Become an Online Educator: Career and Education Roadmap

Online educators must go above and beyond the typical teaching requirements. Like most instructors, online educators are required to have a teaching degree and license for K-12 classes and a graduate degree for college-level courses. However, they also must demonstrate superior understanding and utilization of technology.

Career and Education Roadmap for Online Educators

Step 1: Earn an Advanced Teaching Degree

Online teaching at the K-12 level requires a bachelor's degree and appropriate state-issued teaching certification. At the postsecondary level, it's important for potential online educators to have earned a master's or doctorate degree. Most colleges and universities don't require applicants to have a degree in education. Rather, they prefer a degree and experience in the subject which the applicant intends to teach.

Step 2: Teach in a Classroom

Experience teaching in a classroom will facilitate an easier transition to online teaching. Because online teaching combines teaching ability with technological ability, it's beneficial to prove to potential employers that you already know how to teach. Moreover, it's usually easier to negotiate an online teaching position with a current employer than trying to find a new employer to hire you directly.

Step 3: Understand and Utilize Technology

Potential online educators must be prepared to prove their technological competency. It's vital that they know how to use available online learning platforms, which offer many opportunities to enrich lessons, such as audio or visual supplements. Furthermore, prospective online educators may be required to complete an online teaching course.

Step 4: Seek Additional Education Certificates

A number of online instructor certificate programs are available for aspiring educators. While not generally mandatory, these programs can be a good way to learn about online learning and to add to a resume. Many colleges and universities offer courses in online learning strategies, class management and Web 2.0. Most of these courses are available through the Web, so potential online educators are exposed to the online classroom experience while learning how to use it.

Step 5: Teach Online

Online educators should be clear about student expectations from the beginning. Students should know how often they need to post in discussions, when readings need to be completed and what day of the week assignments are due. Because online classes are always accessible, it's important to communicate some structure. Furthermore, online instructors must be able to provide quick turn-around on assignments and questions since discussions and lectures are ongoing for the length of a course.