Since the first messages were posted, stored and were able to be retrieved via the Internet, people have used this stored data as a learning substitute. With the breadth of offerings (topics, formats, etc) now available on the web many people have taken to using the Internet as their primary learning source. While this ability to retrieve knowledge about almost anything quickly and easily is clearly an asset, it does not replace some key components of learning - interaction and collaboration.

You don't know what you don't know

The key here is that if you want to learn about something online, you at least need to have enough knowledge to know where to start. When one is ignorant on a topic, starting a pull learning process on the Internet can start you on the right path, but it can also have you wasting lots of time on peripheral topics.

This is why we believe that live learning, both in person and via the Internet, is crucial to advancing education. Live learning online will transform education as we know it.

All you have to do is think back to a class you've attended where someone asks a question about a topic that you didn't even know existed. Has that ever opened up completely new avenues of exploration and discovery for you?

Imagine the University Freshman majoring in Education. Now imagine the teacher job market when they graduate. What do you think the job market for teachers will look like? Has the job market for teachers changed for you?

If you think the job market for teachers has changed in the last 5 years, fasten your seat belts, because online learning is going to change teaching jobs even more dramatically. The market for online teaching jobs will bring new opportunities and with them the requirement that teachers change the way the find online teaching jobs and the way they teach.

Online Marketplaces, virtual learning environments, collaborative course development and instant aggregated feedback will open a new world to teachers. The best online teachers will understand and learn how to use these new tools to deliver learning experiences that are miles above those found in traditional classrooms.

The way your earn money teaching online will change. You will have more control over your income but will need to be more effective to be successful.

Are you ready for this shift? It can be either exciting or terrifying. Which emotion do you want to feel?

Keep up with the trends on our Industry Info page and be excited!

Casual Learning is non-accredited, non-certification learning. Any time you go to a dictionary or use your Kindle to look up the definition of a word, this is an example of casual learning. When you use Google to find out how something works, it's casual learning.

The other day we had a discussion about if it's better to maintain your house at a temperature throughout the night because many believe that it can cost more to bring the house back up to a certain temperature after it falls. Nobody participating in the discussion really knew the answer. So afterwards I searched on Google and found that it does not take more to bring the house back up to a certain temperature. You are actually better off letting it drop to the lowest level, and then bring it up when you want to. This is a simple example of casual learning.

More substantial examples of casual learning include continuing education. If you take a course at your local high school continuing education program, and do it just for the enjoyment of learning a subject. That is casual learning.

The internet is all about casual learning. We do it every day. Although I don't have hard numbers, common sense tells me that casual learning occurs exponentially more often than institutionalized learning. I also believe that ultimately, it has more value as well.

When you think about teaching online or learning online you should considered casual learning as well as accredited or certification based learning. You may find that you can teach what you love rather than what society has deemed necessary. You may also find that people may embrace your casual, non-accredited learning because they are doing it out of a stronger personal motivation. The learning is the goal, not the job, the recoginition or whatever.

When you think about what you will teach online, keep this in mind.

As with any newly launched venture, this is much left to do. Our first goal is to attract as many qualified online teachers as possible to join our association. It's free and easy.

The first 25 teachers to sign-up and actively participate will be awarded the Online Teacher Association Founding Member designation and will help shape the future of the organization.

We look forward to your membership and participation and your help in making the shift to online education as powerful as we all know if can be.