The Online Teaching Lounge: Recent Episodes
American Public University
Online teaching can be challenging, rewarding, engaging, and fun. American Public University brings you the Online Teaching Lounge, a podcast for educators, academics, and parents featuring online teaching tips, topics, and strategies. To learn more, visit StudyatAPU.com.
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Video has become a staple of our everyday lives. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides an inside look at the best ways to use video in your online classroom.
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Discussion spaces are one of the most beneficial components in the online classroom. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen highlights some of the primary and secondary benefits of discussions including teaching students how to interact by following a netiquette guide as well as teaching skills like conflict resolution in the discussion forums.
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Have you ever felt attacked or offended by a student’s feedback about your teaching? It’s hard not to take it personally. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the concept of radical depersonalization and strategies to help teachers listen differently to feedback and criticism. Learn how radical depersonalization can help teachers better understand the needs of students and even help teachers get to know their students better.
Is it time for you to change jobs or start a new career? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help with the transition. Learn why it’s important to craft a strong narrative about your career, build a strong network and be prepared to negotiate.
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In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen delves into the many facets of gratitude.
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Educators must constantly evaluate their teaching style to ensure students are learning. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the strategies of great teachers based on the book “What the Best College Teachers Do.” Learn what questions teachers should ask themselves when planning their next course and other tips to be effective in the online classroom.
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Student engagement is a critical part of learning. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses how to improve student engagement in the online classroom using available metrics and data. Learn how educators can use that information to adjust assignments to help improve student engagement.
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Being sedentary and not moving your body can have major health impacts and also result in lower energy and lower productivity. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares strategies to incorporate more activity into your work day like using timers to remind you to get up and move around as well as habit stacking, which helps you build more healthy habits into your existing routine.
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Providing students with choices in assignments can add excitement and increase student creativity. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about ways teachers can add more choices in the online classroom.
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Efficiency is important, but online educators must be mindful not to sacrifice student relationships for the sake of efficiency. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares eight strategies to consider when working to improve your efficiency while also building relationships and connections with students.
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Part of learning and stretching is sharing your knowledge with others. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the benefits of presenting at a professional conference. Learn tips on selecting an engaging topic, writing a conference proposal as well as what mistakes to avoid.
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Part of learning and stretching is sharing your knowledge with others. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the benefits of presenting at a professional conference. Learn tips on selecting an engaging topic, writing a conference proposal as well as what mistakes to avoid.
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What motivates you to keep teaching? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses tools to assess your true drive and how to track the impact you’re having as an educator.
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What motivates you to keep teaching? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses tools to assess your true drive and how to track the impact you’re having as an educator.
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Quizlet is a very popular flashcard app used in education. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about using Quizlet flashcards to build long-term memory along with suggested ways that students can help create, use and share the flashcard content as part of the course.
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Quizlet is a very popular flashcard app used in education. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about using Quizlet flashcards to build long-term memory along with suggested ways that students can help create, use and share the flashcard content as part of the course.
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Many teachers, especially those who are new to online teaching, struggle to figure out how to connect with students. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares ways to establish a relationship and rapport with online students.
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Many teachers, especially those who are new to online teaching, struggle to figure out how to connect with students. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares ways to establish a relationship and rapport with online students.
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Teaching online can be time consuming and seep into instructors’ personal time. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides insight into how to plan a strong work routine. Learn about the importance of surveying your workload ahead of time, writing it down and tracking it, and reflecting and adapting to improve your time management.
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In this week’s episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses best practices and quick tips for adding video or other multimedia assets to the online classroom to enhance student learning.
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Listening is both a simple and complex skill. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the importance of “listening” in the online classroom, even when classes are delivered asynchronously. Learn about four types of listening as well as three tools to help online educators effectively respond to students.
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What first motivated you to be an educator in the first place? How do you find meaning in your life and work? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides guidance on how to identify your “why” and how that information can help you get through challenging times.
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Want to increase engagement in the classroom, but not sure where to start? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares three interactive platforms to add a creative approach to student engagement. Learn what platforms work best for asynchronous, synchronous and hybrid classes.
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Applying classroom learning to the real world can help keep students engaged. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses project-based learning. Hear about this student-centered learning practice that’s designed to teach concepts using real world problems and challenges. Learn three steps to apply this in any subject area.
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Is it possible to take a short break or vacation while also teaching an online class? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares strategies for planning a short time away from the online class. Learn about the importance of communicating time away with students and colleagues, how to work ahead in preparation, and other tips for planning a short break away from the online classroom.
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Explainer videos are a great way to share information with students in a highly engaging way. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides insight into tools to create explainer videos, content options, video length, and more.
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The goal of culturally responsive teaching is to help students feel more comfortable, connected and understood in the classroom. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides guidance to help educators invite students to share more about themselves, their background, and their culture to create a more inclusive learning environment.
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Do you manage the classroom like a boss or leader? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares the difference between being a boss and a leader. Learn how being a leader can help develop students, drive motivation and inspire students to success.
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Many students have self-doubt and concerns about taking online classes. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares insight she recently learned from talking to a recent graduate at Commencement. Learn why it’s so important for faculty members to understand what causes students to have self-doubt and worry about pursuing an online education.
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Hear from graduates and faculty members as they celebrate the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022!
