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6 Reasons Skype Teaching is Awesome
Over the past century, there have been prominent developments and innovations which have led to an evolution in the education world. We now have an interconnected global network which allows for changes in the way that we do many things. A respected face-to-face education can be facilitated from the comforts of home, or wherever in the world a teacher desires to be.
One of the most significant services that has been utilized for internet teaching is Skype. As many people have discovered, Skype is a free VoIP (Voice-over-IP) service which allows for normal calls, video calls using webcams or the sending of instant messages to anyone in the world who has an internet connection. It has been used to allow instructors to teach remotely from anywhere in the world. This new way of teaching opens the door for many great opportunities.
Here are 6 reasons why teaching remotely via Skype is awesome:
#1 Teach what you love
People who have a passion to teach a particular subject, but have not had the means to make it happen, can now do so much more easily. The topics that can be taught virtually are limitless, allowing for an efficient way to share information and increase knowledge. Traditionally, teachers were limited by the physical amount of classrooms available and the curriculum approval by institutions. Many times, certain topics would not fit in with an institution’s syllabus. Thus, some information was just not shared. Skype has provided the freedom for people to teach what they want and love, even to the extent of expressing what they believe.
#2 Broader Job Opportunities
The fact that the internet is global, and many people can easily get access to it through their computer, tablets and mobile phones, has made distance learning extremely popular. You often don’t need to physically be in a certain college to teach or learn there, rather you can be anywhere and teach or be taught the same curriculum as those who are actually within the physical walls. It may be possible to teach at different schools simultaneously, which was previously not an option.
#3 A Vast Potential Audience
With social media sites and services, Skype included, you can easily meet new people from both your own country, and from any country in the world. This connection to such a vast audience, opens up the opportunity for freelance online teaching. A course can be advertised online, and students from anywhere in the world can enroll. This exponentially increases the amount of potential students that can be reached. The amount of students who can take a course exceeds what is possible in a physical class.
One major problem in classrooms today is a limited amount of space and an excess amount of students. It is not uncommon to hear about a student who couldn’t join a class due to it being at maximum capacity. It is only possible to physically fit so many people in one room comfortably. On the other hand, with Skype teaching, there is no limit to the amount of people who can access your teachings. In addition, each student is getting an up close view of the course as if it was one-on-one. Wherein a classroom, both site and sound can be obstructed.
#4 Reduced Costs
Let’s say you do want to start your own school. Opening a physical school is a very large undertaking. It involves having to rent, build or buy a physical facility, paying for utilities, meeting all of the codes required for an educational facility and purchasing physical supplies. Now, look at the savings with an online school set up, the costs include an internet connection, a web cam and a computer.
#5 Convenience and Location Freedom
We all prefer doing what we like, in places where we enjoy being. This is now possible thanks to Skype. Today, you can teach on the beach and still relay your information as if you’re on official business. This has provided a freedom that no longer restricts a teacher to a life anchored by an educational facility. How great to be someone who desires to teach, and also be able to go wherever you want in the world, while still being able to hold classes and meet with your students.
In terms of convenience, a teacher has the option to become more of a freelance contractor who can set their own schedule. Skype has a convenient service that records conversations so that students who wish to view previous teachings, can still get access to them after they occur.
#6 Job Security
In the education profession, teachers are often modestly paid and must meet strict benchmarks. When employed by a school, the teacher relies on that pay for their livelihood and must adhere to the guidelines and hope for the best. Remote teaching allows for more freedom and more diversified opportunities. Many remote teaching jobs are available that utilize Skype, whether they are organized by an institution, or are freelance opportunities. A great place to look for contracted teaching jobs is on freelancing websites, where clients are looking to hire qualified virtual teachers.
Remotely teaching via Skype sounds pretty awesome right? We thought so too. With the technology available today, teaching can really be done from anywhere. Hopefully this has inspired teachers interested in virtual education, to look into the possibility of supplementing your income with teaching via Skype!
