Good Training Opens Doors

I’ve been learning online since 1996 and teaching online since 1999. In this business that makes me an old timer. I followed a new dream after 25 years in public school classrooms and swapped the habitual morning commute for work & life online.

I’ve made my living completely online since 2001. (My little brother Paul, a game design guru and creative VP High Moon Studios, always jokes that I’m the only guy he knows who makes a living online without taking his clothes off.

It’s been hard work. I’ve juggled multiple jobs while returning to school (at age 50) to earn masters degrees in online teaching and learning and instructional design. I’ve written and researched more in the past 5 or 6 years than I did in the previous 20. I work too much and sometimes find it hard to take a break. Regardless, it has been the best of times professionally. All the excitement and commitment I felt as a dedicated classroom teacher is still there. Very little of the frustration and disappoint I felt as a classroom teacher remains.

I’ve been building the E-Learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate program at UW-Stout for the past two years.

Online teachers in training often ask me about jobs. How do you get a job, when you don’t have experience? What many fail to realize is that learning online, and specifically taking a rigorous series of classes designed to teach you e-learning fundamentals really is experience.

Still the reality is that online jobs are like gold: they are where you find them.

Networks & Online Work

I’ve found that developing a professional network is the best way to find an online job. In the world of Web 2.0 professional networks can be built that will help an online teacher strike pay dirt. So if you’re looking for online work, join professional social networks. Two I’d recommend are LinkedIn.com and Classroom 2.0.

LinkedIn.com is all about jobs & social networking. By building a web of colleagues and posting your credentials online you begin to open doors you may not even know are there. Linked in provides access via an inside connection when you’re looking for work. It also provides you with a way to contact colleagues you worked with in the past. Remember, most work comes via the grapevine.

Classroom 2.0 is a very ’social’ network. I’m impressed by the size (about 2000) and the interests of educators I’ve meet on Steve Hargadon’s Ning based gathering place. Online educators need a community of practice that will help them connect with like minded colleagues. I’m using it to connect with former students as well as those teachers I currently work with.

Multiple Motives, Multiple Tasks, Juggling Cats

I have a lot of motives for joining social networks. I miss people after they’ve left my classes. I want to know how they are doing. I want to know what parts of the training helped change their practice. I want to brainstorm and get new ideas. I also want to spread the word about my Certificate Program at Stout by using the social networking tools of Web 2.0. Oh, and I’d like folks to know about all of the free resources and learning materials I’ve created for the 21st Century Information Fluency Project as well.

What about Jobs?

First, don’t be discouraged if you don’t get jobs by sending resumes and applications. Networks are the way to go. That said, polish your resume, tune up your website and blogs and fire away. It’s all bread upon the waters!

Try Clusty.com’s job search. Keywords: Online Instructor

Jobs Forum of NACOL (If you’re a K-12 educator looking to go online, join NACOL.)

Ok, here are some hot leads I lifted from the NACOL Forums:

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AMDG, Inc. is seeking certified, talented, flexible, online instructors. We have part-time openings in French, German, Japanese, Latin, and Science. Since 1999, thousands of public, independent, home-schooled and adult students from all over the country have enrolled in AMDG’s accredited online K-12 program. These students have anytime, anywhere access to a quality education through AMDG. In addition to more than 160 academic courses ranging from remedial to honors and AP, AMDG also offers foreign language, enrichment, and elective courses. Applicants must be proficient with e-mail, digital communications, and possess excellent writing skills. Please send a resume detailing qualifications and relevant professional development experiences to teacherapp@amdg.ws.