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It can sometimes be easy for online educators to “hide behind a keyboard.” In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to STEM professor Dr. Sylvia Nemmers about how she uses video to engage her students, provide information and feedback, and build a stronger connection. Learn how she overcame fears of recording herself and realized that using video actually saves her time and makes her more efficient.
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There are many ways to help students retain information, but one of the most successful ways is through reflective practices. Learn how reflective practices can help students “think about their thinking” and include strategies like journaling, blogging, and other self-directed methods to think more deeply about what they’re learning in the online classroom.
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Online educators sometimes face challenging students who disagree with a grade or are argumentative in the classroom. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses ways to help online educators deal with such conflicts. Learn how to implement de-escalation tactics to meet in the middle, work with colleagues or administrators to get additional support, and finding ways to recover after a stressful situation.
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Online classrooms offer little information about a person’s background and it can be hard to get to know students. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about ways to naturally build diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, into the classroom structure. Learn about the importance of psychological safety, the concept of unconditional positive regard, and being aware of “ingroups” and “outgroups” and more.
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Creativity fosters learning so it’s important for online teachers to find ways to encourage creativity among students. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares ways to integrate creative approaches in the online classroom. Learn about designing open-ended assignments, being creative with assessments and more.
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Building your presence and persona as an instructor is incredibly important in an online classroom. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about several ways to build your instructor presence. Learn about getting feedback to understand the perception of your personality, actively sharing elements of your personality with students, and making sure you are consistent with your established persona to make students feel comfortable with you.
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Teaching online can be inherently depersonalized, so it’s important for online teachers to share enough about themselves so students feel a connection. In this episode, learn about the value of authenticity, building teaching presence and social presence, and how to keep from oversharing with students.
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You never know when an emergency or illness may strike. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips and strategies to help online educators prepare for unexpected absences, illnesses, or other emergencies. Learn why it’s so important to keep your class in order, develop a communication plan, provide emergency contact sheet, and more.
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Understanding the students’ experience from beginning to end can help educators enhance curriculum and help students be successful. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides steps to map a learner journey including understanding students, designing pathways, mapping the skills gap and establishing a clear goal.
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The pandemic caused the greatest disruption to higher education in the past 150 years. Helping students navigate these changes—including the shift to online education for many—is a major challenge for both student affairs’ professionals and teachers. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen and Dr. Jan Spencer talk to Dr. David Ferreira, an APU faculty member and provost at a community college. Learn how institutions of higher education must be ready for their students, how faculty can help students during their online education journey, and why mental health must be front and center for students and faculty alike.
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Are you experiencing burnout? Burnout is serious and can impact your health, happiness, relationships, and work. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the signs of burnout including exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy. She also discusses ways to rebuild your emotional strength, manage your energy, and find satisfaction in your work again.
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The pandemic accelerated the prevalence of online higher education. While offering online education was a new endeavor for many institutions of higher learning, American Public University has been delivering online, or distance, education for 30 years. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen and Dr. Jan Spencer talk to Dr. Kate Zatz, who served as a university board member for 17 years before becoming Acting President in 2021. Hear insight about navigating rapid growth, the challenges of continuous improvements to technological systems and processes, and the work being done to connect and assist students in an online environment.
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Teaching online can be a challenging experience, and without strong wellbeing habits, teachers risk exhaustion and burnout. Approaching the work with a foundation of specific habits and routines will promote your teaching success and help you approach your work with energy and enthusiasm and a state of peak performance. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help you plan ahead for wellbeing as you teach online in your next class.
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Teaching online can be a challenging experience, especially if you are new to the technology or much more experienced with face-to-face teaching. Even if you are experienced at teaching online, a few specific preparation methods before the class begins will promote student success and renewed teacher satisfaction throughout the course. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help you prepare to teach online before your next class begins, aiming for peak performance in your online teaching.
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Agility and continuous improvement are essential parts of online education to meet students’ needs now and in the future, and these attributes require a knowledge of online education best practices, awareness of students’ needs, goals, and challenges, and a regular habit of learning and reflection. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares highlights from the first 99 episodes of the Online Teaching Lounge podcast, a countdown of listeners’ top 5 favorite episodes, and ways in which we’re celebrating our 100th episode.
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Providing guidance and assistance to students during their online academic journey is very different than in traditional, on-ground educational experiences. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen is joined by Dr. Jan Spencer and Dr. Scott Kalicki to discuss student affairs in online education. Learn why it’s so important for faculty to reach out to students and create more opportunities for interaction so there’s a dynamic and flexible educational experience. Also learn the value of mentorship, the importance of reflection, and more.
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Employment trends changed dramatically during the pandemic, leading to “The Great Resignation” with large numbers of people quitting or changing jobs. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about how the quitting contagion has affected online higher education. Learn three concepts that can help educators stay invigorated in their teaching, and also help retain students in the online classroom.
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Being an effective writer is a foundational skill but teaching students how to write can be both challenging and overwhelming for educators. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to author and educator, Dr. Jaclyn Fowler about her strategies for teaching writing. Learn how she uses writing workshops to teach writing through the eyes of a reader and a writer, and why it’s so important to teach students how to properly critique each other’s work. Also learn about the building-block and essay-map concept she teaches to help students outline their papers as well as tips for grading and assessing student writing effectively and efficiently.
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Every year, a large number of students across the country leave college and fail to complete their degree. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about what educators can do to improve student retention numbers. Learn ways to help students address academic difficulties, resolve academic or occupational goals, and help them gain a sense of belonging and connection during their education.
