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Happy Valentines Day fellow Adjuncts!

Hope everyone is enjoying peaceful day with those you love.  Its cold and snowy here in Kentucky, so today finds my family and I snuggled around the fireplace (its electric, but hey, it works) drinking coffee and cocoa.

Love is on my mind as I sit down to write this blog post and I got to wondering what all of you love about online teaching (or the prospect of online teaching). Its something we are all looking for, but why are we pursuing it? Ideally because there is something we find appealing or dare I say “attractive” about it, huh? I’ll list a few of the things I love about online teaching here and I welcome you to share yours in the comment section below!

What I Love About Online Teaching

  1. Obviously, the flexibility. Working from home on a self-paced schedule is perhaps the biggest allure of a career in online teaching. I’ve worked from the beach, while camping, in various pairs of comfy pjs, and in just about every Starbucks and Panera in the city of Louisville, Ky. While working on vacation doesn’t necessarily sound like a perk, the fact that I was able to schedule a vacation when I wanted to without having to find a sub or working around the semester schedule is certainly nice.
  2. Its something I choose to do. I’ve worked with a lot of instructors who feel “forced” by their universities to teach online. There seems to be resentment there. I try to help them find the silver lining, but at the end of the conversation I’m more appreciative of my choice in the matter.
  3. Adult Distance Learners are hungry for knowledge. Most online learners are adults who’ve already had varied careers and have had a life experience that has inspired them to return to school and pursue a degree in psychology. These students are interesting, interested, motivated, and ever-willing to engage in sidebar conversations. It’s an inspiring population to work with.
  4. It helps keep my career varied and interesting. In addition to teaching online, I’m also a licensed clinical psychologist with a small psychotherapy practice, community manager for AdjunctWorld, and a professional development trainer. I also do subject matter expert work. No day is ever the same as the next and, after working as a full time clinician for several years, the variety is welcome and keeps me energized. Sitting for 8 hours a day in one chair, even though I love doing psychotherapy, is something I’d like not to do again.
  5. I’m part of a community of distance educators. We are an interesting crew, right? I’d also go as far as to say that, as an online instructor, you are a part of a community of remote employees in a more general sense.
  6. It gives me one more thing in common with my husband. I’m a clinical psychologist and he’s an information technology exec. You wouldn’t think our careers would overlap too much, would you? But because I am an online teacher and he works for a higher education start up, we share an industry and I’m thankful for that.

What about you? What do you love about online teaching? Or, if you haven’t taught online yet, what about the idea of online teaching pulls you toward it? Please comment below! I’d love to hear from you.

And, as always, best of luck in your job search.

2 Responses to “Happy Valentines Day from AdjunctWorld!”

  1. Darla

    Besides being an online instructor for over 20 years, I am also an education consultant. In addition to the list I would have to say having access to institutions on a global scale that just keep “doing” online education better and better. Great article! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Brooke Shriner

      Thank you and you are welcome, Darla! I agree, being a part of a sea change in education is super exciting. Watching it happen from the inside gives us a unique perspective.

      Reply

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