Teaching Online Without Losing Balance: Boundaries That Help

 

Online teaching can blur the lines between work and personal life. Without clear boundaries, faculty may respond to emails at all hours, review assignments late into the night, and feel overwhelmed. Conceição and Lehman (2011) highlight the importance of structured time management and boundary setting to protect well-being and performance.

 

Begin by defining your availability. Let students know your communication policy—for example, reply within 24 hours on weekdays or no responses after 6 PM. Communicate these expectations in your syllabus, orientation video, and weekly announcements.

 

Block your calendar for recurring tasks. Schedule time for grading, responding to messages, and planning content. Time-blocking helps prevent tasks from spilling into personal time and keeps you on track with weekly responsibilities.

 

Batch tasks wherever possible. Set aside periods to review discussion boards, grade assignments, or prep materials. Avoid multitasking, as it decreases efficiency and increases fatigue.

 

Finally, remember to schedule breaks. Teaching online doesn’t mean being online 24/7. Make time for walks, meals, and time away from the screen to maintain energy and focus.

 

Faculty Tip: You model balance for your students. Protect your time and set the example for healthy academic engagement.

 

Reference

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

 

Efficient Grading: Feedback That Counts Without the Crunch

 

Grading is often one of the most time-consuming aspects of teaching online. However, with a few strategic shifts, faculty can maintain high-quality feedback while easing the grading burden. Conceição and Lehman (2011) recommend structured feedback processes that save time without compromising student learning.

 

Start by developing detailed rubrics for each assignment. Rubrics help students understand expectations and allow faculty to grade more quickly and consistently. They also reduce the number of questions about grades and provide a foundation for meaningful feedback.

 

Another helpful tactic is to build a feedback bank. This collection of frequently used comments for common errors or strengths can be copied and customized. Faculty can use these for written, audio, or even video feedback. Video or voice comments often take less time than written responses and feel more personal to students.

 

Faculty should also consider the weight and importance of different assessments. Not every assignment needs extensive feedback. For smaller tasks, a simple checklist or brief comment may suffice. Save in-depth feedback for major assignments where students can apply the guidance for future growth.

 

Faculty Tip: Grade smarter, not harder. Use rubrics, reusable comments, and targeted feedback to streamline your process.

 

 

Reference

 

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