Online Teaching
I find the course helpful.
The most important factor is that teaching online allows for diversity of the students backgrounds. In the online environment faculty deal with students with some life experiences under their belt and they love to bring those out with a little encouragement from me. Hearing those students share that is invaluable in validating the material we are covering.
Besides the diversity of the students backgrounds, There is maturity. Teaching college students is ideal because their maturity allows them to desire information that exceeds the classroom. I realize that my students will soon be colleagues in the field and expect them to interact at a very professional level. I lead by example in this regard and expect much of them when they are in attendance with me at conferences or other professional engagements. Some of the most rewarding moments come at the end of an academic term when students send personal and unsolicited emails about how they were impacted personally. It is these moments that I am reminded about why I teach and the impact that we as academics can have on students.
