Applying for Supervised Teaching in Indiana

This month I'm wrapping up all the requirements to be met to submit my application to do my supervised teaching. I love it that student teaching is the only portion of the online education degree from WGU Indiana that I have to leave the house for. But, for me it's a grueling experience simply because I want to get through it a little faster than the original plan calls for.

I think that many people are under the impression that an online education degree or getting a license to teach online is an easy thing to do. Let me clear that up right now. If anything, getting a degree to teach online is more difficult than it would be if I actually attended a school. That's because there is no teacher to tell me when an assignment due or anything like that. It's a trial of self motivation. With that being said, know that WGU Indiana does a fantastic job of guiding students through the process. I don't talk to automated systems. I don't wait days for a call back, if I even have to leave a message. I get my answers the same day every time.

Just so you know basically what has to be done to apply to do the supervised teaching in Indiana, let me give you a general breakdown. Note that this is just to apply and does not include what you have to get done before you actually do the supervised teaching through WGU Indiana in an Indiana school.

Complete Praxis I and Praxis II, as well as having any other Praxis exams scheduled by the date set: For instance, I'm doubling up and becoming licensed for Special Ed. as well as Elementary Ed., so I have to take content exams for both of those. If I want to do supervised teaching in January, I have to have those exams scheduled to be taken by July 31.

Meet Basic education requirements: Basically this means that you have to have all the general ed classes done. These are classes that pretty much every student has to take, regardless of their major.

Professional documents turned in: You'll need to have submitted a resume, professional photo, thumbnail photo and your teaching philosophy. Note that the photo you submit to be approved is not necessarily the one you have to use when you apply to schools.

Specific Exams: These are exams that assess your general knowledge of the legalities and responsibilities of the education system.

Submit background check: You'll have to get a background check done and submit it to WGU Indiana. You can get your Indiana background check online for less than $20.

Pass at least one specific task: Once you get into the program, you'll be dealing with a program that lists tasks for you to do. Once you get beyond the general studies, there are specific tasks that need to be done to how your understanding not o subjects, but how to teach subjects. One of those tasks need to be done to be able to apply for the supervised teaching.

Submit application for supervised teaching: Once all of the requirements have been met, you submit your application for student teaching by the date specified. For me, it has to be done by May 31 if I want to do supervised teaching in January.

So there you have it. An education degree online isn't easy, but Indiana needs good teachers if we're going to move forward.

Crunch Time

This month is crunch time for me. So far I had to get a new laptop, new router, reconfigure everything and hung out with a friend n ICU. These things do not go well with making serious progress toward my online teaching degree at WGU Indiana.

Deadlines hover over me this month. In fact, if I want to meet the early application deadline, I have to finish an unholy amount of tasks. Yesterday I tested out of one of my core classes and today I hope to complete 2 more classes; one by test and one by task.

I'm here to tell you that people seriously underestimate the amount of education that elementary teachers work through, not to mention the special education portion of my particular degree. Of course, it makes sense because elementary teachers teach in every subject.

If you think it's any easier to earn an online elementary education degree just because the classes are online, you're sadly mistaken. It takes a certain level self motivation that I don't always have. WGU Indiana does make the process go smoother by offering tons of things in the way of motivational tools and the tasks to be completed are organized in such a way as to make the process easy to navigate.

BUT...yea, you knew that was coming...

But, it's hard work and you have to be careful not to fall into your own personal pitfalls. After all, if you go to a traditional school, you know you have to be in class at a certain time and so forth. Earning your elementary education degree online means that you determine when you go to class. In turn, that means you have to put personal distractions out of the way and at the same time convince people that there are certain times when you simply can't be bothered because you have schoolwork to do.

I have every intention of meeting my educational goal in the time limit I've set for myself. Failure is not an option. I've also got to say that my mentor, Melissa is fabulous. She's done her best to encourage me and keep me on task, even when that means dealing with me 8 cups of coffee into a personal crisis!