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Resilience and Calm
Photo by Edurne Chopeitia on Unsplash
Dear ETSU Teaching Excellence Community,

Many public health experts predict this week could be the worst yet. For those of us fortunate enough to be healthy and home at this time, our work online with students and colleagues may be one of the few outlets for finding some kind of regularity and connection during this time of social distancing and isolation. However, stress is undeniably taking a toll on us all and it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and loved ones and practice not just social distancing but self-care and well-being as well.
Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash
Feeling 'zoomed out'
Though online conferencing on Zoom is indispensable in many ways, it is okay to admit it is not the same and can be draining in a different way - for both teachers and students. As Mike Caulfield , director of blended and networked learning at Washington State University at Vancouver, comments for the Chronicle , “You know how wiped you feel after that series of Zoom-call meetings you had today? Because it's a lot of the energy of face-to-face without many of the psychological rewards of face-to-face? That is your students, too. Consider other ways of communicating.” Some points to keep in mind for managing the online class none of us signed up for: 

  • Asynchronous is A-okay.
  • Focus on the top two or three learning outcomes for your course and consider multiple means of presenting content and keeping students engaged.
  • Some content and readings may need to be sacrificed.
  • Be graceful with assessment. Contact our local experts for best-practices in using D2L and maintaining academic integrity.

This Coronavirus Sanity Guide has meditations, posts, podcasts and the like to bolster your resilience.

ETSU has support services available for faculty, staff and students. The  Employee Assistance Program  (EAP) is a resource for faculty and staff members who need counseling support and referral to other resources. Assistance is available 24/7 by calling (855) 437-3486.

Students may contact the  ETSU Counseling Center  at 423-439-3333

Find small treasures: Spring wildflowers, gardening, more time with dogs!
Take care, stay informed , Go Bucs!