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I started thinking about continuing my career in education.
So I went back to school primarily to get my teaching certificate
through SFAs post-baccalaureate program.
While I was in that program I learned that once I obtained my
teaching certificate, I would be half way towards a master's in teaching.
That was pretty exciting and after I got my teaching certificate I
continued my education and finished up my master's degree program.
Yes!
I found that the online format was the perfect, ideal format
for me with my family situation.
I have three children and we live far away from town and so
it was easy to do my research online, write my papers and read.
All those things are rigorous, but they’re not connected to a location.
With the online studying no one had to even know I was gone.
I didn't even have to skip a beat.
I could continue to get everything done, because I could just hook
into the wi-fi, turn on the laptop and I'm ready to go.
For me to be even able to do it, I needed it to be more flexible.
The online program that SFA provided, gave me just that kind
of flexibility, but I think, if you are considering graduate school
then you probably are a serious student who is determined to
complete the work, meet your goals and get the degree.
Then I think it is the most flexible and feasible way to get a degree.
Especially, if you have a family, if you have children, if you are working
to boot on top of all the other things that you are doing and you
have an active life style, it is very beneficial to not to have to actually
have to go to campus, go to campus, go to campus...
The online format is really where it is at for a second degree.
The courses are very intense and so it is kind of a different method
of learning, but you still cover the same material and get the same
amount out of it.
I found that in some of the classes, I was actually more connected
with the other online students than I had been when I took
traditional face-to-face classes.
It could feel lonely at times, but when you got connected through the
discussion boards, you always felt you were, kind of, more in contact.
Many times these threads would get started and they would turn
into long conversations on a topic.
Your professors you could talk to them at any time.
They were very personable with you and they were always there
to answer questions and help you with research, they were always
very good about facilitating your success.
My job is to facilitate online classes for the high school students
who are enrolled in college.
So I'm helping high school students do the same thing that I've been
doing for the past two and half years as I completed
my online master's degree.
So, I'm very equipped to do what I am doing, because everything
that I'm able to teach them is so recent in my memory.
So what I am doing is right up the line, right what I studied for,
exactly what I studied for.