how to be an online college course teacher

1. Think about your options. Before you begin your education and training to become an online teacher, there are a few factors you should consider and determine.
2. Earn a bachelor's degree. It's nearly a universal requirement, regardless of employer, for online teachers to have a bachelor's degree at a minimum.
3. Seek certification. Determine whether you need a teaching certificate to work in the online capacity you want. ...
4. Gain experience. Either while earning your degree or following graduation, find opportunities to gain experience. Many students in education programs perform student teaching to get in-classroom experience.
5. Consider a master's or doctoral degree. Some online teaching positions, particularly for post-secondary positions, require an advanced degree.
Develop technology skills. One key step in the job-seeking process that differs between traditional teachers and online teachers is the need for specific technological skills.
Apply for positions. Once you've completed your education, gained some experience and prepared for the technological aspect of the job, you're ready to apply for positions.

Full Answer

How to become a certified teacher online?

Your certification account (online profile) provides access to each of the following:

• Apply for a certificate
• Print out a certificate
• View a certificate or pending application
• View assessment scores
• Check for the receipt of transcripts
• Check fingerprint/background status

How to earn your teaching certificate online?

• Program Orientation
• The Culture of Schooling
• The Learner & Learning in the Digital Age
• Managing the Learning Environment
• Student Assessments
• Planning & Preparation for Learning
• Introduction to Clinical Practice
• Teacher Practice & Proficiency

What are the job requirements for a teacher?

• Important Facts About Teachers
• Educational Requirements. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all teachers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree.
• Licensing Requirements. All public school teachers must be licensed. ...

How to get a teaching certificate?

When Jesus Santana saw that not only could he go to phlebotomy school for free, but get paid while doing so ... they incur is the application fee to take the phlebotomy technician certification exam through the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

What certification is needed to teach online?

While many of the biggest online teaching companies require a 4-year degree and a TEFL certification, there are still some companies and online schools that will employ you without a degree, if you gain an accredited TEFL certification.

Can I teach online with a bachelor's degree?

You can pursue a variety of online teaching jobs from home with only a bachelor's degree, even if your degree is not in education. Although many online schools prefer teachers with certification, demand is growing for teachers, tutors, and test scorers without professional licensing.

How do I teach college courses?

Teach Your CourseMake the most of the first day of class.Implement effective instructional strategies. ... Anticipate and respond to cultural differences in the classroom.Create a productive and inclusive learning environment.Manage your course (on-line and off-line)Assess your teaching effectiveness & student learning.More items...

How much do online teachers earn?

Hourly rates for teaching English online Generally speaking, you can earn anywhere from $14 – 23/hour, depending on the company you teach with. Caveat: This blog post doesn't cover salary ranges for online college instructors (around $1,500 USD for each semester-length course taught if you're feeling curious).

What degree do you need to be a virtual teacher?

To teach virtually at the college level, a master's degree and a license or certificate is typically required.

How does being an online instructor change your life?

Whether you have been teaching for years in a traditional school setting or are just entering the field from another profession, becoming an online instructor will bring significant change in your average work day and overall workplace routines. Many of those changes will be for the better, such as greater freedom and flexibility in your schedule, the opportunity to work with students from all over the world, and since teaching positions are virtual, the ability to apply to institutions in various locations without relocation worries.

What is alternative teacher certification?

These are offered in many states, and are typically geared towards candidates who already have an undergraduate degree in the subject area they are interested in teaching, as well as work experience in that field.

What is online learning?

The earliest forms of online learning were fairly “static”; much of the course content was in writing, and even the few videos or other interactive content were all designed for individual use. Now, an engaging online program can and should have live classes that facilitate real-time discussions on a high-quality, easy-to-use platform.

What kind of technology goes into online learning?

What kind of technology goes into online learning? Most learning management systems (LMSs) used for online courses simply require a good Wi-Fi connection, a laptop with a webcam and keyboard, a set of earbuds and, depending on the program, a phone to dial in.

How does technology affect classrooms?

For example, short answer or essay tests may be challenging to grade with large classes, but technology can make things like multiple choice exams even easier to grade than in a brick-and-mortar classroom.

How to communicate with course material creators?

While communicating with course material creators, explain why you teach material the way you do. They’ll need to know the “why” just as much as the “how” to help you translate verbal lectures into interactive course content, like videos, slides and exercises.