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Virtual High School Global Consortium (VHS, Inc.) is seeking a Math Curriculum Coordinator. Position Overview:
The Curriculum Coordinator is responsible for maintaining and delivering Virtual High School (VHS) online teacher training, and helping teachers to transition from training, to course delivery, to ongoing professional development. The Curriculum Coordinator is also responsible for curriculum coordination for his/her subject area. The Curriculum Coordinator, as part of the Curriculum and Instruction Team, is responsible for facilitating Virtual High School professional development courses for high school teachers, conducting ongoing research on the latest developments in online education, and incorporating pedagogy as appropriate into VHS professional development offerings. The Curriculum Coordinator also provides mentoring to teachers in his or her subject area who are delivering courses to high school students, and helps ensure courses are delivered according to Virtual High School standards. This is a full-time, full-year position located in Maynard, Massachusetts.Qualifications:
·MA/MAT in Content Area, Education, Educational Administration or the equivalent.
·Five + years experience teaching and/or coordinating curriculum at the high school level; must have high school teaching certification.
·Experience in online course development and facilitation.
·Computer proficiency; working knowledge of Lotus Notes, MS-Office Suite, and Blackboard preferred.
·Self-motivation, sound judgment, and the ability to problem solve.
·Ability to work in a highly interactive team environment.
·Excellent communication skills (both oral and written), and a positive attitude.
·Good organizational skills and the ability to work successfully on multiple projects at once.

For a full position description please visit the VHS web site employment page: http://www.govhs.org/Pages/ContactVHS-Employment.

Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to cribeiro@goVHS.org, by FAX to 978.897.9839, or by snail mail to:

Carol Ribeiro
Chief Operating Officer
VHS, Inc.
3 Clock Tower Place Suite 200
Maynard, MA 01754.

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Teaching Specialist (Mathematics)
Company: K12
About Us:
Founded in 1999, K12 Inc. is a company committed to excellence in education. K12 is a curriculum development company and provides management services to public charter schools throughout the United States. The company has developed an excellent curriculum and instructional tools to help give children a great education. Programs are offered in six core subjects (Language Arts, Math, History, Science, Art and Music). The company’s unique program combines online technology with traditional content and the world’s best teaching methods. Education is delivered virtually to charter schools, school districts and to home school environments. The US Department of Education has identified this area of education to be the fastest growing of all education segments. “Hundreds of thousands are taking advantage of e-learning this school year” (US Department of Education, 2004).Required Experience, Skills and Education
• Bachelors degree in writing and or math (elementary education) is preferred.
• 3-5+ years of professional publishing writing for math elementary textbooks and other materials required
• 5+ years of K-5 teaching and/or math curriculum experience is required
• Good oral, and people skills are required
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines with creativity, independence and high standards
• Self motivation is key to this position.
• Demonstrated ability to establish objectives, identify problems, analyze data and creatively deliver solutions
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on large-scale projectsPosition Description
K12 (Mathematics) Teaching Specialists are an important part of the product development team. Duties include:

• Provides both broad and specific pedagogical components to lessons
• Writes online and offline activities, ensuring that activities are clearly written and match student capabilities
• Checks activities for mathematic accuracy of instruction, for clearly defined activity procedures, and for ease of use
• Coordinates the selection and management of activity materials with K12 logistics/business staff (as necessary)
• Writes instructions, content background information, and tips for teacher guides, lesson guides, and other content materials directed to the virtual teacher and to the learning coach (parent or caring adult)
• Supports the work of Instructional Designers, Editors, and Teacher Guide Writers as it relates to pedagogy and age-appropriate content
• Consults with Instructional Designers, Visual Designers, and Media Specialists on pedagogy and age-appropriate issues related to flash designs, photos, illustrations, and video treatments
• Researches “best practices” in online teaching as it relates to a specific product, curriculum and grade level
• Consults and attends meetings as assigned (internally and externally)
• Other duties as assigned.

To Apply:
Note: This is a contract position; multiple contract positions available.
To respond to this opportunity, please indicate position title along with letter and resume to: jobs@k12.com Please refer to reference code: 1488447 in the subject line of your email.

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The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, located in Durham, NC is a residential high school for juniors/seniors statewide with high academic potential. Competitive entrance provides a rigorous curriculum enriched with experiential learning for a limited population of ~650 students. NCSSM desires to develop an online learning program targeted to those students in the state who exhibit the same qualifications required of those admitted to the residential program, but who are denied because of the space constraints.A new position, Director of NCSSM Online, will develop, manage, and expand an online NCSSM learning program.Full-time 12-month Faculty Position in Distance Learning Department

For more information and to apply, visit: http://www.ncssm.edu/hr/jobs

Applications accepted until position is filled.

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