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[Jenny]

Does anyone know about how to get one of these?

I currently have a tt, 2/2 load, R2 job which I love.  However, I am pregnant for the third time in less then three years.  I cannot possibly keep this job, plus I feel like I will have to endure the horrified looks from colleagues and I don't want that humiliation.

Even though I know it is, career wise, a bad move, I would like to still work as a professor from home.  Internet courses seem my only option.  Comments?

[anon]

keep in mind, teaching online is an equivalent effort to teaching f2f, with course preps and such.  it also takes much more discipline than the classroom, i think, because you are no longer necessarily tied to being in the classroom at a certain time and place.

[d]

Having taught online before and am currently doing so the pluses to online teaching is that you can do it from anywhere (i.e. any continent or state in the world that has internet access).  The load of preparation is high - higher than a face to face class if the goal is to create communities of learners and collaborative learning/teaching environments.  If it 'just' an independent study type of class then the prep. time is minimal.  The pay is usually substantially less if adjuncting.  If full-time then it is comparable to full time adjunct/asst. profs.

[anon]

I'm teaching online, and like any class, the first time you teach a new class it's hell.  However, after all the materials are up and you can re-use the class shell, it's very manageable.  Still, there is a limit to how many courses you can teach.  I'm teaching 5 online courses this semester and things can get pretty busy at times.  At some point, it is also very difficult to keep everything straight.

I think you're being very optimistic that you could find a full time position for this.  Granted, it might be different in your field, but I've been watching two disciplines for two years, and I've never seen a full time online instructor position advertised.  I've been looking a lot to see if there's ANY WAY for me to do this as a full time option, and it just doesn't pay enough.  Most schools that I've investigated pay the same adjunct rate for teaching online as in the regular classroom, and I just can't do enough classes to make my ends meet.  (Ok, I'm a single person with no spouse income or benefits to tide me over, and your situation might be different)

However, in your situation with three young kids, it might be better than nothing. Maybe line up a few classes through a local community college (if they do online... but be sure they offer training beforehand!), and then see if you can take a leave of absence from your job, or something like that.  That way you haven't made an irrevocable decision if you change your mind.

Another thought though... even if you're only teaching online, you will probably still need help during the day with your kids.  Even though the time is flexible, it does still take a lot of time to teach online.

[tamiam]

To clarify, Jenny - do you actually have 2 babies at home right now with another on the way, or have you had three pregnancies but lost one or more, or otherwise had serious health problems in the pregnancy itself? In other words, do you think you cannot work full time outside the home for the next 9 months, or for the next 5+ years?

I can tell you from experience, Jen, that it's actually easier to leave the house and take the little ones to day care (or have a nanny at home - probably cheaper with three) than to try to work from home with little kids around - even with a nanny or other caregiver in the house. I can also tell you from experience that taking significant time out from your career means it's VERY VERY difficult, if not impossible, to pick up where you left off.

So before you make any decisions, think carefully about whether your feelings that you can't keep that job are due to temporary (pregnancy-induced) exhaustion, or whether you really want a different life set-up and are willing to make the career sacrifice.