Transcript Key Approaches to Reducing Stress

Time Management
and Organizational
Ideas
Key Approaches to
Reducing Stress
The effects of stress
We all experience feelings of stress at some time in our life that can negatively
affect our perspective and performance.
Negative stress leaves us feeling worried, anxious, fatigued, and fretful. It can
be manifested in many physical and emotional feelings.
Once we handle our stressful feelings, we can feel exhilarated, alive, happy, and
productive. It lets us get our job done, and be content in our life.
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The Goal of This Presentation
Our goal is to provide you with time management and organizational skills that
will help alleviate stress you may encounter while teaching your classes at Walden.
We will also offer suggestions for ways to relax, and to find quality time just for
you.
So sit back; grab some coffee or tea; listen to the music; and enjoy the
presentation.
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Stress can be detected through the computer
Remember, even though you are behind that computer screen, your
students can sense if you are stressed.
• Your online voice is affected.
• Your tone, conveyed through your responses, may unintentionally be short
and curt.
• You may lack of participation on the discussion board, and/or answering
questions in the Q and A.
• You exhibit a delay in returning graded papers, and feedback is minimal or
generic.
The next slide contains some helpful hints to guide you.
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Before your course begins …prepare
• Review the texts and DVD’s for your course. As the instructor, you are the resource
person for the class and confidently can convey your expert knowledge about the course
and text to your students.
• Keep notes on the requirements for each assignment for that week. This will help you
evaluate papers and interact with the students on the discussion board.
• Share information about the assignments in your weekly announcements. Use the date
feature available in the eCollege classroom to upload your announcements and have them
appear in your class on set dates.
• Place all required items in the Doc-Sharing prior to the class starting. (For example;
application rubric, discussion rubric, MSED APA Template, and items specific to your
specialization).
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Organize your workspace
• Create a home office space specifically for your work at Walden.
• Select a space that will be free from distractions and interruptions.
• Make sure that your chair and keyboard are in a healthy, ergonomic position, and
your monitor is at eye level.
• Have all course texts, DVD’s, and resource materials close at hand for reference.
• Be prepared. The more you are prepared, the less stress you may encounter.
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Set your boundaries
• Develop a schedule based on your expectations and preferences.
• Set realistic parameters for your time that you can adhere to, and abide by them.
• Work during set office hours, and establish a routine.
• Be clear about your availability to students by posting office hours and ways that
you can be reached.
• Include your Walden email address, (a phone number is optional), on the
instructor page in your eCollege classroom. Make sure you put the time zone
where you live.
• Balance your personal life with your Walden schedule.
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Communication is everything
The clearer you make directives, comments, and suggestions, the less time you will
spend addressing concerns and questions from students. The more prepared you
are, the less stress you will experience.
• Provide examples to clarify assignments, and your expectations.
• Post required items in the Doc-Sharing section of your class.
• Refer to prior assignments in your comments and responses to bring connections
within the course.
• Use the eCollege functions of Class Live and Class Chat to communicate with
students.
Use your online voice to create a caring and scholarly classroom. An online voice is
professional and non-judgmental, with a respectful tone.
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Learn from your colleagues
•Be sure to interact with colleagues who are teaching the same courses, and
attend course teleconferences. Your participation will allow you to share with
your colleagues ideas, strategies, and practices for teaching your courses.
• Ask course-related questions of your course lead. The course lead is the liaison
between the instructors and the coordinators.
• Use your faculty evaluations to help set goals and improve your instruction.
Make note of areas for improvement, and continue to enhance your strengths.
• Visit and participate in the MSED faculty workshops.
• Visit the Walden Community Center. There, you can share with other faculty in
a collegial forum.
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Effective use of the rubrics can decrease stress
Be sure to use the rubrics when grading assignments. They establish a framework,
and provide consistency and standards for students’ work.
Refer to the rubrics frequently in the announcements, Q & A forum, and emails.
This will alleviate any concerns or questions students might ask of you.
The rubrics guide students in the expectations of the assignments. To ensure
consistency and standards are maintained, make sure the application and
discussion rubric are posted in the Doc-Sharing section of the class.
Review the discussion and application rubric workshop for guidance.
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When your body becomes tired…
* Look for warning signs: Know yourself and your own warning signs.
* Take short breaks from working, to change your body position.
* Take several deep breaths to slow your heart rate, and reduce anxiety.
* Keep physically in tune by stretching in your chair or standing up for a
fully body stretch.
* Rest your eyes by meditating with closed eyes for a few minutes or by
looking out a window.
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Take time for you
Here are some ways to de-stress and reward yourself for work well
accomplished:
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Spend some time doing light exercise
• Listen to music
• Get a massage
• Write in a journal
• Meditate
• Read a good book
• Balance your personal life with your Walden workload.
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Time to share
In this workshop, we have provided techniques you can use to
eliminate some of the stress in teaching.
We would love to hear any ideas you use that help you stay
organized and stress free. Please email us with your ideas, and we
can add to this presentation.
Workshop designed by:
Debbey Thomas, Ed.D.- chair [email protected]
Pam Warrick, Ph.D. [email protected]
Deb Katz, Ed.D. [email protected]
Gina Pink, M.ED. [email protected]
Casey Stoll, M.ED. [email protected]
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