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With the shift to online learning, student affairs professionals have had to become more adaptable and agile in how they reach and connect with students. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to Dr. Jan Spencer and Dr. Sean Bogle about the need for student affairs professionals to be increasingly dynamic in order to assess the needs of students. Learn tips on identifying students who may be dealing with mental health issues, how to reach students regardless of their location, and working to make connections with students whether they’re online or on-campus.
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Online teachers must know and apply the principles of andragogy because many of their students are adult learners. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses some other critical teaching theories including pedagogy, which suits younger learners, constructivism, and a new concept called heutagogy, which focuses on self-directed learning. Becoming familiar with each theory and related teaching strategies can provide insight and new approaches for online educators.
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Research shows that integrating arts-based teaching strategies can help foster creativity and improve students’ ability to problem solve. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to APU’s Dr. Kathleen Tate and Dr. Greg Mandalas about how educators can integrate the arts, whether teaching in-person or online. Learn how all teachers, even those without an arts background, can integrate the arts into their curriculum.
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The New Year is a time to reflect on what we accomplished during the prior year and also what we can improve upon in the coming year. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses three habits that can help online instructors with their productivity and health. Listen to learn more about ways to improve your work-life balance as well as your mental and physical health.
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The role of student affairs is to mentor and guide the next generation of students and help them navigate a quickly changing world. This requires new and evolving skillsets for student affair professionals. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks with APU professors Dr. Jan Spencer and Dr. Barry Dotson about the evolving role of student affairs practitioners. Learn why it’s so important to be trained in mental health issues, for example, to help students dealing with a variety of issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also learn how to be increasingly comfortable dealing with students in an online environment as much as face-to-face.
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Creating a quality online course is a different process than developing a live, face-to-face class. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares her experience using Quality Matters, a non-profit quality assurance website that provides assessment, standards and rubrics to help online educators design quality online courses that engage students and promote student success.
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Keeping students engaged, whether online or in-person, requires strong classroom management skills. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to Dr. Kathleen Tate and Dr. Greg Mandalas about setting classroom expectations, providing feedback, creating motivating incentives, and other tips to help engage students in any classroom setting.
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Marking the end of the year, school year, or even a major project can be an important step in helping faculty members and students acknowledge their hard work and the transition to something else. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips about holding meaningful celebrations in the online environment.
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More than ever, educational leaders and administrators need to advance their leadership skills to include effective ways to deliver online education. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to APU’s Dr. Jan Spencer about his 20-year career working in online education. Learn about his focus on building skills for educational leaders, which incorporates student affairs and a coaching approach to help develop connections with students.
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Students need varying levels of support during their academic experience. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen encourages educators to incorporate information about student affairs into courses and find other ways to help students connect to a wider community of students and faculty.
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Academic integrity is an essential part of online education requiring both students and faculty to do their own work. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares the basics behind academic integrity for online educators, tips about several forms of plagiarism and related violations, and strategies to help establish trust and set the tone for faculty and student success.
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With so many schools pivoting to online learning, it's critical that teachers develop the skills and strategies necessary to help their students thrive in the online classroom. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to Dr. Kathleen Tate, Department Chair of APU’s Teaching program, about the myriad certificates and degrees offered to help licensed teachers improve their skills in technology, STEAM and project-based curriculum, online teaching, instructional design and more.
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Receiving feedback from students and observers is an important part of teaching online, but receiving unexpected negative feedback can impact an educator’s confidence and motivation. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen introduces the concept of mental models and shares three steps to help online educators build resilience to receiving negative feedback including how to consider it, remain calm and in control, and address the feedback as necessary. Learn how instructors can address the fight-flight-freeze response, explore other perspectives, and find value in all types of feedback.
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Being present is one of the most important elements driving success in the online classroom. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares two practices that help online educators establish trust and set the tone for faculty and student success. Learn how instructors can establish their presence, share their personality and expertise with students, and build relationships with students so that everyone has a great experience in the class.
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Discussion forums are where most interactions happen in the online classroom, so it's critical that educators use this area strategically. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides insight into enhancing discussion forums to encourage student engagement, foster connections, exercise critical thinking skills, and offer further learning into the topic at hand. Learn how to improve discussion forums by writing open-ended questions, clearly setting expectations with students about when and how often they should participate, and more.
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Teaching children during a pandemic, whether face-to-face or online, can be challenging due to the heightened stress and trauma. To cope with these difficult times, children need to be taught strong social-emotional skills so they develop a foundation for self-expression, communication, creativity, and effective learning. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen interviews APU Department Chair Dr. Kathleen Tate and Assistant Professor Dr. Greg Mandalas about five ways teachers can incorporate social-emotional learning into the classroom. Learn new ideas for the classroom like creative drama activities and social stories to build empathy and help students develop relationship-building to cope with stress and conflict.
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Teaching online can bring stress in managing competing commitments, diverse teaching tasks, and multiple modalities. To free online educators from overwhelm and stress, productivity strategies provide structure to the work. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares three productivity tools that include a prioritization matrix, task batching, and time boxing to help online educators structure their work and keep time investment within limits. Learn how to simplify your approach to the daily work of teaching online and feel a sense of relief by reducing your stress.
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Teaching online and developing online courses can be an overwhelming process without limits. Frameworks can keep these processes clear and reduce stress for the online educator. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares frameworks that help online educators provide quality learning experiences for their students, include a variety of approaches and strategies, and reduce stress through a structured approach.
