Teaching online can be an excellent opportunity for teachers, coaches, consultants, and industry experts to meet new students worldwide and make a few extra dollars on the side. There are many different places to start teaching online, but there is some basic information that every teacher should know before they jump in head first, such as how you’re compensated and what tools you need to teach from your home computer!
What is teaching online?
Teaching online is not the same as teaching in person. Instead of being face-to-face with a group, you need to create lessons and lectures that people can see worldwide on their computer screens. You also need to set up your computer with the right teaching tools and broadcast or record your lesson live so it’s available for future students.
You can run your online classes in a few different ways—Synchronous, asynchronous, or hybrid.
Synchronous courses meet at a specific date and time for all students. These courses typically have a course start and end date. The downfall is that you may have students across different time zones. Some of your students may need to attend your class at 3 am. If you’re considering running a synchronous online course, consider these students’ needs.
Asynchronous courses are courses that your students complete on their own. There’s no requirement to meet at a specific date and time. There may be a particular course start and end date, but some courses have continuous enrollment allowing students to start and end at their convenience.
Hybrid courses are a mix of synchronous and asynchronous. There may be work that students must complete on their own, but there may also be a time when the whole class either meets in person or online using a web conferencing tool such as Zoom.
Benefits of teaching online
One of the best benefits of teaching online is that you are not limited by location or time mode, assuming your course is asynchronous. You can create your lessons and lectures and then broadcast them to people from around the world right from your website!
How you are compensated as an online instructor
One of the most important things to know before teaching online is how you are compensated. There are many different platforms for teaching, but a few important factors will make it a better experience. Firstly, some platforms compensate teachers per hour while others pay based on tasks accomplished, video views, etc. Pay rates vary based on the platform, and if you’re starting, it’s best to find a platform with higher pay per hour. Also, many platforms have different fees for broadcasting live classes and recording lessons for future students. They will usually compensate you per course if you teach for a specific school. Sometimes that rate depends on the number of students enrolled in the course.
So, the answer is… it depends.
Online teaching doesn’t pay very well. One way to control how much you earn teaching online is to start your own online teaching business. You teach right from your website, and you determine how much your course costs and how many students are enrolled, thus you determine your compensation!
How to teach online
Before starting your first lesson as an online instructor, make sure you’ve got the right tools ready! First, ensure your computer is prepared for live broadcasting by setting up a video camera and webcam. The exact setup will depend on your computer, so check with the manufacturer or follow any instructions that come with purchasing these tools. A second option is to record your lectures or lessons for future students. Set up a microphone and camera on your laptop or desktop computer. Check with the manufacturer to ensure that everything is compatible, and search online for any additional information if needed. You don’t need fancy, expensive equipment. You can use your smartphone to record videos or live streams.
When you’re ready to start teaching online, you can look at many places, including Udemy, Skillshare, and online forums. You can also set up your website or blog and encourage students to sign up to learn from you.
Ways to get started with teaching online
Before starting your first lesson as an online instructor, make sure you’ve got the right tools ready! First, ensure your computer is compatible by checking on your manufacturer and following their instructions. Secondly, set up your microphone and webcam so that live broadcasting will work properly. Spend time looking at websites like Udemy or Skillshare for more information about how to teach.
Tools you’ll need for teaching from home and how they work together.
As an online instructor, you may have never heard of a few tools you will need to teach from home. The first is a video broadcasting service that allows you to broadcast live classes to your students. Broadcast services vary from site to site, so it would be best to research them and see which option is for you. Your second tool is a microphone and webcam, which will allow you to set up an online class for those unable to attend in person. A microphone and webcam can be set up on your computer or laptop and it may come with instructions. The best way to find out how they work together is by checking your manual or going online to find more information about how these things work.
Tips for getting the most out of your experience as a teacher- whether it’s a side gig or career choice!
· Join online communities to share resources and tips. These can be in the form of social media groups or forums, but many teachers will find that these are extremely helpful.
· Teach different levels and subjects. This will allow you to switch up if you’re feeling burnt out, giving you lots of variety within your teaching. You don’t want to be bored!
· Consider creating an affiliate program for your website- this lets you make money off any products that students buy from your site while they’re there. It’s easier than you think, and it’ll give
· Include notes about what students should do after they’ve finished your class. When students know that they have more work to do, then the chances of them finishing it will improve. You can even set goals and give rewards for certain things like completing a test or writing a paper.
Teaching online can be a great opportunity for teachers to meet new students worldwide and make a few extra dollars on the side. There are many different places to start teaching online, but there is some basic information that every teacher should know before they jump in headfirst.
Join the Mastering Online Teaching community to discuss your online teaching career/business.
