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Distance Teachers Chatboard

Online Learning

by Simon Painter

May 9, 2010

I need feedback on this. i have a website [link removed]!!

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marjoryt I looked over the site; it evidently works as a bulletin board- advertising services to possible students. I'm not sure you specifically need this; possibly you do - it depends on your location, skill, and who might see this information.

Quite frankly, I like the concept, but fear the students will NOT consider looking online for this. If ...See More

May 10, 2010

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Rick Foley Im sure, given that the people using your system will be using it for distance learning, this sounds like a good idea regardless. Especially if there is no other option! Im assuming Global means as stated, so i think its a good idea.

May 10, 2010

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out of country ECE

by Zoe

Jun 30, 2010

I am an early childhood educator from Canada, now living in Maryland. I am looking for any information on any online courses available. i am trying to beef up on my american standards...

please, anyone, if you have any infor. please contact me.

Thanks Zoe

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zane On 6/30/10, Zoe wrote: > I am an early childhood educator from Canada, now living in > Maryland. I am looking for any information on any online > courses available. i am trying to beef up on my american > standards... > > please, anyone, if you have any infor. please contact me. > > Thanks > Zoe Zoe - what are you current...See More

Jul 8, 2010

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On-Line Teaching Certificate

by Jamie

Jul 8, 2010

I'm interested in teachining on-line courses. I'm currently completing my second masters degree and I'm investigating the usefulness of a 12 cr. hour program where you earn an On-Line Teaching Certificate. Are these certificates typically required/useful? What credentials do colleges look for when hiring on-line teachers?

Thanks in advance...See More

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Leslie Where are the online adjunct jobs? I have searched and have not found any..please help Leslie

On 7/09/10, Meka wrote: > They are usually looking for masters with 18 hours in the area > you are wishing to teach. > You shouldn't have any problems because I always see online > adjunct jobs in your area!

Jul 29, 2010

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Dr. C to Leslie On 7/29/10, Leslie wrote: > Where are the online adjunct jobs? I have searched and have not > found any..please help > Leslie

Suggestion: Don't just look for "posted" on-line positions. Rather look for on-line degree programs and/or courses in the fields you are qualified to teach. Then go to their website and apply...whether they...See More

Aug 2, 2010

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Virtual Classroom Science Labs

by Science Teacher

Jul 30, 2010

Does anyone here have experience teaching science in a virtual classroom environment? If so, how do you conduct your labs? Can you give me some pointers as I am interested in pursuing a virtual classroom teacher position. I just want to make sure that I am able to research everything before I make my decision.

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Anyone using the SAKAI course management system?

by bernoulli

Aug 21, 2010

I am going to be using SAKAI next semester at a new teaching job. They are switching from Blackboard to SAKAI. Has anyone used it before? I looked around a SAKAI website and it looks like it has enough features. Not sure how well it works or how user friendly it is. This is a nationally known private university, so I am confident they know what the...See More