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Teaching online effectively takes time and energy, and to manage this well, educators must learn how to say “No.” This kind of focus helps with decision-making, time management, committing to extra projects, and everything else. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the “Power of a Positive No,” by William Ury, to help online educators prioritize and thrive. Learn how to simplify online teaching, get better results, and feel a greater sense of satisfaction from your work.
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Moving your class online can be intimidating and take some creativity. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen gives you a tour of the main spaces in a learning management system and some basic ideas for the types of content you might use and how it can improve the course delivery as well as enhance student learning.
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Online education is a bit different from live teaching and learning. In today’s podcast, Dr. Bethanie Hansen gives a brief orientation to similarities and differences between live and online education, to help educators prepare to move a class online. Learn how online education is an opportunity to expand your teaching and learning possibilities in new ways, and it is not a strict copy of the live class.
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Teachers can vary their management of online discussions by using small-group discussions. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares research that measured students’ and faculty engagement in both large and small group discussions in online classes and shares ideas for consideration when varying the approach.
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Dedicating time to reflect can help educators assess their teaching strategy and find ways to improve and become more effective. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares what reflective practice means, how to get started, and tips for making the most of reflective writing.
Teachers and trainers can develop effective blended learning using this quick guide to course design. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares tips to help online educators set a clear goal for the course, write a course outline, detail both the online and live portions of the course, design collaboration and interactivity, plan communication, consider learning resources, and design assessments.
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Teachers can be successful teaching online by adopting best practices to help them prepare and teach the class. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares seven best practices to help online educators plan ahead, humanize their classroom, guide students to tackle challenging assignments, be adaptive during the class, conduct self-evaluations, and get students’ feedback during and after the course.
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Thinking is a skill that can always be further developed and improved upon. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares insight into the concept of parallel thinking, which focuses on constructive and creative thinking. Learn more about this unique approach to thinking that uses the concept of “thinking hats” that enables individuals to view something from six unique viewpoints to more fully understand it.
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Teaching online can sometimes get stale or repetitive. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares 10 leadership principles that online educators can apply to their teaching strategies and professional development. Use these principles to revitalize your teaching career and help you connect with your students so you can bring your best self to the classroom.
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Online teachers must be innovative and creative in order to keep online classes relevant, fresh, and fun to teach. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses what educators can learn from entrepreneurial business strategies. Learn how to apply the “five C’s” of entrepreneurship—credibility, clarity, conviction, capital, and concentration in execution—in the classroom.
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To learn effectively online, students need to know how to get started in class. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares 10 tips to help online instructors create effective welcome messages to introduce students to the course and to you as their instructor. Learn what details should be included and ways different types of students need to hear from their instructor in order to be engaged and stay committed.
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Maintaining a high level of productivity can be challenging for online educators. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides strategies on how to improve your physical and mental energy to increase productivity. Learn tips about how to manage your never-ending to do list, why it’s important to unclog your mind, and the value of giving yourself time to work on your personal “heart projects.”
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Discussion boards are a required part of many online courses, but they can sometimes get flat and boring. In this episode, APU's Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about how to have an engaging dialogue with students. Learn five strategies to improve discussion boards as well as how to apply the Guided ANCHORS approach to managing discussion forums.
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What are some important things you want to accomplish in your life that will help you lead a thriving and rich life? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen inspires online teachers to take some time this summer to start a “100 List.” Learn how to think about creating this list of inspiring experiences that will bring richness to your life, how to align these items with your values, and what items can help uplift others, too.
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Teachers are always seeking better ways to connect with their students, especially in the online classroom. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the value of mentoring students and why it can be helpful to think of students as customers. Learn how forming a mentoring relationship can help teachers connect better with students, improve student learning, and also bring greater satisfaction to the teacher.
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Engaging with students and building a sense of community in an online class can be very difficult. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the benefits of hosting a Zoom meeting with students. Learn the numerous options for setting up a Zoom meeting that gives students an opportunity to interact and work together. Also learn tips to help teachers prepare to host a meeting, how to use breakout rooms and other technology tools to increase student engagement, and more.
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Discussion forums in online classes can sometimes get repetitive and stale. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen suggests five creative ways for online teachers to spice up discussion spaces to revitalize the discussion and get to know students better. Learn about role playing, technologies to create video responses and collaboration sites, and more.
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Online teachers must work to build social presence in their online classes to enhance community and connections with students. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips and strategies about how to achieve social presence including instructor involvement, knowledge sharing, interaction intensity, and more. Learn why social presence is important, how to determine if your efforts are working, and how to think of new ways to create community within the classroom.
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We all have an endless “to do” list that we can’t keep up with. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all our responsibilities and tasks, but that cumulative stress is incredibly harmful to our physical and mental wellbeing. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to APU Chaplain Kyle Sorys about his role in offering emotional and spiritual support to students and faculty. Learn ways to skillfully cope with life’s inevitable stressors like dedicating a day each week “no work” where you just enjoy life, establishing “no screen time” each day, getting more sleep, eating better, and meditating. Also reduce stress by learning how to extend self-compassion and self-kindness to yourself in conscious acknowledgement that you’re doing the best you can. All these tips can improve your overall wellbeing and help you live a fuller, less stressful, life.
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Helping students succeed in the online classroom requires a student-centric approach from attentive and skilled faculty. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to APU faculty director Dr. Doris Blanton about training faculty to help students access and use virtual tools for research. She also provides teaching tips like the importance of providing timely feedback and focusing on both areas of improvement as well as noting what students have done well in their research and writing.
