Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Experiences of teaching online?

6 replies

Milkandacookie · 08/10/2024 17:37

Have any teachers made the move to teaching at an online school? Or have experience teaching groups online?

I'd love to know how you found it. I've seen a job teaching online and am tempted to look at it but would really love some first hand experiences. It pays less than a conventional teacher salary so I would want to be sure before applying!

Thanks

OP posts:
NewName24 · 09/10/2024 00:02

Personally, I hate it.
When teaching a group, they all turn cameras off, and you have no feedback.
You learn how much you used to be able to perceive from facial expressions and body language when F2F.
It limits the activities you can do and it limits how much interaction you can have.

That said, I know someone that teaches international students on-line and it works well. They are 1:1 however, and they (or their parents) are paying a good whack for it. So it will probably depend on your audience /pupils.

EBearhug · 09/10/2024 01:04

You can insist on cameras on, but sometimes you will be thwarted by technology. (As I was in my first evening class of this term.)

Some fully paid up versions of videoconferencing software includes options to measure engagement, e.g. are students eyes on the screen, do they have other applications prominent, is there mouse/keyboard activity? Can't tell you what's currently on offer, as I have only used free versions lately, or been an attendee, rather than a host.

It will help to be proficient in knowing how the software works - how to share slides and other materials, how to add annotations (e.g. when going through exercise answers,) how to use and assign breakout rooms, how to make things interactive- you can use speaking, but there are also options like whiteboards or quizzes, etc. A lot like a classroom, but there are differences, and good online teachers can adapt to it. Mind you, not all classroom teachers use technology as well as others, so there's an element of teaching style, too.

A friend who had taught in person for years offered a group of us online classes for free, so she got the practice of doing it online before going back to face-to-face, and we could give feedback n what worked and what didn't. So that might be worth trying if it's a feasible option,just to get used to it, if you're so familiar with working online. Smaller groups or 1-2-1 definitely easier.

I've only been involved with adults, though, who have generally paid and chosen to be there, so tend to be more motivated. Teaching a load of children is different.

Milkandacookie · 09/10/2024 05:48

Yes thankyou. I currently teach adults so joining an online school would be a return to teaching children.

It looks very well set up and designed for those who don't access mainstream school which appeals to me but yes the practicalities of not having them in front of you would rake some getting used to.

I am keen to make the move to work from home for other reasons so saw it as a way to stay teaching but it would be a leap back to children as well as yes the issues of working online.

I do like what they're doing though. Hmmm.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

EBearhug · 09/10/2024 08:17

If you applied, I'm guessing you'd have to do a trial lesson as part of the interview process- so it could be useful to remember interviews are a two-way process. I've certainly come out from interviews thinking, "no way am I working for you!" However, if it's a new process, it could also be that it's just unfamiliarity and you'd be fine when you're used to it.

Milkandacookie · 09/10/2024 08:23

The thought of a trial lesson is already giving me anxiety.

I think I'm burning out from teaching and scrabbling at ideas. Its so hard to change career completely. I'm bright, learn fast, teach well but feel so deskilled in terms of finding other work.

OP posts:
EBearhug · 09/10/2024 08:47

I guess it depends on your subject- but could you teach adults online? I do online language classes. Or tutoring, 1-2-1. The trouble is whether you'd rather teach in the day - adult classes and tutoring are often evenings, sometimes weekends. Though you could teach English in a language school or something.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread