Online teachers and tutors are in high demand around the world. However, the advent of technology and the current pandemic have made online teaching much more common, even a necessity. Unlike most other jobs, teaching online has the added benefit of providing the individual with the flexibility and ability to plan their own schedules, ones that obviously work for you and your students.
What is online teaching?
Online education is the act of imparting knowledge through the Internet and virtual technology to reach potential students. As such, online teachers and students can be anywhere in the world and still be able to interact and have a healthy learning process.
Online teachers are not much different from regular teachers, except through the medium. Online teachers must perform their work and meet the needs of their students virtually. That said, success in teaching online requires a slightly different set of skills in addition to traditional teaching skills. Online classroom management, technical knowledge, video conferencing, creating online presentations, designing instructional visuals, among several other practices, are all integral parts of virtual teaching practice.
Steps to Become an Online Teacher Abroad
If you are considering a job or a side hustle as an online teacher abroad, the tips below are sure to come in handy.
1. Do your homework
Obviously, the first thing to do is do your homework. In other words, you need to thoroughly research everything about online education, its theory, pedagogy, and the requirements and skills needed to join and thrive in this field.
Sometimes online tutor recruitment agencies require specific technical skills and abilities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have these skills before applying. The responsibility is to find out what skills companies are looking for in online teachers and to work for them.
2. Embrace digital tools
One requirement that will help you become an online teacher is your knowledge of online learning tools. You must know how to use a computer and use it to prepare and present course content to students.
You should develop a working knowledge of the various applications and software needed to conduct online teaching. For example, you must be familiar with and have at least basic knowledge of how video conferencing tools such as zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, among others, work. Admittedly, they differ in terms of the features they offer, but the operating principle is the same. You’ll learn how to share your screen with others, moderate a room, participate in synchronous text chats, upload materials, and more.
Because everything is done in the cloud, you must ensure that your internet connection is not only stable and secure, but also operates at higher bandwidth, otherwise interruptions will disrupt the flow of your online teaching and, in the worst cases, will interrupt it completely.
Virtual teaching also requires you to have a webcam that supports audio and video recording. There should be no issues with the quality of the audio system. You must be able to articulate your messages clearly and lucidly and establish good communication with students. Poor sound quality disrupts student learning and negatively impacts understanding and overall concentration.
3. Get Certified
You need to have a few necessary educational qualifications before you can become an online tutor. However, this requirement may be different depending on your location. But generally, you are expected to be well versed in the area you want to teach. A bachelor’s degree in education or related fields is essential in today’s job market.
There’s also the option of enrolling in short courses, physical or online, to prepare you for work and give you the certifications you need to land good jobs. Do extensive research online to find such courses and take advantage of them. Coursera, edX, Udemy, are good places to start looking for specialized teaching courses.
4. Find a niche
The next thing you need to focus on is finding an area of study and developing yourself to teach that subject. Being an expert in a field is essential as it allows you to help the student with any challenge and provide a long-term solution.
5. Join an online teaching platform
There are many online education platforms you can join to start your career. Some of these platforms are looking for teachers to join their websites. All you have to do is fill in your credentials and provide your resume and personal information. If you meet the requirements and your application is approved, these platforms will set you up and find students willing to learn from you. Sites like tutor.com and UP Skills can provide the perfect launch for your career.
Conclusion
Online tutoring has grown tremendously over the past five years, thanks to the rapid development of technology and the increase in internet speeds around the world. Students and tutors have taken advantage of these developments to improve the learning process.
Online education is especially ideal for people who want to work from home and prefer a flexible or non-traditional work environment. Prospective teachers in tough job markets can boost their resumes by gaining experience teaching online and also earn extra money after school hours. Teachers with teaching experience are always in high demand; you just need to find the school or platform that suits your preferences and needs.
Disclaimer: This is a Jooble sponsored post