Being an online professor and teaching with an Attitude; Dealing with Duties Beyond the Classroom.
by George Stanley Reeley, Ph.D.
Little Do They Know
At last, I have reached the top pinnacle of Maslow’s Pyramid—I have self-actualized, and consequently I am living the good life in my dream career, performing the duties of an online professor while working from home. Can you feel my smile? Okay, with this being said, it was a pretty perilous climb (for me) up that pyramid. First, I earned my terminal degree, I guest lectured to build experience, I gave free seminars (for the same reason), I taught for years in live classrooms, both daytime and evening, and I was on the road--traveling many miles—often late at night to do this. After these dues were paid and I decided to become a full time adjunct online professor, I applied to over 300 online schools before being selected to teach with five—a 1.5% success ratio. That’s pretty good, so I understand—and I am not complaining. I love it, actually…but how many of you have heard from family and friends something like this? “It must be nice sitting on your rump all day in your PJs teaching school online--easy money, huh?” When I hear this—and I do, too often—I want to lunge for their throats (from my ergonomic chair) and choke them, but I don’t—rather, I smile and reply—“indeed, I am happy.”