1	Prospecting and Preparation Strategies for Online Instructors Paul David Henry, Ph.D. Program House phinfo@programhouse.com
2	Introduction Teaching is a rewarding profession, but for those who are searching for traditional faculty positions in higher education, the prospecting experience can be frustrating. However, for anyone who is considering teaching online courses, there can be a seller’s market if you master job prospecting and preparation skills.
3	Introduction As aging baby-boomers retire, there is a growing labor shortage - especially in skilled professions (National Older Worker Career Center, 2006). With providers of distance education addressing educational needs, the work opportunities for online instructors should grow to meet this demand.
4	A Case for Online Teaching Online teaching work is remote and largely asynchronous, so it can satisfy a desire to work from (almost) anywhere and at (almost) anytime. Choosing how much and when you want to work is normal as you generally provide a per-course approval and contract to teach an online course section with any college.
5	A Case for Online Teaching Aside from full-time faculty who teach some online courses, most schools hire part-time instructors in an adjunct capacity. Consider how economies of effort (exploiting software tools and techniques and re-use strategies), could bootstrap your ability to teach more courses.
6	Consider the Numbers Compensation per course varies from one institution to another: from approximately $1200 to $5000 for course semesters of 6 to 15 weeks and class sizes of 10 to 30 students. Typical compensation for a six-week online course consisting of 15-25 students would be $2500-$3000.
7	Consider the Numbers Teaching one or two courses per semester can supplement other work. However, teaching six course sections every six weeks, eight times per year at $1500 per course (a “worse-case” figure that is above some, but below most course compensations), would provide $72,000 per year.
8	Consider the Numbers If your per-course compensation is closer to the middle end of the range, you can reach that yearly compensation teaching half as many courses or times per year. At the top of the pay range, you can achieve that yearly earnings teaching as few as twelve courses per year.
9	Consider the Numbers In one reported case, an online adjunct was earning about $90,000 a year solely teaching online college courses. Carnevale, D. (2004). For Online Adjuncts, a Seller's Market. The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/ While you need time to build up a roster of that many courses, these numbers are not outside the likely attainment of anyone who effectively manages their time and effort.
10	Academic Fields Based on my prospecting experience, the greatest demand seems to be in business, information technology, health, and education. However, with more schools offering online courses, there should be increasing representation of other academic areas.
11	A Matter of Degree Graduate level courses generally have smaller class sizes and more engaged learners relative to undergraduate and certificate programs. A master’s degree is usually required as a minimum for teaching online undergraduate and some graduate courses.
12	A Matter of Degree A doctoral degree is preferred for both levels and typically required for graduate courses. An undergraduate degree in the academic area you plan to teach may be acceptable for community college courses and certificate-based programs.
13	A Matter of Degree As for prior teaching experience, it is a factor in your favor, but there are virtual universities that do not require it. They train you in their teaching methods and then mentor you through your first teaching experience.
14	Finding Online Course Providers The Web sites of colleges and universities are a good place to start your job search. Academic sections can provide useful information about what courses and programs are offered. Human Resources and Faculty sections can provide the most information related to available online teaching positions.
15	Finding Online Course Providers Virtual University Gazette provides a school directory and subscription to a free email newsletter: http://www.geteducated.com/vug/index.asp The Chronicle of Higher Education provides job listings and free subscription to emailed job postings: http://www.chronicle.com Monster.com has a Learning section with information about online courses and an extensive list of providers.
16	Querying Online Course Providers When contacting providers who do not provide application through their Web sites, you should send an initial query via email (or by mail or phone). In lieu of a specific contact person, a letter of interest should be directed to a departmental chairperson or other relevant contact that you have gleaned from the corresponding school Web site.
17	Querying Online Course Providers Introduce yourself and express interest in teaching online courses in their department. Qualify your prospective employer in terms of determining the specific nature of online courses and compensation. You may not immediately receive all of this information in reply. Whatever you do receive can help you determine suitability before getting involved in the application process.
18	Querying Online Course Providers With some providers, it can take as long as a year or more to reply to your initial query. During this time, you should maintain communication to determine any future work opportunities. In some cases, you will receive a fairly quick response that leads to the application process. If you are chosen as an online teaching candidate, it can result in employee processing and faculty training within weeks or months.
19	The Application Process The application process can begin with response to your initial query with requests for a letter of interest (i.e., a cover letter), a completed application, and supporting documentation such as a resume with references. During this initial stage, transcripts from schools where you have received degrees are typically requested. Upon acceptance of your application, you will be informed of the next steps such as filling out tax forms as the beginning of the employment process.
20	Choosing Courses and Schools You can teach as many as 6 or 7 courses at a time, but that is time consuming. College instructors typically teach about 3-4 courses at a time, so that is a more realistic number. Teaching less courses makes sense when you are starting out, when adding new courses, or when teaching to supplement other work.
21	Autonomy and Accountability You don’t usually have control over the basic requirements of the curriculum or the choice of the online learning software platform. You can modify or create certain curriculum elements (e.g., assignments) or select some of the basic software features you want to use in a given course (e.g., chat or group conferencing). Balance students’ learning needs and preferences with your own capacity to address them effectively while adhering to school policies.
22	Professional Development Seminars and meetings covering a wide range of online teaching skills are typically offered online. Participation is usually on a voluntary basis. Grants and stipends are often offered for professional development activities such as attending or presenting at conferences or having a paper published in a topic area relevant to your teaching.
23	Conclusion Teaching online can help you get started on a teaching career or to help others learn as you continue to practice your profession or enjoy your retirement. It can also provide more revenue than consulting or production work can achieve. Using these suggested techniques, you are likely to find success sooner than you might otherwise achieve in this still novel and specialized professional activity.