Are you contemplating becoming an online teacher? It’s a career path that is proving to be surprisingly popular amongst education professionals, old and young, who are seeking a better work/life balance. Rather than having to head out to a workplace every day and brave the commute, teachers far prefer the benefits of remote working.
Online teaching has never been more in demand amongst students, either. While virtual study has been growing in popularity ever since the arrival of the internet, it has seen unprecedented interest amongst aspiring learners of all ages and backgrounds who want to enjoy the convenience of obtaining qualifications from the comfort of their own homes since the COVID pandemic.
What Do We Mean by Virtual Classroom?
While at one time the only way to attend classes was to physically go to a school or college, those days are long gone. The virtual classroom is here to stay. Essentially, a virtual classroom is a learning environment set up by the teacher themselves in the location of their choice that is accessed over the internet by the learners from wherever in the world they happen to be based.
Online learning opens up education opportunities for students who would otherwise have struggled to obtain qualifications in the traditional way. Studying virtually enables learners to attend classes at a time that fits around their schedule and existing commitments. Also, it eliminates the requirement to travel, making learning possible even if no suitable school is nearby. Attending classes online at specific times is the most common route. Still, it may even be possible to access recorded classes and study materials at any other time via the internet, allowing learning to take place at any convenient moment.
What Do I Need to Start Virtual Teaching?
One of the top reasons to enter virtual teaching is the minimal set-up requirements. It couldn’t be easier to get equipped on a budget, which is always good when embarking on a new career.
To get started, you’ll only need a laptop or computer, a headset, a strong internet connection and a suitable environment to use as your classroom. Any room of your home can be the perfect location as long as it’s quiet and has an appropriate backdrop for lesson delivery. A plain wall would be ideal, but you could put up suitable posters or a whiteboard to cover your wall surfaces or even use a virtual backdrop if necessary.
What Does My Workspace Need?
Having a comfortable and convenient workspace is crucial for your virtual teaching experience, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on furnishings. Essentially, all you’ll really need is a table or desk on which to set up your computer. You can easily pick up preloved pieces at low cost from second-hand stores, Gumtree or Facebook marketplace, or even completely free from websites like Freecycle. Upcycling old items like desks is simple and will give them a whole new lease of life, ready to become part of your online classroom. Choosing one equipped with cabinets and drawers would be best so that you can keep all your learning resources in one spot, ready for you to access in an instant.
Do I Need a Teaching Platform?
Conducting classes online will require software or a suitable platform for lesson delivery. Luckily, though, the best virtual schools will provide an LMS or learning management system that requires no financial outlay from you.
If you do have to provide your own LMS, though, there are some free possibilities. Conducting your online classes via YouTube Live or Facebook Live could be a good way to get started without spending a penny. Later on, once you’re more established, you can start looking for specialist software that has been developed specifically for the purpose of virtual teaching.
Do I Need an Expensive Computer?
As long as you have a device that’s capable of accessing the internet, you can get started with online teaching. Of course, having a computer or laptop would be more convenient than using a tablet or smartphone. Nevertheless, if keeping costs low is a priority for you, you can minimise your need to pay upfront by just using your existing devices or buying a cheap second-hand model initially.
If you’re setting up your workspace in a very quiet environment, you may even be able to avoid investing in a headset, although often you’ll enjoy better sound quality if you do this. It’s possible to find low-cost headphones with inbuilt microphones that will improve the quality of your lesson delivery exponentially.
You’ll also need a webcam, of course, but virtually all modern devices now come with these buil- in, so you probably won’t need to worry about that.
Do I Need Special Qualifications to Become an Online Teacher?
Becoming an online teacher doesn’t necessarily require you to have a degree or even any prior classroom experience, but to make yourself stand out from the crowd, it makes sense to have a teaching qualification. For example, if you want to become an online English as a foreign language (or TEFL) professional – a role for which there is huge demand at the moment – you should obtain a TEFL qualification to maximise your opportunities and give yourself the best possible chance of securing the most lucrative positions. TEFL.org offers 120-hour TEFL courses accredited by a reputable organisation and will equip you with all the skills and knowledge you need to successfully deliver outstanding lessons to learners from all over the world.
Are you ready to become an ESL teacher online and enjoy the best possible work/life balance by delivering classes from a virtual classroom in your home? Then enrol on your TEFL course today and start your journey to a new and exciting teaching career.