For me, when asked why I chose to teach online, the answer is pretty simple. I would love to tell you it’s because online teaching is rewarding (it is in many ways!) – but the truth is the main reason I teach online because I have children. After my son was born, I transitioned from teaching at a traditional high school to teaching online – first part-time and now full-time – and my main goal is to be able to be with my little ones as much as possible. While my career is important to me and definitely a passion, my kids will only be little once and I don’t want to miss these memories and milestones.
That said, I am enthusiastic about my career and I’ve grown to love the online environment. Teaching online is very different from traditional teaching – engaging students, establishing rapport, even grading — it’s all a brand new ballgame in the online world. There are definitely aspects of the traditional environment that I miss – most notably more personal and in-depth interactions with students and colleagues – but overall, I truly enjoy teaching online.
The key element for me, and why I am currently teaching online, is for the flexibility it provides. My full-time job requires me to be logged into my computer and available from 10 to 4 each day. The other 10 hours of my job are “at will” and include office hours, after hours meetings, and grading and responding to student questions and discussions on the weekends. My other teaching and writing positions conform around these hours.
What I love most about my job is the ability to still have many hours with my children. I’m able to take them to school each day at 8:30 and pick them up every afternoon at 3. I take my lunch break to pick them up and then log back in until 4 (usually later) when we arrive home – as approved by my boss.
The summer is the most difficult time for me as an online instructor. Even with some outside childcare, my little ones are often here while I’m working and we would all much rather be at the local swimming pool! My kids have adjusted to my working while they are awake and around and for the most part are very receptive. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling a heaping load of “mommy-guilt” when we are all stuck inside so I can be on the computer when we could be outside enjoying the fresh air!
One important thing to consider before deciding to teach online is that most online schools do not have traditional breaks like brick and mortar colleges. This year, I have most Federal Holidays off work (from my full-time position – not the others), otherwise, I’m clocking hours, checking classes, etc. And even weekends are not my own – online participation is still expected in the classroom.
As one can imagine, burnout in this type of situation is high. There is definitely a reason that traditional schools have summer break, winter break, and spring break – and it isn’t only for the students! Working nearly 364 days a year wears on even the most devoted instructor. I remind myself daily that the flexibility I have (in particular the ability to be with my children a great deal) is worth the crazy work hours, weekend hours, and hauling two computers on “vacation.” I’ll admit that some days I dream of going back to a traditional school setting – with regular hours, regular breaks, and of not sitting at my computer chatting with my boss at colleagues at 10 pm at night. But for now, that isn’t an option – not only would I not be paid as well, but I wouldn’t be able to pick-up my kids. And having children was the initial driving force that led me to transition from traditional high school teaching to teaching college students online in the first place!
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
