Odyssey of an Adjunct

My Google search bot for ‘adjunct’ pulled up this seminar listing about “how to create programs that help your adjuncts feel a greater connection to your institution and its online program.” Just the existence of the course and its description shows how 21st century higher (and maybe secondary) education seems to be heading:

Qualified people are always in short supply, but the rapid growth of online programs seems to have exacerbated the problem. What’s more, retention is also a significant issue: online adjuncts, who aren’t necessarily located on campus (or even in the same country), often feel a lack of support, connection and loyalty. Defections are common, creating a constant cycle of search, replacement, training and attrition.

In other words, supply is not meeting demand. This is troubling for schools but nice for those perusing adjunct instruction as a career—especially those willing to make the extra effort to distinguish themselves and maintain good relationships with their customer schools. The discussion about why adjuncts leave a given school seems as important to the adjuncts as it does those trying to attract and retain them. ‘Lack of support’ and ‘connection’ issues seem especially to be something the adjunct show own as challenges and proactively resolve them with and for their customer school. ‘Loyalty’ makes me wonder if they are devising strategies to get adjuncts to stay even when basic needs, such as fair compensation, might not be met. Maybe I’ve been reading to much Daniel Pink and still have Free Agent Nation on the brain, which pretty much debunks the notion of employer/employee loyalty today. People stay where they are appreciated, paid, and—most of all—where they feel an intrinsic sense of accomplishment.

Recently read this article noting a decrease in tenured-track faculty. I enjoyed the fact that it did not devalue tenured teachers, only explain what is happening. For example, I did not know what tenure was other than that they worked-there full-time. It is so much more:

Since its establishment in the early 1900s, tenure has been an invaluable protection for those serving in the academia because it guarantees that “faculty members, after successful completion of a period of probationary service, can be dismissed only for adequate cause or other possible circumstances and only after a hearing before a faculty committee,” according to the American Association of University Professors.

The job security that accompanies tenure allows individuals to pursue their academic passions and speak out, even when their theories or data dissent from prevailing opinion.

This notion of rock-solid job security for the sake of academic freedom of expression and contradiction really intrigues me. If ever there was a reason for job-security that is one I could really get behind. But is the economic reality going to bring about a continued decline in tenured instructors? I assume there are other benefits to having tenured faculty even if the quality of their instruction tends to fade as any service does when the producer is buffered with safeties from the consumer. I won’t pretend to know anything about this at all.

In plain terms,

“I don’t really mind how old my teachers are or what backgrounds they come from as long as they can teach,” freshman Weina Dai said.

Which is what I’d expect students to say. They just want the skills, knowledge and a pleasurable learning experience, all stuff I certainly am shooting to provide this Fall.

Another benefit of adjunct faculties and graduate students teaching is that these faces tend to bring a special enthusiasm and energy to the classroom.

This is where I know I can really shine. I remember professors when I was a student that were bothered by students interrupting what I can only assume was their more interesting tenured work (research, publications, travels). It is only natural for this enthusiasm to fade. Allowing adjuncts and grad students that chance to share the same skills and knowledge while they are fresh as well as enthused has to be a win for learning in general.

Recently ran across one university’s qualifications for an adjunct part-time instructor in psychology:

• Terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution. (Master’s degrees may be considered for positions in the School of Undergraduate Studies)
• College level teaching experience of years, see specific postings for details; online teaching experience preferred
• Practitioner experience in the area of expertise
• Evidence of supporting learner success and a commitment to teaching preferable in an online environment
• Experience working with adult learners in a diverse atmosphere
• For the PhD Programs, experience mentoring and supervising graduate level research preferred

Ok, so this program wants a Ph.D. with ‘years’ of experience in the work world and enough technical skill to teach psychology ‘in an online environment’? Good luck.

I really think this is one reason the whole system is facing real change. That is a tall order. The price tag for such an individual will likely not be what such universities would want to pay, the person having invested at least $40K in education themselves and having proven themselves in a highly profitable working environment.

