I agree with Judith PLAN, PLAN, PLAN, it helps to reduce the workload tremendously an helps effectively for you to manage your time effeiceinly.
Social presence is the degree of feeling, perception, and reaction of being connected to another intellectual entity, and in the context of an online learning environment, social presence impacts online interaction.
Having a healthy work life balance is vital.
I learned a lot about being properly organized as an online teachers. As I get comfortable with courses they can become templates for future courses which will assist with my time management.
I think this module tries to point out successfull strategies to manage your time properly and in doing so, become a more successful online teacher in the process and many of the strategies discussed in this module are valid and I'm sure work in a lot of online teaching environments. Obviously, some of these things are easier said than done, such as "Distinguishing between work and personal life" including "setting boundaries so online work does not overwhelm their personal life'. I've worked 7 day a week, 80 hour a week jobs in the private sector before coming a teacher and while setting up such "boundaries" is a smart thing to do (when possible). However, at the end of the day, when the boss or customer demands something by a certain time and date, all of those "boundaries" go in the trash and you do what you have to, in order to keep your job and put food on the table.
Establish concise procedures for instructor / student communication is essential for effective communication.
Learning stratiegies to help prevent teacher burn out is very important. Life is stressful by itself, there for time management is key for online instructos. Be efficient with time and expectations for both students and instructor.
Finding that work/life balance can be incredibly difficult. Avoid distractions and maximize your work time as much as you can.
Plan your work and then work your plan!
Creating a presence in an online course is important to the success of the course. Teachers must show that they are leading the online environment in a way that creates a sense of presence.
I would utilize videos of myself covering topics or demonstrating activities, and maintain a scheduled presence in discussion boards.
I learned that having a work life balance is important to not only the instructors but the course as well. Being able to teach the online course without having distractions and setting boundaries helps with minimizing errors and misunderstandings.
To manage time effectively you need to be organized, be disciplined, distinguish between work and personal time and be flexible. This works with students as well as instructor.
Setting clear expectations for the instructor and the students is essential. It is also important for instructors to have strong time management skills so that the online cours doesn't adversely affect the work/life balance.
Not only is it ok to not be available 24 hours a day, it is essential. Set specific times to answer questions, check e-mails, and teach. Organization is vital in avoiding burnout and helping promote a positive experience for the online learner.
Time management is crucial! Also, teacher to student interaction, and student to student interaction are both so important to keep them engaged and motivated.
Some of these things I do, but I was glad that it was mentioned in here- create PPT slides (I use it for the daily agendas), podcasts, youtube videos, and a FAQ section.
I love the idea of establishing "office hours" as mentioned in this reading. Telling students when I will/will not be answering emails and sticking to that time frame will help to keep a balance of work/home life. The key is to say what you mean, and mean what you say, then stick to it.
Vital to practice good time management. Designate specific times for responding to emails, checking progress, etc.
Prioritizing teaching is very important for the success of online teaching.
