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Has anyone here taught college classes part time?

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jlee

jlee

Lifer
I finished my VCP class today and the instructor talked to me afterwards, saying the school is in need of instructors for Windows 7 courses. I have a really good shot at getting an offer, but I've never formally taught before (other than presentations at work/etc). Has anyone done this on the side, and if so, any tips/pointers/pitfalls I should know about? This is a hybrid campus/online class (one night a week on campus).
 
Typically those are adjunct positions that require a lot of time for not a lot of money. Most people do it to pad their resume with teaching experience.

I've had offers to teach as well in the past, but never could commit for the semesters that I was asked to teach. I want to say, most schools don't pay more than $2500 per class, but you never know.
 
A few years ago I was a TA, and taught engineering dynamics during recitation sessions, and another semester taught students how to use a design program. It was fun, but not something I would do again unless it was about a subject I was really passionate about or related to my work.

My only tip would be to stay open minded about how and what you teach. You don't have to go strictly by the book. This is why TAs in college can do a better job teaching material to students than some seasoned professors. If you know of different ways to approach and solve problems that may not be straight out the book, go for it and teach them.

I would say give it a shot for one semester, but make sure you are prepared for what could be a lot of extra load in the form preparing for lecture, grading, answering student emails, etc.
 
Scarpozzi said:
Typically those are adjunct positions that require a lot of time for not a lot of money. Most people do it to pad their resume with teaching experience.

I've had offers to teach as well in the past, but never could commit for the semesters that I was asked to teach. I want to say, most schools don't pay more than $2500 per class, but you never know.
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I know I'm not at typical ATOT salary but $2500 for a 3 hours, 2 times a week, for 10 weeks (or so) class doesn't sound too shabby. Obviously there's a lot of out of class time but I have a hard time picturing it being enough not to make it worth it.
 
XavierMace said:
I know I'm not at typical ATOT salary but $2500 for a 3 hours, 2 times a week, for 10 weeks (or so) class doesn't sound too shabby. Obviously there's a lot of out of class time but I have a hard time picturing it being enough not to make it worth it.
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Problem is, expect to spend at least 2-3 times that amount of time preparing lectures, grading papers, grading tests, etc. Quickly dilutes the worth.
 
deadlyapp said:
Problem is, expect to spend at least 2-3 times that amount of time preparing lectures, grading papers, grading tests, etc. Quickly dilutes the worth.
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This is a basic course and likely the school has a pre-written syllabus. Being a hybrid course I would gather the tests are done on the computer so no grading.

That being said... it will still probably not be worth the OP's time unless he needs some extra cash.
 
jlee said:
I finished my VCP class today and the instructor talked to me afterwards, saying the school is in need of instructors for Windows 7 courses. I have a really good shot at getting an offer, but I've never formally taught before (other than presentations at work/etc). Has anyone done this on the side, and if so, any tips/pointers/pitfalls I should know about? This is a hybrid campus/online class (one night a week on campus).
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If you like the instructor and if you enjoyed your class, I'd urge you to consider it...

I've taught adjunct at a number of places. (SIU, Lake Michigan College, Galveston College, Daytona Beach Community College, and others...)

Its not something that I would do for the money. Its something I do because I enjoy the subject that I teach and I enjoy sharing that... (I've never applied for an adjunct job. I've always been recruited by a full time instructor.)

In a well run school, an adjunct with real world experience brings things to the classroom that someone with only academic experience can't bring...

At a public CC typical pay is about $2500 a course. Private college could be up to double that... Don't have any experience with for profit colleges.

If you think that you would enjoy it, go ahead and try it...

Best of luck,
Uno
 
unokitty said:
If you like the instructor and if you enjoyed your class, I'd urge you to consider it...

I've taught adjunct at a number of places. (SIU, Lake Michigan College, Galveston College, Daytona Beach Community College, and others...)

Its not something that I would do for the money. Its something I do because I enjoy the subject that I teach and I enjoy sharing that... (I've never applied for an adjunct job. I've always been recruited by a full time instructor.)

In a well run school, an adjunct with real world experience brings things to the classroom that someone with only academic experience can't bring...

At a public CC typical pay is about $2500 a course. Private college could be up to double that... Don't have any experience with for profit colleges.

If you think that you would enjoy it, go ahead and try it...

Best of luck,
Uno
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Thanks!

This particular course pays $2960. Eight weeks, with one 3.5hr class per week. The rest of the course is online. If I factor in twice as much time outside of class as inside, I'm at ~10 hours a week, so $37/hr. I am interested in doing it for the experience and resume material, but not interested enough to do it for free/almost nothing. This is enough to push me over the edge, I think. 🙂
 
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I taught a few courses part time. It's a bear to leave work, teach, then go back. The money was poor when compared to working full time, but it's not a bad "bonus" on top of my normal salary. One bad thing is that because I didn't take a special effort to manage my withholdings, teaching classes really screwed up my returns as my salary was low enough that I didn't have much withholdings, but enough to cause a shift from return to above-the-threshold-for-quarterly-payments-for-following-year threshold.

It's fun, practice the lecture before going, and stress to the kids you're available for questions and if they have problems with material or taking the test, they need to talk to you early, not after the test. I had a kid that kept telling me he was having a ton of problems, and he was probably ADHD. But never went to get tested, so I couldn't provide any accommodations for him.

One thing one of the better lecturers told me: Make fun of the kids. That'll keep them entertained. He was great. He'd ask a question, mock them when they answered wrong, but all in a way that stung a little but was still funny.
 
Be sure to find out what the expectations are concerning being available between classes. Do you have to respond to emails daily?
 
kranky said:
Be sure to find out what the expectations are concerning being available between classes. Do you have to respond to emails daily?
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Good question; I'll have to find out.

I haven't been officially offered anything, so it's possible I don't meet some expectation (I only have an AA degree). I have work experience that far surpasses that, though, and I think that's mainly what they're concerned about (technical competence).
 
One advantage to those types of classes... A few years back, there were companies that wrote computer programs to teach Windows and Office. Since the coursework is integrated with the computer program, they also integrated the exams too. So everything is done through the program and grades/tests/etc are submitted electronically. If you've got something like that, the instructor time is relatively low. You just have to be able to effectively teach whatever is on the lesson.

Planning, class time, and dealing with university red tape may be the worst. Always expect to have some older students in those classes who ask painful questions constantly and claim not to be "smart with computers". It may be better these days, but 10 years ago, it was pretty bad.
 
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