So, you have aspirations to mold the minds of modern society through online teaching. That is certainly an amazing notion, but you must understand how to go about creating a reputation and a subsequent business for your teaching desires. Starting an online teaching business can be relatively easy, but ensuring it is a truly successful endeavor will take a considerable amount of work. To help you out, here is your definitive guide to start teaching online successfully through your own online teaching business.Â
Map Out Your Goals
It is great to have aspirations for running a global teaching empire, but in the beginning, you must streamline your goals to enhance your overall success. Decide exactly what you want to teach and if you are struggling on the subject matter, just look at what is in highest demand currently. There are a variety of things you can teach and there are plenty of online tutor jobs to choose from, but investing in what is trending in the teaching world currently, will help you find students faster.Â
Get the Right Equipment
Teachers need tools to effectively teach their students and in the online tutoring world, this remains true. However, you will not be purchasing traditional teaching tools such as books, maps, pencils, and pens, but rather tech-based equipment to ensure you can see your students, teach them, and allow them to interact within the virtual classroom.Â
Obviously, you will require a computer, but just your average laptop might not be enough. You need computer with an i5 4th generation or newer and one that provides at least 2.7GHz of speed. You can purchase a new one or between $300 and $500, but you may also be able to have your current laptop upgraded if you have a local computer repair shop available to you.Â
Apart from a computer or a laptop, you may want to invest in a second monitor. Switching between full-screen windows can be a hassle. Not to mention time-consuming! If you’re not careful, you might click the exit button instead of the minimize button. Worst case scenario, you could lose valuable data you’ve spent hours encoding. Having a dual monitor setup can lessen your chances of experiencing such tragedy. You don’t have to buy an expensive LCD monitor. If you’re on a tight budget, you can settle for a refurbished one. Just make sure you source it from a reputable computer shop.
As for other essentials, a camera and microphone are necessary, but most computers have these already installed. However, investing in a better quality microphone head set can be a better option especially if you intend on conducting some classroom time in public areas.Â
Choose an LMS Platform
A learning Management System or LMS platform is not something most online teachers might consider when beginning their teaching journey, but it is an essential part of the system. These platforms allow you to effectively manage your students, grades, assignments, and more. Take time to explore a variety of different LMS platforms before settling on the one that works best for your needs. Alison, WezIQ, and Skillshare are just a few options to try out.Â
Decide How You Want to Teach
Unlike a traditional teaching job where you simply make a lesson plan and stick to it throughout the school year, online tutors must do a little more work initially. There are a variety of different teaching opportunities out there, but it is up to the tutor to discover what works best for them. Online teachers have a few options including freelancing and working with an agency and each one has their own set of standards.Â
For those looking to freelance, sites such as Preply will help you find available jobs. This option is ideal for online tutors who choose to set their own schedule and want to take on jobs as they come in. Freelancing is a rewarding option for online teachers, but it does require the tutor to continually be on the lookout for available teaching opportunities. Online teaching jobs are abundant these days and using a job posting board is among the best ways to ensure you can find continual tutoring jobs.Â
Working for an agency is another great way to teach, but it can be limiting. Where there are plenty of teaching opportunities, online tutoring jobs can be highly competitive and getting on with an agency is more difficult than freelancing can be. It also limits what you can teach as you will have to go by the parameters of the agency you work for. However, for many, just getting into the online teaching world, entrusting yourself to an agency can open a lot of doors.Â
Still, there is one more option for online tutoring that many have found success in, but it requires the diligent work in marketing. Offering your own tutorials online and marketing your own skills will allow you the most freedom, but it can take a lot of time to get your name out into the teaching world with this method.Â
Continually Update Your Skills to Remain Current
The final, and possibly the most important step in having your own online teaching career is remaining up to date with current trends and requirements for teachers. Learning evolves and as it changes, you need to ensure you are offering the latest teaching tools, strategies, and information to your students. You can make it as an online teacher and empower your students to greatness with this simple guide.Â