an instructor with at least a master’s degree. Related professional work experience is also desired for courses that deal with a specific vocational area, such as journalism or public relations.
• Previous teaching experience. While you don’t necessarily need to have previous experience teaching an online course, you should have a past record of being able to motivate and inspire your students. If you have no previous experience whatsoever, you may want to consider working as part-time online tutor through a company such a Brainfuse before attempting to apply for job as an online instructor.
• Familiarity with the online learning process. Many schools prefer to hire instructors who have been online students at some point in the past, since this experience makes it easier for teachers to understand the unique challenges associated with distance learning.
• Willingness to learn new skills. Since distance learning is an industry that is constantly evolving, successful online instructors must be willing to constantly develop and refine their teaching styles to accommodate new technologies.

Since online instructors are often considered to be independent contractors and not employees of a specific educational instruction, you’ll generally be expected to provide your own workspace and equipment. This means you’ll need high speed Internet access and a fairly new computer with up-to-date software.

Finding Online Teaching Jobs

General Web sites listing teaching jobs across the United States have listings of online teaching jobs. However, you’ll need to search for keywords such as “online adjunct,” “online instructor,” or “online faculty” to locate these positions. To begin your search, check out the following sites:

• Higher Ed Jobs
• Adjunct Nation
• Educause
• The Chronicle of Higher Education

You may also wish to search for online teaching jobs by visiting the Web sites of schools known for offering an extensive selection of distance learning opportunities. For example:

• The University of Phoenix
• DeVry Inc.
• Cappella University
• South University
• AIU Online

General career placement Web sites such as Monster or Career Builder may have online teaching jobs as well.

Additional Information

To learn more about what it’s like to teach online, check out the following helpful resources:

• Roles and Competencies of Online Teachers
• Tips and Tricks for Teaching Online
• Something to Talk About: Tips for Communicating in an Electronic Environment
• Online Training in an Online World