Why is it important to have a schedule for online classes?

It’s important to establish a schedule for the course and have clear expectations, especially in an online classroom where things may feel less formal so that students have an understanding of their responsibilities. It’s a good idea to keep your course in line with your program’s best practices so that you can shape your online teaching according to what has been proven to work.

How to help students with technical issues?

Don’t be shy when working with your course creators: Find out the most common issues, technical or otherwise, and they can put together a list of fixes you can draw from to help students experiencing problems. You should also have tech backup to whom you can refer students—make sure you get that phone number or email address too, and save yourself a struggle with tech issues that may be someone else’s responsibility.

Why are live classes so limited?

Live classes also tend to keep class sizes limited because it’s easier for students to participate with fewer than 15 or so people per session. Another important capability is the ability to “break out” into smaller groups for discussion.

Who Hires Online Instructors?

Many traditional colleges are getting into the online education industry. Some campus-based colleges offer select courses online, while others offer entire degree programs. If you’re interested in teaching online, your best bet may be to become a member of the campus faculty and teach a few traditional classes first.

Where to Look

Head over to Monster.com, Careerbuilders.com, or any one of the major job boards, and type “online teacher” or “online instructor” into the search bar. You’ll find jobs from nonprofits, foreign language centers, and other organizations. Niche job boards

What is an online teacher?

An online teacher is an educator who provides lessons and feedback to students through a digital or online platform rather than in a classroom or other face-to-face method.

What do online teachers do?

Online teachers perform many of the same duties as their in-person counterparts, with a few varied responsibilities. Common online teaching job tasks include:

Online vs. in-person teaching

Online teaching and in-person teaching have the same objective—to provide students with a comprehensive education. However, the methods used to achieve this goal in online teaching and traditional teaching do differ in some important ways:

How to become an online teacher

If you're interested in becoming an online teacher, follow these steps to get started:

Frequently asked questions about becoming an online teacher

To learn more about working as an online teacher, review these answers to frequently asked questions:

What is an online teacher?

Teachers or tutors who use the Internet to teach courses “at a distance” are referred to as online instructors or teachers. Online teaching careers are also open to mentors or counselors who answer questions and provide emotional encouragement for online students.

How to become an online instructor?

The best way to launch a career teaching online or to become an online instructor is to search out and apply for job positions as an adjunct. Get Educated sponsors an online instructor job board that is updated several times each week.

How Much Do Online Teachers Make?

The median annual earnings of all post-secondary teachers in 2010 were about $59,000. The middle 50 percent earned between $42,000 and $85,000. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $122,000.

What is online instructor?

Online instructors also sometimes work as corporate trainers. Instructors who teach adults or work for corporate training centers online may be paid more than those who teach for public school systems or universities.

How do online teachers interact with students?

Online teachers interact with students through email, message boards, online “blackboards,” chat rooms or, in some cases, virtual reality platforms and software rather than face-to-face. Their students could be from around the country or around the world.

Why do online teachers need to be able to translate traditional course material in ways that are understood in the online environment?

Online teachers need to be able to translate traditional course material in ways that are understood in the online environment, because they can’t rely on eye contact or other facial cues to determine whether students are understanding and maintaining interest in a lesson.

How much will the post secondary teacher job market grow?

Jobs for post-secondary teachers in general—including online and traditional teachers—are likely to grow by 15 percent through 2018, faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The growth projection stems from an expected increase in the college-age population, plus adults returning to school to improve career prospects—a trend especially common during troubled economic times.

What are the requirements for becoming a certified teacher online?

Since teachers are in high demand right now in the US, there are a lot of opportunities for job seekers looking to get into the classroom.

Who can get into teaching?

These criteria make getting into teaching a possibility for people at many stages in their lives or careers. New graduates, supply teachers, career changers, experienced educators and Americans living overseas can all start the process to become a teacher.

What kind of teaching can I do?

You can become a certified teacher through an online certification program. This means you can qualify to teach in K-12 classrooms and secondary schools. You’ll need a teaching license to get started.

What does it mean to enroll in an alternative teaching certification course online?

Enrolling in an alternative teaching certification course online means you can start studying at home right now and be ready for the classroom by the next academic year.

How long does it take to become an alternative teacher?

