Learning
I have taken online classes for many reasons. In undergrad I took online classes at the community college while FT at a University because I maxed out my financial award and could afford to take gen ed classes online. Other times the commute was too far and online classes made the most sense. Now, I'm a mother of two small children. Online courses allow me to participate at times that work best for me. For my current classes at GSU, I have to log in at least 4 times a week which is more than I remember from my other classes. The schedule still works for me because I don't have to find childcare in order to participate in class. I expect to work hard in this course. It's only the first week and I think I've completed about four mini assignments already. The creation of this blog being one.
My perception of online learning has changed over the years. In 2004, I thought it was an easier way to complete a course without having to physically attend class. My current perception is that many (not all) online courses are filled with hours of busy work to counter many who had the same perception I had years ago.
Teaching
I've been interested in obtaining a online teaching certificate for a few years. At first I thought I needed a BA in education to teach online. Once I found out that wasn't the case I began to research programs. Most of the programs I researched required classroom instruction. After bumping into a friend who now teaches at GSU I learned of this program. Now I am taking courses to receive an Online Teaching Certificate. When I saw I only needed four classes, I enrolled in two for Fall and planned to enroll in two in Spring because I figured I'd have my certificate by the summer. Though the certificate will take longer than I expected I'm excited about the possibilities.
My perception of online teaching is that it requires organization and timeliness. As with teaching in person, the instructor should be knowledgeable and excited about the subject they're teaching. Communication is important because facial expressions and vocal tone are absent. And as our Netiquette reading indicates, it's easy for a student to send an instructors comments anywhere so proper communication is key.
Expectations
I'm interested to learn how much time and preparation goes into teaching an online class. Is it more than what is needed for in-class instruction? Do schools expect instructors to come with a curriculum or do they execute existing curriculum? How is your teaching evaluated? What is the job market like for those looking to teach online? These are just a few things I expect to understand before my online teaching certificate is complete.
Kris