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Teaching online classes requires a substantial amount of advanced preparation. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares ways teachers can prepare before a class so they can focus on teaching, engaging with students, and meeting their own teaching goals. Learn tips on writing the syllabus, outlining weekly assignments in advance, preparing for forum discussions, and assessing grading tools all before the class starts to make sure online educators have time and energy to dedicate to students.
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As an online teacher, it’s very easy to be distracted while you work, which can reduce efficiency and throw off your work-life balance. In the third and final part of this mini-series, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares strategies to help online educators improve time management priorities and stay focused by minimizing interruptions. Learn about the importance of determining a physical workspace, establishing work hours, and communicating that work plan to family and friends. Also learn about strategies to stay on task like using Pomodoro timers to establish work time and breaks, downloading limiting programs that don’t allow you to visit distracting websites, and more.
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Online educators often get overwhelmed by the endless tasks they need to complete like answering student’s questions, posting announcements, grading papers, and engaging in forum discussions. In this episode, APU Faculty Director Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about the benefits of creating guidance assets to help student’s self-manage and set expectations, while also helping online teachers manage their high workload. Learn about creating guidance assets like screencasts, video introductions, course announcements, netiquette guides, example assignments and more.
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Teaching online can be overwhelming and cause a significant amount of work-related stress. In the first part of this three-part series, Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses teaching strategies to help online educators prioritize their time by engaging students first. Learn about using a Community of Inquiry framework, keeping written notes about students and your interaction with them, and the benefits of using backwards mapping to ensure you’re meeting objectives and connecting regularly with students.
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When teaching an online class, instructors must work hard to connect with students and set expectations for the course. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to APU Faculty Director Dr. Craig Bogar about effectively communicating with students. Learn the benefits of publishing a welcome video so instructors can virtually introduce themselves to students in the beginning of the course. Also learn tips on conveying netiquette practices to students and why it’s so important for instructors to ask Socratic questions to enhance critical thinking and promote engagement of online students.
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Feedback is an important part of online learning. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips and strategies about how to provide effective feedback to students. Learn how to garner feedback based on students’ work, tips on giving effective feedback to help students, and why feedback is a critical part of the learning process for both students as well as teachers.
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Online students often need extra help and support from teachers. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen outlines several scenarios when students need extra assistance including disability accommodations, unfamiliarity with online classrooms, and unexpected life events. Learn tips and strategies to communicate with students, extend flexibility, and provide support to help them succeed in the virtual classroom.
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Online educators can get so caught up in completing tasks and meeting deadlines that they often feel like they don’t have time for the big or important things. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about the importance of reflection to assess one’s values and priorities. She also suggests an approach of reflecting on yesterday, evaluating how that time was spent, and then being intentional in how you are using your time in the present moment.
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Being an online educator means you can work anywhere, anytime. As a result, it often feels like the workday never ends, which can lead to exhaustion and burnout. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares strategies for intentionally creating a self-care plan. Learn the importance of maintaining a healthy morning routine, planning breaks throughout the day, and an end-of-day routine to ensure online teachers can relax and reflect on the workday.
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Online faculty often feel disconnected from the institution and fellow faculty members. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips and strategies for building community among faculty members to help them feel connected, informed and engaged. Learn how department leaders can focus on building relationships through consistent weekly messages, interactive team meetings, one-on-one time, peer mentoring and coaching opportunities, collaboration sites, and much more.
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Are you looking for ways to enhance class content in your classes, but concerned about the time and effort it might take to create and manage those assets? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen recommends several technology tools to help you add valuable audio, video, and multimedia components. Most importantly, she provides guidance on developing a strategic approach to creating these new assets, including making sure it’s accessible and useful to students, has a positive impact on your teaching, and isn’t overwhelming for you to create and manage.
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Time management must be a top priority for online teachers. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares four tips to help online educators be productive and effective in the virtual classroom. Learn strategies to assess and track how you're currently spending your time, ways to prioritize your time so the most important tasks get done, how to minimize disruptions, and how to plan out your future time to ensure you're fulfilling your current teaching responsibilities while also spending time on your long-term career goals.
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Strong classroom management is especially important in the online environment. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about the need for advanced planning in online classes to keep students informed about what to expect in the class and aid students in managing their own. Strong classroom management can also help teachers build relationships with students while helping them meet their learning objectives, whether it is professional advancement or personal growth.
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Online teachers need increased energy for focused and effective work. They often end up working all the time because it’s so easy to access the classroom anywhere and anytime. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Bethanie Hansen encourages educators to think about managing their energy, instead of focusing just on managing their time. Learn about ways to renew four critical areas of energy: physical, emotional, spiritual and mental energy. Focusing on these areas can help online educators increase productivity, strengthen their work-life balance, and feel more fulfilled in their teaching.
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Connecting effectively with students in the online classroom is a huge challenge for educators. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen addresses four common complaints that students have about online classes. Learn how online teachers can improve the way they use technology, communicate more clearly, enhance students’ social and emotional experience, and improve student engagement in the virtual classroom.
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What drives you as an educator? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about the five dominant perspectives that motivate teachers and how these teaching styles can drive student engagement in the online classroom. Listen to learn how to adjust your perspective so you can critically evaluate your own teaching, and why it’s so important to ask students for feedback so you can adjust your teaching style to maximize your impact in the classroom.
