So You Want to Be (or already are) an Online Educator?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you! And did I say thank you?

 

i have an interview with cava in 2 days

so i applied and completed the assessment required by cava. i received a call yesterday to set up an interview. they want me to present a 10 min. lesson and then interview with a panel of 2 people. i'm not really sure what to expect. what are they looking for in the lesson? what are they going to ask during the interview? basic interview questions? subjects specific questions? both? i'm a bit nervous and could use some pointers if any of you have some.

thanks

 

Congrats and Good Luck!!!!! :2up:

 

k2000y - are you applying for a K8 or HS position?

Honestly, I believe they are very much in need of teachers right now and will probably look for anything. The ability to sound calm, confident, and reliable are probably big plusses. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to wow them with your lesson, as really, I hate to say, but if you're applying for a regular K-8th teacher position, you'll hardly do any actual teaching anyways. It's more about being able to support your classload of families. And by support, I mean that you will have to monitor progress and attendance, collect work samples, set up interventions/tutoring, administer testing, problem solve, repeatedly pester the hard-to-reach families to turn in paperwork, deal with compliance issues, etc. You'll be expected to teach a couple hours a week, but it will be an assigned topic and the .ppts will be provided to you.

6 yrs ago, way back when I interviewed with CAVA I do remember them asking some questions about how I would explain an online task to a family who was confused. I also had to answer something about how to do some task in Word and some other computer program. It wasn't anything super challenging, but I think they just wanted to make sure that I had some level of computer competency. But CAVA has changed completely since then, so who knows what they ask now.

Either way, good luck and I hope the job works out to be what you want! There are pros to CAVA and there are cons. You may PM me if you have any more questions. (I worked at CAVA for 5 years before switching to a different homeschool/online school this year)

 

I know I hardly ever post on A-to-Z now, but I joined this site 6 or 7 years ago and used to post a lot during my first year teaching (at a brick & mortar). Then I got a job at my virtual school and I remember catnfiddle as being the resident online teaching expert even back then.

I can't believe that I'm in my 6th year in the online teaching world either! My how time flies; I've now had two kids in that time too! It's such an interesting little bubble, as it's not like any of us ever went to school to teach online; we kind of had to carve out our own roles.

 

i'm applying for a hs position.

 

thanks again.

 

You will be amazing. I'd ask them what kind of software they use for recording your lessons for asynchronous learners (ie those who never show up for your live sessions). Most of the time, I record those live sessions (Collaborate or WebEx) and make them available in a recording library. Other times, I use something called Screencast O Matic Pro and make embeddable mp4s of myself teaching a lesson.

 

cat

thanks for the support. cross your fingers for me.

 

Oh, I've only recently learned about screencastomatic and it's pretty awesome!

 

Oh, but CAVA uses Blackboard (aka Collaborate, aka Elluminate; they are all the same thing) and you will do your recordings in Blackboard too.

 

just finished the interview with cava

huh. it was oddly simple. i expected more probing questions. it was just basic teacher interview questions.

 

That's a little surprising. With my first interview, I also had to take a basic Microsoft Office aptitude test. Maybe that was just my school in particular? What kind of questions did you ask your interviewer?

 

Anyone here know anything about George Washington University Online High School?

 

they started off with about 5 basic teacher interview questions like: what's your philosophy on teaching, how do you integrate technology in your lessons, why should we hire you, etc. etc.. and then i presented my 10min. lesson. afterwards, they continued with, i would say, about 10-12 more questions. all were basic teacher interview questions. examples include: what do you consider a strength/ weakness, how do you keep track of your schedule, how do you handle pressure/give examples, do you work well with others/team player, how do you handle an angry parent,...etc.
btw. i just got a call this afternoon. they offered me a full time position at the hs. starting nov 3rd. isn't that crazy??!!

 

i did have to take a gen. aptitude test too. but i guess i must have done ok. anyhow thanks for all your helpful suggestions.

 

Congratulations, k2000y!

 

That's WONDERFUL! Hoping you have a solid mentor when you start, because there is a steep technology learning curve. I didn't have a good mentor until my second year, so I struggled a lot until I figured out things on my own.

What subject and grade will you be teaching?

 

thanks guys

but sadly i had to decline the position.the salary is less than where i'm at right now. though i'd love to teach online full time. it's definitely a dream of mine and i'd love to be able to do both but my students would be the ones that would suffer. i can't do that. i guess i'll just have to wait a while longer.

