Teaching Online: Thoughts About Freedom and Working from Home
I wrote a book over the summer about how to enjoy life as a part-time college instructor, despite low pay, by being efficient and adopting a very simple lifestyle.
Those crucial elements still help me to be successful, happy, and free on a day to day basis. However, I didn’t realize that shortly after publishing my book, I would be working mostly from home for an online university making a better salary and spending less time on my feet (thanks to a great friend who put in a good word for me!).
I’m still not sure how I feel about the tradeoff. As someone more inclined to be a ‘homebody,’ it’s relaxing to work from home. However, as crazy as this sounds, I already miss the commute and chaotic days of driving to various campuses to interact with diverse student bodies.
For now, the virtual classroom is where I’ll be spending most of my time, and I do welcome the change. I’m also curious to see how I’ll feel after a year of this, once I’ve truly settled in.
I’ve already started reading books about the growing demand for online classes and teachers, how to get the most out of online teaching jobs, and how to maintain an effective learning environment with online students. I’m excited to be part of this new world, and to try my hand at becoming an expert in the online arena.
So far I’ve read the following to help me on my journey (I’m a supporter of self-published authors, so many of the following may not be traditionally published):
Teach Online: 10 Simple Steps to Get Your Resume Noticed and Land the Job by Dr. Carolyn Edwards
Building Your Adjunct Platform by Michelle Post, PhD
Excellent Online Teaching: Effective Strategies for a Successful Semester Online by Aaron Johnson
I’m currently reading:
The Online Teaching Survival Guide: Simple and Practical Pedagogical Tips by Judith V. Boettcher and Rita-Marie Conrad
Becoming an Academic Free Agent: Teach Online, Make Money, and Live Anywhere by Michael D. Finney
I’m learning a lot from various authors, about a topic I never really considered being a part of. Becoming an online presence for my students in Blackboard pushed me to (finally!) record my lectures via Camtasia and webcam, and put them on YouTube for my new distance students, after a year of having it on ‘my list.’
I’m in new territory, and I have no idea where it’s all headed, but I’ve thrown around the whole ‘travel the world’ idea, or ‘escape to a mountain retreat for months at a time’ idea, with this new found freedom.
For now, I’ll enjoy my city, my cozy apartment, the amazing students I see 3 days a week, and the continuous evolution of college teaching. And I’ll keep reaching for whatever feels right, and seeing where I end up. It’s worked out surprisingly well so far.
Happy teaching.
(P.S. If you have comments, questions, or advice about online teaching, please share! Contact me at erin@happyprofessor.com)
If you’d like to learn more about simple living or how to be a happy teacher, check out the book, Happy Professor, on Amazon.com.
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