Deborah,
The things you are doing also help the students with their time management skills. That's a great thing. Thanks!
Sandra,
I feel your pain. When I have a paper due (and I have over 200 students sometimes), I'll grade them in parts. I'll grade the abstract, then the introduction, then the body, then the conclusion and references. The separate parts add up to the total grade. I grade more times, but it goes more quickly. And, if I find an issue in one part, they can make it right in the next part. Just a thought.
I have had to set timelines for when I would respond to student emails. I use the out of office system to announce to anyone that I will respond within one business day after reading their email. I was going ape trying to respond as soon as I received the email.
Jennifer - I also struggle with preventing burn out. I have found I have to work on turning off my lap top and walking away. If I do not, I can loose track of time and spend hours working without realizing it.
Does anyone else have this issue?
I have a calendar for the course as well as a daily to do list. Both tool correlate to each other. For example, I have on my calendar each Friday, I post and schedule announcements for the next week. My Friday to do list has the announcements I need to post one by one with information on how to find the text of the announcement .As I complete daily activities, I check off the item.
Further, I start every day answering email and addressing discussions.
Another method I use is to have time on my daily calendar when I do not answer email or phone calls so I can concentrate on grading, posting, writing new material and so forth.
Class size is rather large also. Grading discussion board and papers for 30-35 students within 48 hours would be a challenge.
Sandra,
I get so confused when the "institution" tells the instructor when grading must be completed? That does not allow the instructor much flexibility. Would they consider all grading must be completed within 48 hours of the assignment or something like that?
Thanks!
Adib,
How may of your students take advantage of one-on-one tutoring? It's a great resource and I wonder how many students realize that. Thanks for sharing.
As required by the University, all grading must be completed by Wednesday night. I usually utilize all available time as I work full – time and instruct part-time. I also have weekly church-related responsibilities. So, time management is critical.
I usually accept one science class and one lab; on occasion I accept two labs. The class has a project and discussion board component that requires grading. The lab only has a project component. I grade the main course papers first because they take more time to grade. If time permits, I grade early submissions on Saturday. I set aside three hours on Sunday evening to grade individual projects. All individual projects for the main course are completed by Monday night.
All projects for labs are graded on Tuesday. I grade discussion board assignments on Wednesday. I arise early and participate in the classroom discussion each morning before going to my day job. I respond to emails early morning and late evening. Sometimes, I will respond during my lunch break.
I am required to host one hour live chat per week and two faculty hours for the main course. I must host a 30 minute live chat for the lab and a 30 minute faculty hour. I typically host chats on Monday and Tuesday (in the midst of grading). I feel this helps students the most. I usually schedule faculty hours between Thursday – Sunday. I give myself one night off (Friday night).
I have a busy schedule but find that this works for me.
One of the time management skills that I have incorporated with students is scheduling specific office hours, providing students with additional one-on-one tutoring time, and working with students to determine how to best schedule their time weekly to meet assignment requirements.
Adib Shakir
Thomas,
Developing a schedule can help with time management. We also want to think about specific time we set aside just for work. Thanks!
I have learned to develop a weekly schedule built around course needs.
Suzanne and Terri,
It's so nice when we find out that others do many of the same things as we do and it continues to be beneficial to the students and/or ourselves. Thanks!
Suzanne and Erin,
Thanks for adding to the conversation to help others think about their own time management and assessment/feedback skills.
Suzanne,
If you understand how long it takes to grade assignments, that can quickly help you develop some time management techniques/skills to assess on a timely basis. Thanks!
Terri:
I have done the same thing. I find that I have transferred my original use of highlighters when reading a textbook by using a color coding methodology to my online process by using technology to add color in this way. :)
Suzanne
Erin:
This is an excellent method. Perhaps the greatest value overall is the fact that this aids in objectivity and consistency of responses, which is a more equitable process for feedback.
Suzanne
I have determined a set amount of time for grading assignments by identifying each one at a certain amount of minutes and multiplying this by the number of assignments to grade. This then gives me a goal for completion of the task. However, if there are some that require more than the average amount of time to complete, I then revise by a limited time that goal. Generally, I identify the original set time with some variance, such as 10 - 15 minutes. of course, in some cases, I am done sooner than my average.
Suzanne
Jessica,
Sounds like you are chunking your work time. Know that you are not alone in your situation. Take care.
Theran,
We do learn as we go, don't we. A calendar and to do list can help us stay on task. Structure helps us and our students be successful. Thanks!
