Online Teaching Jobs - Online English Instructor Job Description

May 14, 2010

Name: Latorial Faison
Job Title: Online English Instructor
Current Employer: DeVry University Online
Where: Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Years of Experience: 10
Other Relevant Work Experience: Higher Education Administration, Public School Teacher, Poet/Writer
Education: Univ. of Virginia, 1995, BA English; VA TECH, 1997, MA English; Univ. of Phoenix, 2014, Ph.D. Higher Education Admin.
Salary: Use the PayScale Research Center to find median salaries for online education jobs.

Online Teaching Jobs – Online English Instructor Job Description

Many people dream of working from home, but anyone who has searched for Internet-based employment knows that it can be hard to find legitimate online jobs. However, if you have the credentials to apply for college-level teaching jobs, an online instructor position could provide the freedom of a home-based job along with the professional satisfaction of an academic career.

Careers in online education have grown in the last several years, including jobs at online universities. In this Salary Story, we hear from an experienced online instructor who teaches for DeVry University. Find out why online jobs for teachers can be both challenging and rewarding.

Do You Know What You're Worth?

PayScale: What is your online teacher job description?

I teach English courses online from the comfort of my own home. I manage one to two courses every eight weeks. Course management includes contacting students via e-mail regularly; posting course and university announcements to students; and grading weekly discussions, writing assignments, and team assignments. In addition, I enter grades several times a week in the online grade book. I teach in the eCollege platform. Sometimes contacting students via telephone is required, but most contact occurs through the online environment or via e-mail.

PayScale: How did you get started as an online instructor?

I got started back in 2000. I was home with two young children, and I wanted to be able to work from home. At that time, I taught adjunct for at least two colleges and universities. I’m extremely PC literate and I love computers. I thought that teaching online would be an excellent opportunity for me.

PayScale: What do you love about your online teaching job?

I love teaching in eight-week sessions, helping adults to become better writers, interacting with students weekly in discussion, and of course, getting paid more money in a shorter period of time.

PayScale: What are the biggest challenges in a college-level online teaching job?

The biggest challenge that I face in this job is handling all of the grading that must be done in just a few days, especially when I’m teaching two classes. One class consists of between 19 and 25 students. That’s a lot of grading when you have two classes and papers to return each week.

PayScale: What advice would you give to someone pursuing jobs at online universities or other online education jobs?

I would tell anyone interested in this field, if you’re qualified, take the plunge and just do it. Most colleges and universities offer online training which can help you understand the act and art of teaching online. It’s not hard, and it can be done.

PayScale: What are the craziest things that have happened while teaching online?

The craziest thing that happens is losing power, Internet access, or visiting places where there is no Internet connection, for you’re always expected to have a back-up plan for getting online. What I find most amazing about this job is having the ability to impact so many lives in a positive way, lives of people you’ve never met. There’s such sincerity and less inhibition in the online environment. Students do well when they are motivated, and most of them are.

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