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How can participating in professional development courses serve as a workload management strategy?
In my opinion, there are three important outcomes to professional development activities that can have an impact on workload management.
The first is affirmation - the, "hey I do that" realization that affirms your course techniques and teaching methods are on target.
The next is renewal. Taking a trip, getting away from work and recharging batteries, renews commitment and energy levels to return to workloads regardless of their magnitude.
Finally, there is the epiphany outcome. These are the nuggets of ideas, small and large, that you can glean from peers and presenters at conferences that lead to more efficient and effective workload management.
Greg Dlabach
Dave,
I agree that the more I learn lowers my stress level since I am working more efficiently. I like that you used the term diversification. I pick up several ways to perform my work from the various seminars, conferences, and courses then have options and choose the method that works best for me.
Professional development provides me with tools and strategies to make my teaching more efficient and successful.
I attend a faculty development conference annually and choose break out sessions that will provide me with more knowledge in areas I need further development. That is how I choose the Max Knowledge courses as well. I'm looking to improve my skill and that will save me time. The more tips I learn the more efficient my teaching will be.
Christine,
Great. I'm glad professional development is something you participate in and something you see a benefit in. Thanks!
Tom,
Thanks for continuing the conversation about professional development. Keep your ideas coming!
Dr. Crews,
Participating in professional development helps me learn new things that I can apply to facilitate my courses better. In this course, for example, I have learned strategies on how to effectively conduct my courses and simultaneously save time.
-Christine
I believe that the more we know about our strengths and weaknesses, the more insight we have into what we need to learn to be a better instructor. All the skills, techniques, and tools that we can amass go a long way to managing our abilities to teach. The older I get, the more convinced I am of the things I need to learn about when it comes to managing my duties as an instructor. It's true - learning never ends...or at least it shouldn't!
Nathan,
Good point. We can always use a good reminder of what to do and what not to do! ;-)
PD serves as a reminder for best practices for me.
The tips provided on student management, on new technology, on communication strategy all help in work load management. It is easy to get into a system and without reflection it can become inefficient. PD makes me look at the process. It is appreciated.
George,
Excellent. I am hopeful that you are finding this professional development beneficial.
Michelle,
We have to strive to be better teachers no matter whether we are teaching online or F2F. Professional development helps us become better. Thanks!
I have often had a difficult time with the changing requirements and responsibilities of online education. By constantly assessing my own learning needs I can continue to seek innovative and creative ways to improve my skills. Through professional development I have learned new ways to grade, provide quality feedback, and manage my daily workload.
There are times when I need a refresher as well. Professional development activities are essential tools for me!
When I take professional development courses I like to take them as a way to help me succeed in my online courses. Professional development courses can help us as instructors strategize. We can focus on certain areas in which we can grow on. Then, you can learn new ideas from other online instructors.
Gloria,
Yes, the more we keep up with our professional development, the better we can serve our students. Thank you.
Dr. Crews,
It's important to continue to participate in webinars, online course updates/changes, and in-services. There are always changes in the industry and it's important to keep up.
Samantha,
Good point. Actually participating in professional development is an important strategy. Thanks.
Hello
I have completed many professional development activities (like this class) that have provided me with resources and tools to improve my workload strategies. This in an of itself is a strategy!
Samantha
Kimberly,
Great. Glad you are learning through these courses and am implementing some new ideas. It's fun to learn. ;-)
I think this course is a great example of that! This is helping me to identify strategies and workflow adjustments that I can make to facilitate a more effective course for myself and more importantly my students! I fear that I may have provided TOO many additional materials and links for information which was actually having the opposite effect of what I intended. Yikes!