I really wonder if all that is necessary. Why does this scenario make me feel like the education market is just so broken? Is it because our society, at least that of Americans, really doesn’t value education? Honestly, most days I think we just want to be entertained, not educated. I see and hear a lot about infusing educational environments with technologies and methods that will engage students, almost trick them into learning without knowing it.  I largely agree such methods are required to get unwilling students to even consider the material, but what else can be done to show the gamer generation that education is worthwhile on its own merits?

Whatever the answers, it is an uphill battle for sure when the average game programmer makes $120k out of school now and the average teacher $50k if they are lucky.

Some might answer, “Maybe moreso, right?!” with the whole clothing-optional nature of online interactions. Admit it, you’ve chatted or tweeted naked before, right?

Anyway, that’s not the naked one of my new heros José A. Bowen is talking about when he makes the challenge to classroom instructors to ‘teach naked.’ He means removing computers from the classrooms and focusing on discussion and people.

He’s not the only one, read that article to see how many are doing it. Jose focuses on putting content into podcasts and other online media so that students are prepared, which he checks with a quick quiz before class. This makes for open and unfettered discussion in class. The students are just as naked as he is. If they don’t know the material (or if he didn’t) it could get rather cold.

Near the end of the video he makes another comment that really hits home how important keeping tabs on this online/elearning evolution is shaping up:

A Chronicle survey discovered that you can get same or better quality from online courses as you could in the classroom

I really loved his mentioning podcast because I was already headed that way for the content of the course I plan to create, possibly even using Second Life machinima for it.

But can purely online instructors teach naked?

Since those teaching purely online don’t have a classroom, we can’t teach naked (without computers) like Jose challenges, right? Perhaps, but what about virtual worlds like Second Life and OpenSim that afford the next best thing to being there (short of expensive video conferencing).

What if we use Second Life as the classroom?

Anyone who has heard of Second Life already knows there is plenty-o’-naked in Second Life already, just not the kind we are talking about. But the fact that even those who choose to be naked in SL can be (and would actually want to be) demonstrates SL is effective at bridging the social connection gap that exists with other online instruction technologies. Ning, Google, BlackBoard, Angel, none of them carry that sense of presence and immediacy that SL does. So we just might be able to teach naked even with fully clothed avatars. In fact, taking that little quiz at the beginning to make sure people covered the podcast and other material gets that much easier in SL.

I still haven’t decided if the ease of can-learn-on-my-own-time online instruction fully trumps the need for a classroom, even a virtual one. My heart says we need a classroom if for no other reason than the synergy and relationships that form like between Socrates and his pupils as they met togther. In fact, SL might even afford an opportunity to return to non-traditional classrooms in nature, around a fire, on a lodge deck, even at the pinnacle of mountain peaks. Why can’t schools become educational retreats?

Come Fall, we’ll all be sitting there, learning and teaching naked while fully clothed.

An adjunct, I not-so-recently learned, is a short name for an adjunct instructor or professor in the world of education. They come from all types of backgrounds from the formally educated to the practically experienced and sometimes both. They teach at all levels in person and increasingly online, sometimes completely online. They meet the needs of 21-century, just-in-time learners by adapting to immediate needs. They are brains-for-hire in Daniel Pink’s Free Agent Nation not unlike contractors in the business world. They succeed or fail based on skill over tenure and are rewarded accordingly. A career as an adjunct instructor seems well suited to make a strong contribution to this globalized, changing flat Earth of ours.

I will always be a programmer at heart, but the repressed teacher in me finally asserted his space in my psyche enough to get me to start following educators on twitter and elsewhere. With their kind help I later became a Docent for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Around that time I also formed a small company focused on teaching technology skills related to education—especially Second Life and OpenSim. That’s when my chance came. If everything goes well, I will be teaching International Business for an accredited university in the Fall of 2010. The course will be entirely online and include a Second Life group collaboration component.

I don’t mind people knowing I’m thrilled and nervous for this opportunity. It is a dream come true. You probably also gathered that this blog is a personal one. I’m sure I’ll make a lot of mistakes, offend people, and make bad assumptions along the way, in fact, I’m counting on it. That’s the very reason I’m blogging it. Hopefully this very process will help someone else learn as well. Let me know if it does help. Better yet, stop by and relax with me on EDTECH Retreat while we talk about it.