How do beginning teachers start?

[apageor2]

I am a beginning teacher and would like to get involved teaching students plus using CANVAS. Are there job opportunities out there for someone who is just beginning to get into using CANVAS? 

I've been a graduate teacher using D2L since April of this year but I would also like to get involved with building classrooms using CANVAS and creating lectures using my skills and education - I am Bachelors of MIT, MBA of Business Administration and ABD of Global Business. I would greatly appreciate speaking with someone who can assist me on this matter and possibly lead me in the right direction. Thanks in advance. I am more than happy to share my resume privately with anyone that has interest and would like to speak with me off line. Thanks again.

Regards,

Sue Elvins 

[dhulsey]

Hi, Sue! Usually, you would get a job at a school and use whatever software platform they are using. However, more and more schools are using Canvas, so learning to use Canvas makes a lot of sense. You can get a https://community.canvaslms.com/groups/free-for-teachers?sr=search&searchId=3f96deb0-7526-463f-a61b-...‌ account and start using and practicing with Canvas now. You might also take a look at the https://community.canvaslms.com/message/4403?sr=search&searchId=1f836c23-a9a7-4f01-b042-4e3e0bc000e4...‌ here in the Canvas community. Any jobs listed there will involve Canvas somehow. 

I hope that helps!

[apageor2]

I do have the free option for building with canvas and have been creating course rooms. I actually just started to create one course which I taught as of this past April for my current university. We are using what is called D2L, something similar to Blackboard. But I have been learning CANVAS and with that being said I attempted to use my knowledge of the subject and topic to apply a brief amount into the course. I actually shared it with others so it can be viewed - I would like others to provide feedback on this if possible. The only thing I haven't done to it yet is write up quizzes and place them onto it. 

I am connected onto the Jobs Board seeking adjunct job positions. 

Here is the course room link I have started to work on and ask opinions on -

https://canvas.instructure.com/courses/1176478 

Regards,

Sue

[Stef_retired]

 @apageor2 , one little word of advice--and please don't take this as snarky, because I mean it in all sincerity: If you're interested in pursuing a career as a Canvas designer, don't use the term "course rooms" when referring to Canvas courses. Just sayin'. 😉

[apageor2]

then I would appreciate it if you tell me what is it they are referred to by term?? 

I know one type of building classrooms and learning another so if you would be kind enough to share the knowledge you know I would appreciate it or is this something I need to research on my own?

[kona]

 @apageor2 , I'm not sure about everyone else, but we just call them courses, regardless of term. To differentiate between one semester (term) or another we refer to it as our spring courses, fall courses, etc. So right now I'm building my fall online course. Otherwise I might say that I've been busy working on my summer courses. Does that make sense/help?

[apageor2]

Big time helpful just coming from a large university that labels everything specific. Thank you. 😃 

[kona]

Ah, yes, many schools have their own terminology that is specific for their uses! 

[apageor2]

Yep, it's a pain in the tushy but I try to keep them all straight. I was just speaking with someone who works with another university and a different protocol. I've just entered into this environment being a student for the past 10 years so learning the background protocol is a WAAY new world entirely. At any rate, it's all good and I'm keeping my ears open as well as taking many notes. 

[kmeeusen]

Hi  @apageor2 ‌

I am going to echo what stefaniesanders‌ said about "terms". I might just be a tad bit biased because I teach terminology courses, but I have had training obligations my entire working life (I assure you this is more than 50 years), and even as a deck-boss training new deckhands on my father's fishing boat, terminology is important, and is typically the best place to start. This will help you talk Canvas to other Canvas users, and will be helpful for getting teaching gigs using Canvas: Canvas Glossary 

As for your original question, State community and technical colleges are a great option for new instructors, and help you pad your resume with appropriate teaching experience in your field (and you might just end up like me, and stay in the CTC environment forever). CTC's do not often have to advertise their adjunct openings, so direct inquiry is your best bet. I would also try going to the college's web sites and identify the Deans/Department Chairs responsible for courses in the discipline you are interested in teaching in, and talk to those folks directly.