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Teaching live, synchronous online classes can be stressful and challenging, especially for teachers who are not used to this form of online teaching. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips for engaging students and creating opportunities for students to interact with the instructor and other students. Learn about polling software, screen sharing, video sharing, and other technologies that can help make classes fun and engaging. Also learn why it’s important for teachers to adopt a flexible mindset as they prepare to teach live online classes.
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Do you want to improve your time management or adopt a new habit? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares the WOOP tool to help you change behaviors, create new healthy habits, and take a fresh approach to online teaching or online learning. Listen to hear the four steps that were developed using neuroscience and motivation theory to help you become more focused, more productive, and more successful in your online teaching and learning goals.
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It can be challenging to keep online courses engaging and interesting. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen shares five methods and strategies to help online educators enhance their classroom. Learn how to increase student engagement through asynchronous discussions, online group work, gamification, guided exploration, and leveraging the full power of your school’s learning management system.
Increasing engagement in the online classroom can often be challenging for educators. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the importance of asking great questions to solicit information from students, generate more detailed discussion forums, and get students to think more deeply about a topic. Learn seven steps to develop creative and open-ended questions and advice for turning statements into engaging questions.
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Sometimes faculty members feel like they play a very small part in the overall operation and success of the university. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen encourages online educators to step back and look at the big picture to see how their contribution is actually really significant and important. She encourages online educator to better understand the inner workings of the university, including all the various departments that are also making small but meaningful contributions to student and faculty success. Also learn why it’s so important to understand course data to evaluate your teaching strategy, assess your relationship with students, and help you identify areas for improvement.
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The holidays can be a difficult time for everyone, but especially for online students whose coursework continues over the holiday break. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen offers suggestions for how online educators can incorporate flexibility and sensitivity into course design to accommodate students who may be struggling. Also learn about scaffolding assignments and other accommodations to help students succeed during the holidays.
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What areas do you want to improve as an online educator? In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides tips and strategies about how to set achievable goals for your professional growth and development. Learn about four areas to consider focusing your teaching goals, as well as how to stay motivated and remain accountable so you can achieve your goals.
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Educators should always be thinking of ways to develop and enhance their own leadership skills. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen presents strategies for leadership development including improving communication skills, finding new ways to collaborate, understanding how to develop a strategic plan, finding a mentor, and much more.
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Online education works very well for many adult learners, but it's important for online educators to understand how these students are very different than traditional 18-to-25 year old students. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks about andragogy theory and ways educators can adjust assignments to meet the needs and objectives of adult online learners.
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It’s been an extremely challenging time for teachers who have moved from classroom teaching to online teaching while also trying to balance family life when spouses and children are also working and learning in the home. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen talks to Dr. Lisset Pickens, a professor at American Public University and licensed professional counselor about managing work-life balance and managing these new stressors. Learn about the importance of establishing distinct learning and work spaces in the home and the need to set boundaries so it’s clear when work and school time is over and the “family button” gets turned back on. Also hear recommendations for self-care, learning to say no so you don’t overextend yourself, and seeking ways to be creative with your family during the pandemic.
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Military students, especially those on active duty, are a unique segment of the online student population who have specific needs. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides advice and recommendations for instructors about teaching military students including encouraging them to ask questions, making accommodations for unexpected deployments, focusing on real-world connections with learning material, helping them with time management strategies, and much more.
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Teaching online classes can be incredibly time consuming because the classroom is always open. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen offers several time management strategies to help online educators complete their teaching tasks in an efficient, effective, and organized way while also improving their classroom presence and student engagement activities. Learn more about creating an online planning grid that designates time for grading, classroom activities, curriculum creation, professional development, personal time, and more.
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Attending an online conference is a new experience for many teachers. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen discusses the benefits of attending a virtual conference and tips to get the most out of it. Learn how to find professional events, strategies for attending sessions, how to engage and interact with presenters and attendees, and ways to network in a virtual setting.
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In the online classroom, teachers rely on discussion forums to generate engagement among students and expand learning concepts. In this episode of the Online Teaching Lounge, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides teachers five examples of creative forum prompts to ensure discussions are more educationally valuable, create psychological safety so students feel more confident sharing their ideas, and more effectively guide students to discussing and writing about things in greater depth.
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The coronavirus pandemic dramatically disrupted most teachers' schedules, forcing them to quickly shift to online teaching. The coronavirus pandemic dramatically disrupted most teachers' schedules, forcing them to quickly shift to online teaching. In this episode of the Online Teacher’s Lounge, learn why it's so important for teachers to connect with a faculty-peer community for support, resources, idea sharing, mentoring, and much more. Listen to hear about the different types of online peer communities, how to find ones that fit your needs, what style of community might work best for you, and how to engage. Listen to hear about the different types of online peer communities, how to find ones that fit your needs, what style of community might work best for you, and how to engage.
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Grading assignments in online classes can be difficult and time-consuming due to the high workload and lack of support that’s often found in traditional classrooms. In this episode, Dr. Bethanie Hansen provides a comprehensive strategy for online teachers to effectively grade assignments. Learn about FOCUS-EQx2, a teaching strategy to help online instructors streamline grading and manage their time so they can provide students with effective comments, feedback, and evaluation.
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The post #24: How to Make Videos for Your Online Class appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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In today’s podcast, I’ll discuss online discussion forums. What is their role? How can we use them? What considerations will help you best engage with your students? And, how do you write discussion forum prompts that work?
