Call for help from blog followers and friends

I have really been thinking lately as our EMDT program draws to an end this month that I would like to teach online.  Currently I have my Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education (P-4).  I am not quite sure how you would even go about getting a position at an online school, so that is where my call for help comes in.  Do any of my followers or friends know where or how you would begin to search for a position as an online instructor?  

I am not even sure what type of credentials or experience is needed to do such a thing.  I know that there was a position listed recently at Full Sail for an ACD in the LMO course that I would love to do, but I don't have the 4 years of required experience for the position.  I am hoping that maybe one or more of you are online instructors and could possibly help me with my query. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions in my quest for a teaching position out there in the virtual world.

Wk 4 DB: Topic 1

Topic #1: Briefly share what your dream teaching or presentation environment would be like, be specific about what such a place would include (beyond just the tech toys).

Hmmm...this one is somewhat hard for me because my dream job has always been to become an Art teacher, but when I went for my undergraduate degree in Arkansas there were no Art teachers in the schools. It wasn't until about a month before I graduated that they put it back into the schools and at that point I was not financially able to add another 60 hours in art courses that were needed to obtain that degree. Therefore, I went into Elementary education (P-4).  After completing my student internship in 2006 I was sure that if I couldn't teach Art that I would very much like to teach 4th grade in a school very similar to the one that I completed my internship at.  I was placed at a technology school where all of the classrooms had a Smartboard, projector, computer, and printer.  Then one classroom from grades 2-4 had laptops for every student.  It was amazing the things they were learning and with my technology background I was totally immersed in that style of teaching.  Unfortunately most school districts aren't that fortunate and are lucky to even have a computer in their classroom at all.  After taking my courses here at Full Sail online I have really become very interested in becoming an online instructor, but am not quite sure where I would even begin looking or becoming qualified for such a position.

At any rate, my dream teaching environment (regardless of the grade level) would be one where I could implement many of the strategies that we have learned during our time here at Full Sail. I loved the gaming strategies course and completed my Action Research on teaching social skills for the workforce using gaming, so I would love to be able to implement some form of game-based learning into my classroom.  Other than that being able to communicate with my class online through Schoology or a platform similar to Full Sail's would rate high on my list.  This has been an incredible journey and left me wanting to unleash my creativity and explore all I can do with the technology available to me.  I would love to share that passion and journey with other students. Just being able to keep the students engaged and in a comfortable setting is important as well.  Wouldn't it be great if classrooms weren't full of stark white walls and 30 or so wooden desks or tables tightly crammed into a small space?  Having the opportunity to teach others online from the comfort of their own home provides a much more personal feel to me. I know that it is not the same as being in a classroom full of students who are right there in front of you, but I really think I am tailored for the online atmosphere or at least one where I could integrate both the classroom and online aspects equally.  

Can our dreams of becoming teachers be realized in this economy?

Have you ever wanted something so badly, but it just always seems to be out of your reach?  I have and still do!  Since I was a child I have dreamed of becoming a teacher.  I didn't go to college after High School like many of my friends did, instead I started a family that I stayed home and raised.  


In 1998 I went back into the workforce as an Office Manager for a computer store, where I dealt with the various school districts around us on a daily basis as I quoted them computer labs and other peripherals.  I continued to work at the computer store for about five years before I decided that I would never be able to grow at my current place of employment and I wanted something more out of my life.  It was then that I thought about what was really important to me along with my hopes and dreams.  I thought about my children and their education.  It was then that I took my first step and decided to go back to school to get my degree in education.


I began that journey in the Summer of 2003 and I worked very hard to keep my grades up while taking care of m family.  I even started volunteering at my children's school with the parent teacher organization, which I later became treasurer and president of.  I also became a Girl Scout leader for both of my daughters Girl Scout troop.  It was a very rough ride, but in December 2007 I graduated with my BS in Early Childhood Education (P-4). 


It was at that time that I began my job search for a lifelong career as an elementary teacher.  I began by substituting for all of the local school districts.  After a year of doing that with no nibbles I took a job offer at a local NBC affiliate in their Accounting department to help my family meet their financial needs.  I continued submitting applications and resumes for job positions that became open throughout the various school districts, but never received a phone call to interview for any of them.  


In February 2010, my position at the television station was eliminated and the very next day I received my divorce papers in the mail.  It was a very hard month, but my children and I decided to move from the only home they had ever known in Arkansas over 2400 miles away to Oregon for a fresh start.  We have been settling in here for almost a year now and I have gone back to school to get my Masters in Education Media Design & Technology, which I will graduate with in July of this year.  I am still submitting applications and resumes to various school districts hoping and praying for a teaching position, but have yet to see a response or even a glimmer of hope in that direction.


In our current economy I am not holding my breath for an education job due to all of the budget cuts, employees who aren't ready to retire, and being in that over 40 age bracket that sometimes isn't considered with all the younger graduating hopefuls.  Everything has become so political and if you don't know the "right person" then your chances are even lower.  I am not so much set to teach elementary school anymore as I once was, but then again breaking into secondary education or even online education for that matter these days is just as difficult.  Especially if you have absolutely no teaching experience besides just your internship and substituting.  So how does someone get their dream job these days with so much against them???  That is a very good question and one I would love to be able to answer.  I just keep trying and pray that one day I will be able to fulfill my dream of teaching.


I have been told by my friends, colleagues, and other educators that with all my technology background and willingness to try new things that there should be multiple opportunities available to me.  Being out of work for a year now I have looked at taking a position just about anywhere and everywhere.  However, it seems that I am over qualified for many of the accounting or office positions I have taken in the past or that they are afraid to hire me in fear that I will leave if a teaching position should become available.  The economy has been hit hard making it difficult for us all.  This has been a very hard road to walk down, but I am determined to follow it through until I finally do reach my goal and dream of teaching somewhere in what was once a great land of opportunity for us all.