Along with using your Free-for-Teachers account to start playing in Canvas, I would also make good use of the Canvas Instructor Guide and the Canvas Video Guide. These tools will help you become very familiar with Canvas. And, of course, one of your best resources is this Canvas Community.

I hope this helps,

Agent K

[apageor2]

To answer your question I am from Council Bluffs, Iowa; 10 minutes from downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

[Stef_retired]

 @apageor2 ‌, as you've noted elsewhere in this thread, different schools have adopted their own terminology. But in Canvas, you probably can't go wrong with "courses," "course shells," and "sandboxes." And here's the official document: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10704-67952720334 

[kona]

 @apageor2 , you might want to check your settings. Right now this course doesn't seem to be publicly available. 

[apageor2]

 @kona  I have fixed the room you are attempting to enter.. 

[scottdennis]

Hi Sue,

The others have given you some valuable pearls of wisdom already.  I'll try to add a bit more in and around what they have already said.

1. Learn everything you can about Canvas and its specific terminology.  Study the glossary of terms.  Carve out block of time and dedicate them to reading through the student and instructor guides, or make yourself spend a given amount of time every day or week trying to answer peoples questions in the Find Answers space - many of the answers are freely available in the guides and/or testing in your Free for Teacher account.
2. Target your employers - send letters to the deans and department heads at the colleges where you would like to teach.  Pick subjects that are within your wheelhouse that college typically as many sections open every term - these are often the hardest for deans to fill - as they need to add three or four more sections of Intro to ... in the first week of the new term and they are scrambling to find an adjunct - what a good time for them to remember the letter in that pile on their desk that not only tells them of your qualifications but invites them to check out the course in Free for Teacher (you can have as many course shells as you want) where you created the first module for the given subject to prove you know the subject and the platform.   Get your foot in the door in other words.  Also make sure they know you are willing to teach f2f, online, hybrid, teach from the department master course, use the mandated textbook, or build your own course - whatever they need.
3. Make a name for yourself in the community and have a nice looking profile.  Make sure your linkin profile looks good.  Give your only presence a little dressing up in other words.
4. Try to make other friends at colleges or universities where you want to work.  Look for other work on campus that might be a foot in the door.
   
   Thats all that I can think of right now. Hopefully something in there is helpful.

[apageor2]

Thank you for the above thoughts as I now have helpful items to place onto that "to do list". 😃  

[scottdennis]

Hey Sue,

Glad to hear it?

Also, one other very small point of clarification; Canvas isn't an acronym so, unlike with some other previous platforms, there is no need to write it's name in all capital letters.

Cheers,
SD

[apageor2]

Cannot recall where I had been seeing the name spelled in capital letters frequently but it got me thinking that it meant something so it was a thought during my own learn process of the acronym. I do greatly appreciate you pointing it out there is no need for it to be written in that fashion. Much appreciated. 😃  

[kmeeusen]

Can Anyone Now Visualize Anything Sweeter than Canvas?

[925024864]

Now?... YES, with the current issues of extremely delayed Discussion posts, extremely delayed messages, and the new error issues with the Dashboard and Courses access... absolutely. Canvas has lost some of that sweetness... for the moment.    :<(

[925024864]

I'm happy to say that the issues I referred to above (1 year ago) were only temporary growing pains. So, now I can respond to Kelley's post above "Can Anyone Now Visualize Anything Sweeter than Canvas?" with an enthusiastic NO... Canvas is by far the best (sweetest) LMS around, hands down!    ;>)

[Robbie_Grant]

 @apageor2 ,

We are giving the Instructional Designers area a little bit of love and just want to check in with you.  This will also bring this question new attention. 

Were you able to find an answer to your question? I am going to go ahead and mark this question as answered because there hasn't been any more activity in a while so I assume that you have the information that you need. If you still have a question about this or if you have information that you would like to share with the community, by all means, please do come back and leave a comment.  Also, if this question has been answered by one of the previous replies, please feel free to mark that answer as correct.

Robbie