The post #23: Online Discussion Forums appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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Starting the new school year, there are two online teaching best practices that matter most. Putting these two practices front and center will help you get your class off to a great start and ensure that it keeps running smoothly.
- Be present.
- Communicate your norms or expectations clearly, and effectively.
In today's podcast, I'll share some strategies to help you develop presence in y our online class. Then, we'll take a deep dive into communicating with your students.
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The post #21: Curriculum Planning for Online Learning appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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Are you helping inexperienced students who are new to online learning?Students come into our online classes with varying backgrounds. Yet one group needs extra structure. And they are inexperienced students, who are new to online learning.
There are many ways to meet the needs of students who are new to online learning.
Some need additional structure, tools, and help.
Others just need a guide to learn how to navigate the online classroom.
Regardless of the tools that will work best for your own students, this podcast brings many ideas to help you prepare.
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Is it possible to balance eating healthy and working online? In today’s podcast, I’ll share ideas about this challenge.
In my own online work, living with healthy habits was difficult. I struggled for years without effective strategies.
Eventually, I adopted new habits. Then, I lost 95 pounds while still working online.
Yes, it’s possible to develop healthy eating habits as an online teacher. Strategy, planning, and timing can help!
The post #19: Eating Healthy and Working Online appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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Have you wondered why anyone would be concerned about getting healthy sleep while teaching online?
The main idea behind online education is that it can be done anytime, anywhere. With no boundaries, this type of work can easily take additional time and energy.
For example, instead of working with a group of students all at once, teachers often write comments and feedback each individual student. This might happen more than one way, every week.
At first, this work might be surprising to anyone new to online teaching.
After getting used to the idea of regularly reaching each student, balancing one’s time and energy becomes important in order to continue teaching well and to maintain work-life balance.
And, healthy sleep while teaching online is a critical part of the balance.
Here are some great resources you might want to explore:
- Sleep is Your Superpower, by Matt Walker.
- Three Brains-Thinking to Doing to Being by Joe Dispenza
Resources listed here were consulted to prepare today’s podcast:
https://www.sleepadvisor.org/remote-work-sleep/
https://www.online.umich.edu/courses/sleep-deprivation-habits-solutions-and-strategies-teach-out/all-reviews/
https://www.sleepdr.com/the-sleep-blog/the-effects-of-sleep-deprivation-on-work-performance/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610176/
https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/tired-at-work
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Because online teaching is known for its isolation, how can we be authentic while teaching online?
The answer to this question is to see the humanity in our students. And, to get to know them as people. Of course, this can be challenging with a large class, grading demands, and other competing demands.
In today’s podcast, I’ll share strategies to help you be authentic while teaching online.
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After quickly moving face to face classes online earlier this year, it may be a learning curve, adjusting to online best practices.
Just as there are many teaching standards and models well-known in face to face teaching, online education has a standard of excellence.
In a crunch, a face to face class might have moved online with just a few tools. For example, professors might have communicated through e-mail. Lecture courses might have continued with live sessions, hosted through video tools like Zoom.
But, now that educators look toward the fall’s online classes, there is time to learn online teaching approaches and practices that ensure a more complete online learning experience.
What are Online Best Practices?
Best practices are a set of guidelines, approaches, and standards known to work well. Just like live teaching has traditions and strategies that are effective, online teaching has its own set.
Some of these practices include presence, responsiveness, clarity, communication, norms, and feedback. When you take the time to communicate well with your students, they will grow to trust you. In this way, you will build relationships and establish a sense of community. Your presence and communication are two of many important practices online. Additionally, grading students’ assignments and providing specific feedback will help them continue to learn and make progress in the class.
You’ll learn about these tips and more, while we discuss some of the best practices in online education through today’s podcast.
For additional study and resources, visit these sources, which served as references in the podcast:
- Best Practices for Teaching Online
- The Online Learning Consortium’s Quality Framework
- Quality Matters (QM)
- Teaching Music Appreciation Online
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Have you ever wondered what your personality means for your online teaching? We all have unique personalities, and yours may influence how you approach online work, grading, and engagement.
In this episode, you will learn about how your personality influences your online teaching satisfaction. You'll also learn about areas to consider to increase your satisfaction while teaching online, and skills to develop a well-rounded approach.
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Where can I find a strategy for grading essays in Microsoft Word efficiently?
If this is your question, you've come to the right place! Using Microsoft Word for grading is easy with several specific tools, all built into the software. Enjoy the latest podcast for suggestions, tips, and strategies for using Microsoft Word to grade essays.
Autotext is an excellent tool for inserting chunks of feedback you might regularly use. Furthermore, in the Autotext feature, you can add entire rubrics and insert them on the document you're grading with only one click.
Two images are included here. These images illustrate the process for using Autotext as a grading tool. And for more details, visit Teaching Music Appreciation Online, chapter 12.
Autocorrect is another great tool for inserting paragraphs of frequently used commentary by typing a few letters.
For more tips, listen to the podcast.
The post #9: A Strategy for Grading Essays in Microsoft Word Efficiently appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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How do I manage my energy and stress while teaching online? I've heard this question from many people. And, it's normal for online teaching to become demanding on one's time and energy. Stress increases unless we find balance and set limits.
In today's podcast, you'll learn about managing your energy, not your time. And when you're experiencing high stress levels, you'll love these tips to manage your stress!
