As the audience is generally much larger, most people talk about learning online--what it takes and whether you're the kind of person who can succeed online. Few look at online learning from the educator's point of view. Yet if there is a certain type of person who will be successful as an online student, is there also a certain personality who will be successful as an online educator?
My belief is that good online educators need many of the same qualities that make for a good online student--perseverance, ability to work alone, acceptance (as opposed to dread and reluctance) of computer-related technology, self-motivation, goal-oriented, and ability to meet deadlines. Of course, you also have to have time. So, if you think you fit the bill to be a good online student, then you probably also fit the bill to be a good online educator. Of course, you need to have the subject knowledge and teaching skills of an educator as well, but for me that goes without saying here. We are talking about an existing traditional educator becoming an online educator.
Having the skills to be good at online education doesn't automatically mean you will be. You have a new set of skills to learn in order to be effective as an online instructor, but you'd be surprised at how well your classroom skills convert to online skills once you understand what is required of you and how to do what you need to do. But that's all just a matter of training, and in many cases, it even requires less emotional effort on your part than does standing in front of a classroom.
There is one more crucial skill an online educator needs--enthusiasm. Online education is still in its infancy, and like dealing with most infants, it requires the interest in and willingness to do what it takes to make it through the early years. You will need some excitement about the technology you'll be using to teach online as well as the subject matter. It will take you a long way when it comes to teaching online because, even in the virtual world, your students can tell when you're just trying to fake it
In several posts I've recently read, the theme tended towards a belief that online education was not posible for courses that required more hands-on than theory, such as chemistry or brick laying. But I recently received an article that includes information on one way in which such training can be done. It was referred to as "self-guided" training, and was done off the computer, but as part of an online course. The example it showed was of a student conducting a chemistry experiment in a small lab. (The article and picture came from EDUTOPIA APRIL/MAY 2005, pages 32-37.)