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rpaine On 5/27/12, rpaine wrote: > On 10/29/10, bernoulli wrote: >> I agree with your recommendations regarding Bb...get >> need some real help in designing the next version. >> >> When I used Bb9 courses to create new sections of the >> same course (course copy) many of my links to >> documents got broken. I find ou...See MoreOn 5/27/12, rpaine wrote: > On 10/29/10, bernoulli wrote: >> I agree with your recommendations regarding Bb...get >> need some real help in designing the next version. >> >> When I used Bb9 courses to create new sections of the >> same course (course copy) many of my links to >> documents got broken. I find out which ones are >> broken when students let me know. I find it >> frustrating to wonder when the next problem will >> surface. >> >> I think that Bb9 is discouraging faculty from doing >> much more than post information and documents. The >> discussion board is confusing and unfriendly. >> >> The gradebook is weird, although you can upload and >> download spreadsheets now. >> >> I have been using Sakai at another institution. It is >> not aesthetic at all and some important features >> don't seem to exist or work right (e.g., managing the >> menu). >> >> >> On 10/27/10, marjoryt wrote: >>> I attended the workshop offered by the college and >>> viewed some of the powerpoints offered by Bb. These >>> helped, just a little. Many instructors didn't >>> bother; as a result, I mentored entirely too many >>> of my coworkers. Our Bb portal goes 2 ways - one >>> offered by my college for my hybrid and assisted >>> classes, but also through the state board, which >>> links all community colleges in Mississippi. They >>> are linked together in the same website, however. >>> >>> Bb9 requires so much extra computer power; we had >>> very significant crashes at the college, state, and >>> Bb level. Things slowed to a crawl - we lost data, >>> students and staff couldn't log in. That was just >>> the hardware/software problem. In addition, many of >>> our community colleges, including mine, experienced >>> exponential growth this semester which overloaded >>> everything even more. For example, my normal >>> development English class size is supposed to be 15 >>> (NADE recommendation); this semester it's 35. Since >>> all my classes are assisted, hybrid, or online, >>> just my course load alone represented growth by 3 >>> classes. >>> >>> I've been using computers since 1984 and refuse to >>> be intimidated by a stupid keyboard. I kept my >>> files simple and short (MSWord, PowerPoints, tests, >>> links) and kept them on my computer as long as >>> possible - uploading at the very last minute. This >>> helped immensely with reloading materials - I had >>> one new course and changed textbooks for another. >>> >>> Am I happy with Bb9? No - I don't see that it helps >>> the instructor OR the student. I have a Blackberry >>> with Sprint, yet, my college won't deploy the key >>> so I can use the Bb app. 6 clicks to grade a single >>> discussion board entry is ridiculous. The multiple >>> scrolling in the gradebook is very strange also. >>> I'm not sure all the pull down menus make finding >>> resources any easier. >>> >>> Very possibly, Bb has something bigger in the >>> works, and we're the guinea pigs for future >>> developments. If that's the case, we should be told >>> this. Otherwise, Bb management needs to listen to >>> the customers, restrain the programmers, and hire >>> an efficiency expert for some time/task analysis. >>> >>> If you ever get an opportunity, investigate >>> Pearson's My*Lab series of software - this is MUCH >>> better for student use. Topics range from reading >>> through languages and math and sciences. I use two >>> of their programs; my students hate the learning >>> curve but grow to love the sofware and their >>> success. > > I felt compelled to post a current appraisal of today's > latest version of Blackboard 9.1 because all these > posts here are very outdated. My K-12 school district > has used Blackboard for over seven years and we > currently are using version 9.1 of the program. It has > been greatly updated in the past two years, so I hope > those of you who are interested will check out the > latest version. The problems expressed in this forum > are going to remain problems as long as the versions > being used are not updated. The "powers that > be" at Bb have listened to the customers and I am > one that is happy they have. Bb is constantly asking > for feedback from users and they offer different > opportunities for involvement to help improve their > product. The improvements that have been made to the Grade > Center and textbox editor in this latest version have > been wonderful. Blackboard isn't free, but there is a > reason why some believe that "you get what you pay > for." I'll end with one more comment on the cost. > We just opened our 41st school in my district, and it > happened to be our virtual school. When the dust all > settled, we were able to report to our school board > that the cost of purchasing Blackboard was less than > the cost of the electric bill for one year at our > newest high school. That doesn't take into account all > the other costs that go into building, equipping, and > maintaining the physical plant of a traditional school. > Just wanted to present the current state of Bb so > others could see a different perspective that was much > more positive!

May 27, 2012

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marjoryt Thank you for reading the posting, although our original conversation was pretty old!

I continue to use Blackboard for hybrid and online freshman and sophomore college courses. In my state, all 15 community colleges contract as a consortium - for years we've been the 1st or 2nd contract with Bb. You'd think that would give us good service ...See MoreThank you for reading the posting, although our original conversation was pretty old!

I continue to use Blackboard for hybrid and online freshman and sophomore college courses. In my state, all 15 community colleges contract as a consortium - for years we've been the 1st or 2nd contract with Bb. You'd think that would give us good service - it does NOT.

This past week, we were held captive by Blackboard yet again, THEY specified, going DAYS longer. This meant we instructors had to make up the difference - giving us only 1 day to update our courses for the summer, instead of the 5 originally scheduled. So, Bb is NOT cognizant of schedules whatsoever; I've been using it since 2000, and that's ALWAYS been a problem.

