Strategies for Finding Balance and Success – TIME-ALLOCATION

In our book, Managing Online Instructor Workload: Strategies for Finding Balance and Success (Conceição & Lehman, 2011), we suggest four strategies that are based on four major themes that emerged from an instructor/learner study we conducted: 

 

1.    design strategies

2.    support strategies

3.    teaching strategies

4.    time-allocation strategies

 

These strategies can guide and help online instructors determine how to manage their workload and prioritize their time so that they can find balance and success in their work and personal life. This week we’re looking at the fourth strategy – TIME-ALLOCATION.

4. TIME-ALLOCATION – Although teaching online can give instructors more flexibility in terms of where and when they can work, it can also be a snare, unless instructors allocate their time strategically. Often, online instructors think that they must be “always there” for their learners. This extreme behavior can take over instructors’ work responsibilities and their personal lives. This is a common struggle that instructors experience. Through time-allocation, they can gain control over their time, rather than having time control them. 

Design, support, teaching, and time-allocation strategies are valuable to use if you, as an instructor, are looking for balance and success in online teaching. 

 

References

 

Conceição, S. C., & Lehman, R. M. (2011). Managing Online Instructor Workload: Strategies for Finding Balance and Success. Jossey-Bass.