For additional learning about The Science of Stress, in a special Time edition, please click on the link provided here: Special TIME Edition, The Science of Stress: Manage It. Avoid It. Put It to Use.
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Near the end of a session, you might need to consider accepting a course extension request in your online class. A course extension is also known as an “incomplete.”
Students request extensions because they cannot finish the class within its allotted time. They might be delayed by illness, an emergency, or a military deployment.
During difficult times, a flexible approach can help the struggling student finish well.
What Should I Consider Before Accepting a Course Extension Request?When students request course extensions, consider these points:
- Have they completed any work?
- Do they have a plan for completing the course?
- How will you communicate during the extension?
- When will you finalize the grade?
Given the many disruptions COVID-19 is causing, extension requests may become more common.
How Can I Partner With Students on an Extension?If you plan for this kind of arrangement, you can guide students in advance. And, a plan can help you manage your own time better. A plan will also give you reduced stress and confidence partnering with students who need your help.
Planning might include early outreach efforts with students who are not logging in regularly during the class, or who fail to submit assignments on time.
And guiding students means that you communicate the school's extension policies before the last day of class, then work with anyone who needs help requesting the extension.
Another way to partner with students is to guide them to create a schedule to complete the remaining classwork by the end of the extension date. This might mean sending out reminders, messages, and e-mails to keep up the relationship.
While many colleges and universities offer their own arrangements for accepting a course extension, in today's podcast I'll share strategies I have used in my own online teaching that can be adapted for your situation.
The post #7: Accepting A Course Extension in Your Online Class appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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As the school year ends in a new way and without face to face classes, it's time to plan online celebrations, reflections, and memorials.
What is an Online Reflection?Online reflections are opportunities to set aside time to look back over the past academic year and reflect on our experiences. We might come to new understandings about what was learned, where growth occurred, and what was lost. This year, more than any other, there is much to reflect on.
Reflections might take place privately, in one's own thoughts. Or, reflections might be shared in writing, by virtual means, or in a live conference call. Regardless of how the reflection occurs, it's essential to think about the past few months and how individuals moved through one of the strangest educational times in recent history.
What is an End of Semester Memorial?Memorials are more formal opportunities to ceremoniously end the school year. These might include both happy and sad celebrations.
On the one hand, many people will celebrate significant achievements. Retiring from a successful education career. Graduation after attending school for many years. Finishing a set of tough classes. Overcoming significant challenges.
On the other hand, some of us will grieve for what was lost. High school seniors without formal graduation ceremonies. College graduates without live commencements. Virtual ceremonies instead of live events. Retirement without saying goodbye.
Celebrations Bring Meaning to LifeAs the academic year concludes, now is the time to decide how to memorialize the year. Celebrations can help us make sense of unclear situations. A ceremony is meaningful because it signifies completion. They connect us to each other. And, celebrations bring meaning to life. Even when they happen virtually.
Some schools are hosting virtual commencements.
So, will you create a digital slideshow and share it with friends?
Or, will you have a small celebration at home to feel the significance of the moment?
Whatever you decide, remember that a virtual celebration can still be meaningful, enjoyable, and fun. Bringing people together to commemorate achievement or milestones brings meaning to life. And online celebrations, reflections, and memorials are meaningful, even on the Internet.
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Knowing how to host virtual office hours is important when teaching online. Office hours are the open space where your students can visit and ask questions. This concept comes from the tradition of visiting one's professors while attending a traditional university. The more classes have moved online over time, the less students attend live office hours face to face.
How Do You Prepare for Online Office Hours?Some preparation for office hours will make them more successful. First, advertise your availability. Then, tell students how to access the platform. Next, explain what students can anticipate, such as the waiting room and using their video during the call. Lastly, dress professionally and ensure that you can be on camera a few minutes before the call.
What Do Your Students Need to Know?Virtual office hours are more useful when they are scheduled at a time when students are more likely to attend. You might be most successful by choosing the same day/time each week. Or, you can schedule the hours on-demand, using a scheduling app like Setmore or Doodle.
What Platforms Might You Use?Most learning management systems (LMS) like Canva, Blackboard, and D2L have an integrated conferencing platform. If one is provided by your institution, this could be your best option. If not, consider Zoom, Google Hangouts, or Go to Meeting. Some desirable features include waiting rooms, whiteboards, screen sharing, password protection, and recording.
For more tips about hosting virtual office hours when teaching online, listen to today's podcast.
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In today’s podcast, we’ll look at the two most important priorities of working from home. Seeing others’ needs and objective, and achieving our own objectives. There are many competing priorities, but isolating the most important objectives can help us succeed.
The post #4: Working From Home (WFH) Tips – Priorities appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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The challenge of online teaching comes when workload demands your best efficiency strategies, but your students need authenticity and connection. You can have both when you use specific strategies to help learners in a variety of situations.
In today’s podcast, I’l share eight specific ideas about helping unique online students. Materials consulted for this episode come from Teaching Music Appreciation Online, my book published by Oxford University Press. This book is available free to help online educators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The post #2: The Online Education Dilemma: Efficiency vs. Connection appeared first on Bethanie Hansen.
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This podcast is for educators, academics, and parents who know that online teaching can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding, engaging, and fun! Welcome to the Online Teaching Lounge Podcast. I’m your host, Dr. Bethanie Hansen, and I’ll be your guide for online teaching tips, topics, and strategies. Walk with me, into the online teaching lounge!
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