Provided you fulfill the required criteria already (you have a bachelor’s degree in any subject + are eligible to work in the US), it will take as little as 6-9 months to complete an alternative teacher certification program. Meaning you could be ready for the classroom in the next academic year!

Why is being a teacher so good?

But on a smaller scale, being a teacher is also awesome because you could be laughing all day since the kids in your class never fail to bring a smile to your face. Or the satisfaction of seeing your work help others grow and blossom into their full potential.

What is the coursework in pedagogy?

The coursework in the program is intensive and will cover everything you need to know about pedagogy. All you need to do after is learn how to apply your knowledge in the classroom. The good news is, studying the basics of lesson planning and classroom management is pretty straightforward.

How can teachers improve their online teaching skills?

Educators can improve their online teaching skills by reviewing recordings of their teaching, investing time in preparing before class, and asking for feedback from students.

How can online teachers improve?

Online teachers improve with experience. Consider recording live lectures for you to review between terms.

What Do Employers Look for When Hiring Online Teachers?

Successful online teaching applicants bring several key qualifications to their work. Many hold backgrounds in education or child-focused work. Most positions also require a college degree. An online teacher typically must possess:

How do tutors work?

Many tutors work through private tutoring companies. These tutors pay a portion of their earnings to the company, which connects them with clients. Other tutors operate as self-employed educators and recruit clients themselves.

What is an ELL instructor?

Online ELL instructors educate non-native English speakers in grammar, writing, and communication. They may work with international students preparing to attend American colleges or ELL learners at K-12 schools in the U.S.

How many courses can an adjunct teach?

Depending on the role, adjuncts may teach 1-4 courses per term. Some adjuncts work at multiple colleges. Adjunct pay varies widely, so prospective adjuncts should research per-course rates during their job search.

What is online tutoring?

Online tutors instruct learners in many academic subjects. Tutors can specialize in areas like standardized test preparation, college-level tutoring, or elementary and secondary tutoring. The educational requirements depend on the role.

How to get a teaching certificate?

The first step is to formally apply to your state’s Department of Education so you can get your teaching certificate. The requirements and costs vary between states, so it’s essential to do your research first and ask your admissions team. This way, you can have everything prepared ahead of time to speed up the process.

How to become a certified teacher?

Hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject, be eligible to work in the U.S. and pass the required state exams. Enroll in a teacher certification program. Complete the online core curriculum of the fast-track teacher certification program. Participate in a clinical placement/field experience.

How do you become a teacher in the US in less than a year?

Hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject, be eligible to work in the U.S. and pass the required state exams.

What is an alternative teacher certification?

In short, it is a certification program designed to help substitute teachers, educational assistants, career changers, or recent grads transition into a life-long teaching career at a much quicker pace than the traditional route.

How long is alternative teaching?

Alternative teaching programs commonly offer a distance or on-campus learning curriculum, which typically consists of six months of intensive core coursework. The core curriculum covers areas ranging from pedagogical concepts to classroom management and specializations for K-12 elementary or secondary school streams.

How long does it take to get a TCP?

Are you itching to get out there and teach already? You can finish your core studies in about six months with one of our state-approved, AAQEP-accredited Teacher Certification Programs (TCP). So how soon you complete the program is totally up to you.

What is core curriculum?

The core curriculum will equip you with everything you need to know to inspire and mold tomorrow’s generation. You’ll learn from topics around core pedagogical approaches to classroom management and more through a flexible distance learning platform.

What is an online teaching degree?

An online teaching degree and teacher... An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school biology teachers. Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.

What is an online masters in education?

An online master's of arts in education degree and teacher certification program for aspiring elementary school teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field. Leads to a teaching license. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.

What is a masters in teaching?

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)—These degree programs typically lead to initial licensure. Master of Science in Education (M.Ed)—These degree programs typically are for advanced education positions, not teaching. Doctoral Degree in Teaching and Education.

What is the role of a teacher?

Teachers are role models who truly make a difference to their young students. But teaching is much more than helping kids learn to read and do math. Teachers change lives, and it takes a special kind of person to be an outstanding teacher.

Is there a better time to become a teacher?

There’s never been a better time to become a teacher. With so many schools changing the way they deliver education—online, in-person, or a combination—the demand for licensed teachers has grown dramatically.