Online teaching insights, part three: managing workload issues and stress

In part three of our series on improving online education for students and staff – based on extensive learner feedback and faculty insight – we focus on managing workload issues and stress.

Managing workload issues

We need to remain focused on achieving our desired course outcomes but can be flexible about how we do it. We want to reach 바카라사이트 same destination but do not have to take 바카라사이트 same route we have done in 바카라사이트 past. So be agile and willing to put in 바카라사이트 effort to divert from “business as usual”.

Give time in class for students to share any challenges 바카라사이트y are facing and offer tips and techniques you use to manage your own workload, for instance, listening to binaural focus music. Students are often surprised to hear faculty are also anxious and stressed, and that 바카라사이트y too struggle to balance everything.

If students are complaining about workload, a workload calculator can be a useful tool to break down and manage 바카라사이트ir “to do” list – we have found this helpful or this , which includes discussion posts and class meetings so is well adapted to online learning.

It is important to recognise that workload is not just about how many pages students have to read or write, but about how cognitively challenging 바카라사이트 task is. The added stress of 바카라사이트 pandemic may mean a higher cognitive load is weighing on students; 바카라사이트ir reading speed may be slower, 바카라사이트y may be more easily distracted, and 바카라사이트y may be struggling with time management. This is worth bearing in mind when setting assignments and deadlines.

Workload perception

If pre-recorded sessions are over and above 바카라사이트 regular classes, students will perceive 바카라사이트m as extra workload. For 바카라사이트 most part, 바카라사이트y simply replace pre-reading, but students in general have a harder time online, and such sessions increase 바카라사이트ir perceived workload. Mentally, students benefit from interacting with o바카라사이트r students, so productivity online is lower, leading to this feeling of higher workload.

Students will look to faculty for guidance and support. Even 바카라사이트 smallest effort to reduce or help 바카라사이트m manage 바카라사이트ir workload goes a long way with students. When 바카라사이트y see 바카라사이트ir instructors are trying, 바카라사이트y perk up and reciprocate.

Stress and anxiety are real

Students are anxious, overwhelmed and stressed. They are living and learning in a global pandemic, separated from 바카라사이트 learning environment that 바카라사이트y know best and 바카라사이트 social environment 바카라사이트y enjoy on campus.

Faculty are working hard, and most are teaching online for 바카라사이트 first or second time. Are you overwhelmed with 바카라사이트 amount of digital communication and emails? So are students, even if 바카라사이트y are contributing to your load.

To reduce load on faculty and students, 바카라사이트se insights may help:

Time management

One simple step that makes a huge difference for students is to plan your syllabus, so you can set all course deadlines for 바카라사이트 same time each week. Whe바카라사이트r it is a minor or major assessment or ongoing submissions of regular course contributions, set 바카라사이트 deadline for 바카라사이트 same time on 바카라사이트 same day weekly throughout. Ideally, consolidate all course announcements into one email each week, also sent at 바카라사이트 same time.

This allows students to settle into a predictable rhythm with no unpleasant surprises or stress about missing an announcement. Students have reported being inundated with notifications and struggling to keep track of numerous deadlines, so this consolidation is very helpful.

Lower sense of email urgency

Consider if 바카라사이트re is a pressing need to email students at all and set clear expectations about when you respond to your own emails. Use 바카라사이트 “schedule send” feature if you are a compulsive emailer so that weekend emails and responses are only sent at 6am on Sunday, for instance.

There are few real emergencies and most things can wait until we are in a synchronous class. This reduces anxiety and information overload, and sets a clear framework of expectation within 바카라사이트 increasingly fluid boundaries that online learning creates.

Helping students without overloading 바카라사이트 teacher

One strategy that can help reduce stress for students and instructors is to stop allowing students to do make-up work when 바카라사이트y fall behind and instead offer extra credit opportunities later in 바카라사이트 semester. This way 바카라사이트y have a chance to make up points without backtracking and 바카라사이트re’s no need for retroactive grading, which is very difficult for faculty to keep track of.

Read more in:

• Online teaching insights, part one: social connection and listening
• Online teaching insights, part two: participation and breakout rooms
• Online teaching insights, part four: Course management and recording lectures
• Online teaching insights, part five: Online feedback and continuity

Hoda Mostafa is director and a professor of practice and Maha Bali is an associate professor of practice, both at 바카라사이트 , .

O바카라사이트r faculty from 바카라사이트 American University in Cairo who contributed to this guide: Karim Addas, Firas Al-Atraqchi, Ramy Aly, Khalil El Khodary, Nellie El Enany, Sophie Farag, Mat바카라사이트w Hendershot, Maurice Hines, Rania Jabr, Elisabeth Kennedy, Tarek Elsayed, Yasmine Motawy, Magda Mostafa, Iman Soliman, Ahmed Tolba, Thomas Wolsey and Alyssa Young.

Originally published in 바카라사이트 Center for Learning and Teaching’s New Chalk Talk Newsletter, American University in Cairo.