 

Ah, that IS a shame. Perhaps the next opportunity!

 

I was wondering about some of the benefits offered especially retirement and any tuition reimbursement.

TIA

 

That really depends upon the individual school. Because I'm in Ohio, I'm in the state teachers' retirement plan, the same as any other public school teacher. The school doesn't offer any 403b or 504k, but that can be done on an individual basis. I have gotten some tuition reimbursement after my first year of teaching, but not a huge amount (enough to pay for one class). My health benefits are pretty good, with three different plans depending on deductible thresholds. In addition, I was able to sell my car because I don't drive to school, and the majority of school meetings are on my local bus route.

 

This is a question that might be unique to those who teach from home. Pandora, the beautiful cat that has been my AtoZ avatar for six years, passed away today. Many of my students know she was always in my office with me but was in failing health. I've talked about her jumping down to get my attention during class and things like that. Do I tell them about her death? If so, how do I get through it?

 

"Yes" and "with lots and lots of kleenex".

 

Online education is one of the best option now a days.
some students do part work to earn some money and who wont able to attend school regularly i think for such students this online education is very helpful.
in same ways some teachers also do teaching as part time work they can give teaching lessons from their home.
The Idea is really great for both the point of view.
But it is beneficial for both the parties when both really wish and look positively for this idea. Their are some students who just don't wish to do it. They just don't like to study or they hate study for such studies. in such situation Online education is really bad idea.

I would really like to say that our technology has grown tremendously then we should start using it .

 

it seems that kids all like playing,so did you have any good methods to help them studying while playing?

 

Getting the students to engage is one of the toughest parts of the job. If you have live sessions, make sure you're doing more than talking and showing a presentation for an hour. Get the students involved in the reading and discussion (they have headsets and microphones, right?) so it's not just your voice. Perhaps showing a video to illustrate your lessons will help. You can also add videos (including of yourself) to the classroom lessons to keep their attention.

 

I'm a new teacher and I would like to teach at a virtual academy. My only problem is that I have a preliminary teaching credential. I would like to get my credential cleared within these next couple years. Can I clear my credential while teaching at a virtual academy?

 

Connections Academy

Does anybody have any experience or know anything about teaching at Connections Academy?

 

I don't see why not, although many schools require their teachers to be Highly Qualified because their charters are under extra scrutiny.. Honestly, I loved being a student and teacher at the same time. Do you have the ability to be an online student? Working on my M.Ed. online did amazing things for me, being able to see things from both sides of the desk. Do you have a lead to where you would finish your classes?

 

They have amazing technology. My friend who is a counselor there is incredibly happy with the school on the whole.

 

To clear a California preliminary credential, one must go through an induction program (BTSA), usually through one's employing district. Whether CAVA is set up for that, I don't know.

 

CAVA doesn't offer BTSA.

I am looking for alternatives to BTSA. I've heard from a few new teachers that it isn't a very good program.

 

As far as clearing my credential goes? I'm not sure. I think there's some type of online clearing process. I have taken online classes before.

 

I'd say good intentions, uneven execution (some people have reported a positive experience).

Your local county office of education is likely to be a very helpful resource.

 

Needing to clear my credential was one of many reasons why I went from online teaching back into brick and mortar. The only online option I could find was through UCSD and was going to cost a lot (I think around $2000) so for me it was worth it to go back into a traditional setting and just deal with BTSA. I think those are your only options in CA, as far as I can tell.

 

Ah. If you're talking specifically about credentials in California, I haven't a clue. California, Texas, and New York seem to have extra exams I don't come across here in Ohio. The PLT was bad enough because Pennsylvania (where I grew up) didn't require it.

 

Perhaps it's just my particular online school, but we're having the fun part of the academic year where students are handing in last-minute assignments hand over fist after weeks of doing next to nothing. One student called me this afternoon to ask for an additional extension beyond today (the end of the semester). She has a ZERO in my class. This is the norm because our school places a huge emphasis upon letting students work at their own pace. That doesn't allow us to set deadlines for individual assignments, so I'm still getting student work from October.

Part of this dilemma, I am certain, is the lack of in-person contact. Even though I turn on my webcam and film videos of myself, students can choose not to watch them. I'm not completely REAL to many students, or I'm up there with a friend of a friend they've befriended on Kik (still figuring what that website is but my students are apparently all on it).

Suggestions on improving student accountability would be welcomed, but I have a feeling this is more of a vent than anything else.