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Managing teaching workload

    • In this section you will look at strategies to balance workload when teaching teaching online in a blended way.

      The landscape in higher education is being transformed with opportunities for blended and online learning.  This requires institutions to engage and acknowledge the benefits of institution growth, and the challenges on the effect of teaching workload.  Successful implementation of these new developments requires the institution to provide teaching staff with time and financial recognition and technical PD support and at the same time, teachers must be open to new opportunities and widen their perspectives

    • In their ground breaking book "Managing online instructor workload for finding balance and success" authors S Conceicao & R. Lehman (1st ed)  2011, Jossey Bass, San Francisco, identify the following 4 valuable strategies for teaching online. 

      Which ones would be most useful for you?


    • Co-teaching as a strategy for balancing workload (Check Unitec Policy)

      1. Dividing students between teachers/facilitators
      2. Request a teaching assistant to participate in discussion and provide feedback

    • Use course design strategies to balance workload

      1. Plan ahead and predict workload
      2. Use orientation activities as as a way to reduce learners questions about the course structure and assignments and other concerns during the course.
      3. Plan course content on a text book and enrich with current real-world content & global issues
      4. Reduce readings - use groups and allocated readings, groups to feedback analysis to cohort
      5. Have clear guidelines for discussion forums - intentions, peer feedback and open/closure of discussion
      6. Enrich content with podcasts, video, audio, annotated ppts, guest speakers etc
      7. Reduce time for course design by using a template from your first design

    • Support strategies before and during course

      1. Technical support
      2. Academic learning support e.g. at Unitec, your TPA liaison can help design your Moodle to enhance student navigation, and retain similar structure to face2face classes
      3. student peer support

    • Time allocation strategies

      1. Know there will be a lot of up front work at the beginning of the course, as students become more independent the role changes from that of expert to that of guide.
      2. Consider a light teacher presence at the beginning of a week (in discussion boards) and a heavier presence  at the end of the week (wrapping up discussion)
      3. Set time limits on availability.  Set expectations early with when you will NOT be available.

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