Finding ELearning Jobs (Part 2)

Online teaching was the perfect part-time job.

I lived in the mountains and worked in a small rural school district. I coached and ran clubs for extra money. I loved the classroom, but I needed a professional community.

I found that community in online classes. My hungry mind needed the ultimate teacher's room, where educators were energized and focused on the future. Online I was connecting with great teachers from around the world and learning new things every day. 

I went back to school at age 50 and earned a certificate and master's degree in online teaching and learning while working full time as a middle school teacher.

After 25 years in a traditional classroom, I needed a change. It was time to put my new degree to work.  Rather than circle the wagons and wait it out,  I took early retirement. I rekindled my passion for teaching and learning as an online instructor and course designer.

For the past 20 years, I've enjoyed the freedom and flexibility that once seemed like an impossible dream.  

Working online is everything I'd hoped for, and more.  It didn't happen overnight, but it did happen.  I am living the reality of life long learning. The changes still come one step at a time. There is so much more to learn!

One of my many online jobs is that of Certificate Advisor for Online Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I've worked with thousands of educators and trainers, seeking a way to grow professional skills and enhance careers.

I want to share what I have learned with you.  The key to an online academic career is a power triangle of essential elements:

• Subject Matter Expertise
• 21st Century Networking
• E-learning and Teaching Experience

Power Triangle for E-Learning Success

Subject Matter Expertise

Educators

If you are a K-12 teacher, your knowledge is established by the grades and subjects you teach and the licenses, degrees, and certificates you hold.

For those working in higher education, it is all about your subject matter expertise which is determined by your degree(s), and certificates.

Trainers

If you are a military, corporate, or medical trainer, your expertise is established by your subject specialization, the variety of training positions you've held as well as degrees and certificates.

Designers

If you are an instructional designer, qualifications are a combination of work experience, degrees, certificates, and most importantly a portfolio of artifacts that show what you know.

Master's Degrees.

For undergraduate faculty positions, a master's degree qualifies you to teach subjects within the range of your degree.

Many community colleges and undergraduate programs will accept 18 graduate credits in a subject concentration outside of your master's degree as a qualification to teach in a subject area.

Terminal Degrees.  

For both undergraduate and graduate faculty positions, you will be qualified to teach subjects within the range of your degree. Terminal degrees are preferred by academic institutions.

Graduate Certificates

Adding a Graduate Certificate in E-Learning and Online Teaching is a way to document your training and develop a new area of subject matter expertise!

Building Your Network

Roughly 80% of your e-learning work will come from face to face and online networking.

Building your networks will open the door to a new future. Decision-makers want to hire people they know. When they can't find someone they know personally, they reach out to their personal network of colleagues. Many jobs go unadvertised or are created when a person with the right skills is discovered.

5 Ways to Build Your Professional Network

1. Start where you work right now.

• Let your professional circle know you are pursuing an certificate or a degree online. 
• Think of your online peers as the beginning of a lifelong network.

2. Find Professional organizations and conferences.

• Go to conferences and get to know others who share your professional interests.
• Attend both face to face and online conferences (Webinars).
• Have business cards printed and hand them out!
• Design and pursue your own professional development path. 

3. Become an online student.

• Successful online students become successful online teachers.
• Get to know your classmates.
• Some of your strongest professional bonds will be with colleagues you meet in your online classes.

4. Be active in professional networks.

• Learn to use social media wisely.
• Join an online network dedicated to your specific professional interests.
• Join job search-oriented social networks.

5. Build your professional credibility with a website or e-portfolio.

• A professional presence on the Internet is essential.
• Build a classroom website.
• Write a blog about an area of interest.
• Create a wiki for collaborative projects
• Show what you know with an e-portfolio.

E-Learning and Online Teaching Experience

The University of Wisconsin-Stout E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate Program provides experience as both an online student and an online teacher.

You have developed a skill set as a classroom teacher or trainer. However, teaching or training experience does not adequately prepare you for the unique challenges of e-learning and online instruction.

• Teaching online without training can be a painful and frustrating experience.
• Experience and specialized training in facilitation and assessment techniques are essential

As an online student in our certificate program:

• You will experience the best practices of online learning.
• You will learn how to develop a community of learners through intense collaboration and discussion.
• You will build strong professional bonds with your colleagues.
• You will work with highly trained master teachers who are dedicated to helping you grow and learn.

As an online teacher in training:

• You create online content and assessments relevant to your current work.
• You facilitate small group discussions.
• You practice the teaching skills in a supportive environment rich in timely feedback.
• Each of the five classes is a model of the best practices of teaching and learning online.

The E-Learning Practicum: Real-World Experience

• In the E-Learning Practicum, you teach online in one of our graduate classes. 
• You will 'co-pilot' with a mentor teacher practicing assessment and discussion facilitation.
• If you are currently teaching or training online, and wish to work on one of your own classes, we craft a program focused on course design and facilitation coaching.
• Customized internships with K-12 Virtual Schools are also possible.

Read More about Finding E-Learning Jobs! 

Here are more articles about strategies for finding online work, and the kinds of preparation and paperwork you should be working on: 

• NEW: Elearning and Online Teaching Career Center
• Where and How to Find ELearning Jobs
• Finding E-Learning Jobs
• Finding Online Teaching Jobs: Are you an Online Teaching, Adjunct Instructor, K-12 Virtual Teacher? 
• E-Portfolios for Career Development: It's not just resumes anymore!
• Make Money Teaching Online 
• Successful Techniques and Proven Strategies for Finding Online Teaching Work
• ELearning Job Listings