The online instructor

I teach online courses with two different schools that reach varied student bases. One serves a large, major city school network (OU1) and the other is a for-profit school that serves students that are spread all over the US and the world (OU2). A large number of my students are military affiliated, many are non-traditional students with full-time jobs, families, other school obligations, illness, and much more. Their lives are complicated and they are a special kind of student.

Currently, I teach a Humanities 200 level course and an introductory Composition 100 level course. I see all levels of writing and critical thinking. I also see a full range of excuses when it comes to completing work and turning it in.

This part of my life, the online teaching part, is spent grading, checking and responding to email, tracking down students that are MIA, lecturing (oh, yes, don't let the online thing fool you in to thinking it is easier and less work than on-ground learning), creating supplemental materials, directing students to various services, calming them down over the phone or email, and it goes on and on.

The perk to teaching online comes down to my mobility and my ability to take my teaching on the road and do it from anywhere. And, thus, is the point of this blog.

The plan:

To give up my 8-5, full-time, benefits-perked, higher ed administrative, tear-inducing job in Chicago and hit the road.

This is a learning experience. I don't know how this will work. I am sure others have done this but, the simple fact is, I haven't done this before.

So, onward and upward, with a hint of trepidation and a whole lot of hope.