To complete an online class in pursuit of a teaching degree, the potential student must have access to a personal computer and an Internet connection. Upon registration and acceptance, the student will receive an identification number he will use to access course information, personal contact information, financial records, grades, email and virtual classrooms. Logging in is usually required at least once a week, along with participation in online forums and presentations conducted by the instructor. Course work is completed offline and then transmitted via email or a virtual toolbox that sends the assignments to the teacher.
While online teaching-degree programs are flexible and convenient, all assignments, projects and online testing are expected to be completed within a set time frame. Most online classes that are held through a college or university will coincide with the classes that are active on campus. Therefore, the deadlines that are set for exams and registration on campus are usually the same for students who are pursuing the degree online. Fall, spring and summer classes usually begin and end in tandem with the traditional college schedule. The completion time of an online teaching degree is the same as that on campus, and varies depending on the student's enrollment and credit status.
Online teaching degrees allow students who are pursuing a degree in education to do so without having to quit their current job. The fact that an individual can earn college credits without having to be physically present in a traditional college environment can make the dream of furthering her education a reality. Although not all of the required courses may be "work at your own pace" affairs, most online classes do not require a student to be online at specific times.
Although it is possible to earn a teaching degree online, it should not be assumed that all of the requirements can be met from the comforts of home. To become certified in most states, an aspiring teacher must first complete a student-teacher cooperative program that will also earn him college credits. To complete this crucial educational requirement, some online students will find it necessary to take a leave of absence from their current job, in the hopes of returning when the internship is complete. Others will leave their current field completely and pursue work as an educator upon certification. It is also important to mention that the final teaching-certification test is always offered at a set location, and never online.
Online teaching-degree classes require the same amount of dedication that a traditional classroom setting does. Even though the online student fulfills the requirements according to her own schedule, there are still checks and balances. Assignments are graded as rigidly as those that are given on campus, and testing carries as much weight online as it does off. Projects need to be completed and submitted on time, and final grade-point averages and points are calculated in the same manner as those that are tallied for on-campus students.
Online classes have come a long way, and are becoming more and more accepted by employers. As long as the online teaching degree is provided by an "accredited" college or university, the degree that is earned is just as respectable as one that is earned on-site. But there are some important points to keep in mind when choosing an online degree program. Those who choose to begin their search for a college or university through an online search engine may wish to consider doing some extra research. Diploma mills are popping up all over the web, offering degree programs that prove worthless when the prospective student seeks employment. Keep in mind that an accredited school usually charges tuition per credit taken during a semester. So, it is important to steer clear of schools that offer an online teaching degree for a flat fee. Checking with the guidance department of your local community college about what is involved in obtaining a teaching degree can prove invaluable when you are deciding which online school to enroll in.