Career in Teaching Computers

Introduction

A Computer Teacher may teach the principles of computing and keyboarding to middle school or high school students in public or private schools or in colleges, universities, community colleges or technical schools. To be employed as a Computer Teacher, a bachelor's degree in computer science is the minimum educational requirement. Depending upon the setting in which you wish to teach, a teaching credential and further education may be needed.

Career Definition: Computer Teacher

A career as a Computer Teacher offers many different experiences. A Computer Teacher might cover basic keyboarding and computer functions for teenagers in public school or adults who are updating their work skills in a night class, or they may teach more complicated elements of computer science to college students. The duties of a Computer Teacher may include creating lesson plans, evaluating student performance, maintaining classroom records, meeting with parents, teachers and other professionals, updating curriculum and participating in campus events. Additional research, supervisorial or organizational duties may also be required depending upon the expectation of the employing school.

How to Become a Computer Teacher

To teach in a public secondary school, a bachelor's degree in computer science and a specific certification - sometimes referred to as a single-subject certification - is required. Beyond those two qualifications, a semester of student-teaching is needed and is usually completed within the bachelor's degree. Licensing is required by all states to teach in the public school system; however, a license is not necessarily needed for private schools. A master's degree is typically the minimum educational requirement to teach in a college or university, but a teaching credential may not be necessary. Because requirements vary, contact the Board of Education within the state you wish to teach.

Required Skills for a Career in Computer Teaching

A Computer Teacher is often expected to solve minor technical problems that happen within their classroom, so computer troubleshooting experience is important. No matter the topic, all teachers should be enthusiastic about the subject they are instructing and exhibit patience when working with students who don't immediately understand the concepts being presented. Professionalism and good communication skills are also important as a Computer Teacher must interact with parents, administrators and other teachers on a daily basis.

Career and Economic Outlook for Teaching Computers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) classifies job opportunities for teachers as good to excellent through 2016. The Bureau also reports that due to a ...