Fred,
Can you elaborate on the regulations and hoops you must deal with?
Thanks!
Thomas,
How do you eliminate the distractions? This is difficult for many online instructors, so please share any tips you have. Thanks!
The balancing act of the online class and personal life has been finely honed over the years. I like to plan and do things that generate the most free time. I've learned over the years that confused instruction generates a lot of student questions and errors when doing assignments, and student satisfaction suffers. Sometimes the website we use has issues or where things are located is not very intuitive. So, one thing that has been very helpful for my students is to give them an orientation right at the start of where things are located, and what's important gets emphasis. Then, I will clarify any assignment ambiguities, so the students can 'get it right' without being led astray by typos, etc. I show students where to find things for their assignments, such as APA information, so they know where to go and follow the examples. These are just a few of the activities I do. In the end, when the students understand what's important, do their assignments right, then emails to me are reduced, challenges to their grades are greatly minimized , and grading their assignments is a lot faster as they require less explanations as to what they did wrong and how to fix it. All of this, and more, gives me free time to spend on other personal activities. It's a balancing act, and depending on the week of instruction there could be more interaction with the students. It all depends on what they need, but like I said earlier, I go out of my way to provide them with as much information as possible so they have it at their finger tips already.
Very difficult to do. I also work for another CEC school (Collins College) that is being dropped by the corporation. This is an on-ground school. Plus I have to manage several side jobs AND work on developing a photography business. There really is not much time which should make the online world a little bit easier, right? Not happening because of all the regulations and "hoops" that we have to jump through in order to stay employed.
By setting a schedule for when I am online and having a separate room to work from without distractions.
Lisa,
We do have to set aside time and typically a place that is just for work. "Unplugging" one whole day each week is probably very beneficial to you. Thanks for your input.
This is really difficult. Since I work from home and home school my kids, I find it hard to create boundaries. I now dedicate the mornings to my kids and the afternoons/nights to work.
I also unplug one whole day each week. That really helps.
Suzanne and Krystal,
The area in which we work plays a huge role in how we work and perform. You give us good advice. Thanks for your input.
Suzanne,
Good point. As you are looking at the graphics first, you are probably a visual learner. Think about the students you have that may need those visuals as well. Thanks!
Suzanne,
The longer you are engaged in teaching in the online learning environment, the more time management skills you will develop. I also hope this course was helpful in providing you with some tips. Thanks!
Krystal:
I live in a two-story house. I get ready each morning as if I were going outside of the house to work even though my office is downstairs. I do not go back upstairs at all until I am done for the day. This is not only an incentive-producing plan (as my bed harkens for a nap every so often) but it is a good way of separating functions within the different areas of the house. I used to do laundry and clean at different intervals of the day. Now I work on my online classes and get my other work done when I am not at my official job.
Suzanne
I use a variation of speed reading when reviewing materials for additional course content. I read the headings and subheadings and look at graphics first. This helps me learn the material and organize it in categories. Then I read the actual written sentences. This is a great way to gather new concepts and focus on the subject matter.
Suzanne
I have a very difficult time creating work/life balance. The latest techniques I have used have been most successful. I set aside some time to be out of the house in a social activity with family or friends. This creates a boundary and incentive at the same time. I set up an objective list of what I want to accomplish and then I set a time goal for accomplishing those activities during the day. If I am able to exceed my expectations, then I reward myself with some other pleasant activity. In the past I would use the extra time to do additional work. By rewarding with something other than work, I find that I am more efficient overall.
Suzanne
Alan,
Office hours can provide an opportunity for students to connect with the instructor. I use Adobe Connect to be online for my office hours so if the student has a Webcam, we can meet F2F online - synchronously. It's a good thing. Thanks!
I establish office hour times before the class begins and publish them to students. I set a level of expectation regarding my response to emails. I usually do this function at the same time eevryday and within 24 hours of submissions.
Any changes to meeting times are posted on an announcement board as well as sent as an email to students.
Theran,
Ah - a routine. I am a creature of habit. ;-) But, it works for me. Building a routine for answering students' questions, providing feedback and completing assessment it awesome. Thanks!
I have a routine for each day, a set time to be in the classroom.
I then follow a routine in the classroom:
1. Emails
2. Discussion Posts
3. My comments
4. Grade assignments
I have found if I grade assignments as they come in (which is not a lot as most students submit assignments at the end of the week) it does relieve pressure on grade day--meeting the schools grading deadline.
Karen,
It takes some organizing and scheduling, but we can do it. And, it is, as you said, essential to make sure we do get that "free time" and regroup our thoughts and energy. Thanks!
Frank,
Organization is a key factor for scheduling our lives. Keeping things straight in our professional and personal lives, takes a lot of scheduling. Thanks for your input.
I balance work and life by setting aside time to do what needs to be done for both. As an online instructor it is very difficult to decide when work ends and begins. I also have the challenge of working full time at home as well. Since teaching is part-time for me I have designated times to work in my online class room. I also have certain days and times that are set aside for my personal time. I find that by designating a particular time helps to balance work and life. However, I also find that it is very easy to check student e-mail when you have some "free time" and this is where I have to really be careful about making sure I balance and prioritize my activities. Keeping a calendar is very helpful as well.