Bb is a Learning Management System (LMS). It, like many other LMS systems, does not have attendance function, which means the instructor must keep data separately (paper, spreadsheet, other software such as GradesFirst). This is major failing, and they've been told this.

Bb should reliably have a smartphone link. The functionality is VERY weak and prone to locking. It's so bad, I don't even use it myself.

The aftermarket software links, such as TurnItIn, work in a very clunky manner, and Bb never bothered to design specific orientations for the instructors or students. The TurnItIn orientations don't always apply smoothly. There's a significant delay between posting a TurnItIn grade and having it upload into the Bb gradebook. I hear the same thing about Respondus. As a former professional technical writer/editor, not documenting features is bad marketing AND bad documentation.

We instructors STILL don't see exactly what the students see; for example the gradebook!

Blackboard CONTINUES to lag significantly behind when meshing with current browsers. It's a very frustrating experience when a student arrives with a brand new lap top, only to be told he/she needs to download a previous version of Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Blackboard doesn't have a smooth computer/integration check, like many other software programs such as Pearson's My*Lab, which automatically runs a check the first time opened on a computer.

Finally, Blackboard grossly overcharges for its conferences! The last one close to us was so expensive that only 1 person, the DLC, could afford to go.

I use Bb because it's available, and it's so much better than nothing. Is there better for our college and our larger educational system in the state? Very possibly.

May 31, 2012

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Salary for online course

by Alvaro

Sep 22, 2010

I have been offered a position to teach a comprehensive nursing review course: 24 hrs of lecture time, 2 hrs/wk - teleconference, and answering e mails. Course is to be given over 6 weeks.

What would be fair compensation for a contract of this type. I am an M.D. with 9 years of teaching experience, but never online.

Also, is there...See More

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How do you get a position teaching online?

by Elena

Oct 21, 2010

Hello everyone,

I am currently teaching high school Spanish but my salary just doesn't cover my expenses. I really need a part-time position (nights/weekends). I have seen many opportunities teaching online but I'm never sure who's reputable and who isn't. Our state virtual school currently has no openings.

I am certified in teach...See More

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Tom N On 10/21/10, Elena wrote: > Hello everyone, > > I am currently teaching high school Spanish but my salary > just doesn't cover my expenses. I really need a part-time > position (nights/weekends). I have seen many opportunities > teaching online but I'm never sure who's reputable and who > isn't. Our state virtual school current...See More

Feb 11, 2011

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Where do I start?

by Rose

Dec 4, 2010

I would absolutely love to get into online teaching, but don't know where to start.

I am currently teaching in K-6 public school in CT. I am the bilingual teacher with 45 students that I see in small groups throughout the day. I have a MS in International Teaching, am certified K-6 and am fluent enough in Spanish to have earned a bilingua...See More

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bernoulli I haven't heard anything about K-6 on-line teaching, but I cannot say it doesn't exist somewhere. My nephew graduated from an on-line high school because his family was living overseas where there was no good options for him.

Perhaps you can teach community college courses or "for profit" courses on line. You have an MS degree which should...See More

Dec 5, 2010

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Tom N On 12/04/10, Rose wrote: > I would absolutely love to get into online teaching, but > don't know where to start. > > I am currently teaching in K-6 public school in CT. I am > the bilingual teacher with 45 students that I see in small > groups throughout the day. I have a MS in International > Teaching, am certified K-6 and am ...See More

Feb 11, 2011

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What is the salary like for Online Teachers?

by Sue

Feb 12, 2011

What is the salary like for online teachers?

Thank you,

Sue

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Jenna On 3/14/12, Claire Parker wrote: > There's a great viral Google doc that outlines the upsides and > downsides of teaching at different online universities.. includes > pay info! There's a direct link in the March 2012 Newsletter. Hope > this helps

Is this it?

[link removed]

May 11, 2012

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JenMo I was just hired by a cyber charter school (that uses the K12 curriculum) to teach high school physical science (I am certified to teach Physics 7-12). With a Master's degree, I will get $37,500, plus a bonus of up to 10% for participating in face-to-face activities with students. I will NOT have to pay for benefits, though.... This is about $10,00...See More

Jul 17, 2012

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