The Human Element in Online Learning

As the nation prepares to meet the threat of COVID-19, we are surrounded by the language of loneliness. We move from “social distancing” to “self-isolation” to even the prospect of avoiding the people we love. At colleges and universities across the country, we are pivoting quickly toward online learning, or as it is often called, distance learning.

But here’s the secret most educators and students don’t yet know: done right, online education is surprisingly intimate.

That student who’s sitting far enough away in the lecture hall that you can’t quite read her expression amid the proverbial sea of faces? When you call on her in a live Zoom session, she pops up right in front of you, one on one, looking you straight in the eye. There is no back seat in online education -- every student is in the front row.

More: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2020/03/18/how-make-online-learning-more-intimate-and-engaging-students-opinion

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How to become an educational consultant

I get emails on a regular basis from educators who want to start an educational consulting career, but aren’t sure how to get started. They envision themselves coaching teachers, providing professional development, and supporting schools and teachers in a variety of ways, but can’t find any formal or official way of making the career shift to educational consulting.

The first and most important step that should be taken by anyone who thinks they may want to get education consulting jobs is this:

Figure out your passion

Do you love helping teachers integrate technology into their instruction? Are you passionate about sharing best practices in a particular subject area? Does the idea of teaching other people how to reach students with disabilities make your heart pound with excitement? “Education” is a really broad area, so narrow down your area(s) of expertise. For me, this was obviously classroom management and helping teachers enjoy their work.

Info: https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/how-to-become-an-educational-consultant/

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Applying for a postdoc job? Here are 18 tips for a successful application

Securing a postdoc position is fiercely competitive. Research carried out by Vitae, which supports the development of researchers, suggests that only 23% of doctoral graduates find employment as research staff in higher education, while 14% work as lecturers. In some subject areas, the figures are even more bleak: for arts and humanities subjects, only 14% secured a research position.

If you are one of the many hopefuls applying for a vacancy, how can you maximise your chances of standing out? We ask principal investigators and careers advisers for their advice.

Get advice from your PhD supervisor

When I talk to students individually I sometimes find they are a little reticent about asking their supervisor’s advice on becoming an academic. I don’t know if it’s because they’re concerned that their supervisor might not think they’re good enough, or because they think they will put them off it. But you need to talk to your supervisor and other academic colleagues – otherwise they won’t know what you want to do, and they won’t be able to help. (Clare Jones, senior careers adviser for research staff and postgraduate research students, University of Nottingham)

More:https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/feb/01/applying-for-a-postdoc-job-here-are-18-tips-for-a-successful-application

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