Your Professional Development Power Point

Module 5 Discussion-Time Management

· In what ways could your personal responsibilities and your work as an online instructor interact, overlap, or conflict? 

            Because of the nature of my work as an online instructor, my personal responsibilities may conflict with my work. As an online instructor, it means I'll be conducting most of my virtual classes from home, where I also carry out my personal responsibilities such as washing dishes, cooking, feeding my dog, and other household chores. The intersection of work and personal life connects my work and personal responsibilities. Many aspects of my personal life, such as family, pleasure, and health, may also intersect with my profession as an online instructor. For me, work-life interaction is bidirectional; for instance, work may interfere with my personal life, and personal life may interfere with my work (Skinner & Pocock, 2018). As an online instructor, my personal responsibilities could overlap with my work because of stringent rules, a hostile work environment, excessive workload, lack of job security, and time pressure. When it comes to my personal responsibilities conflicting with my work, several explanations could cause. Work demands is perhaps the most obvious predictor of work-life conflict. Other work demands connected with work-life conflict include unexpected or compulsory overtime, job pressure, excessive work, shift work, and having many interruptions.

· What challenges do you expect to face? 

            As an online instructor, I expect to face the following challenges: (a) Crashing systems and Gadget shortage. Not every learner has a personal gadget for online classes. Many of them share computers and laptops with their parents and siblings. Another problem that has become quite consistent in recent years is computer crash, which usually occurs at the most unanticipated moment. This challenge could significantly interfere with my lesson plan. (b) Connectivity. In recent times, thousands of people have been experiencing technical hitches because of the high usage rate of online learning systems and video streaming software, among other tools. This leads to overloading, which may result in poor-quality audio and video. (c) Isolation. It might be lonely to teach and study from home. It's no surprise that without the bustle of the classroom and the companionship of friends, some students might develop a strong feeling of isolation, which steadily erodes their motivation to study (Gillett-Swan, 2017). Many crucial instructional tactics for learners, such as group work, class discussion, and collaborative activities, may also be undermined. (d) Lack of interaction. Without the instructor's physical presence and face-to-face touch, keeping students interested during online courses is difficult. Furthermore, certain areas of learning are hard to put into practice without in-person training, which is a major worry.

· How will you set and enforce boundaries? 

                        As an online instructor, I will set and enforce boundaries by (a) sticking to the rules. I will set clear and reasonable rules upfront and simply follow them. This will mostly apply to ethical and expected behaviors during all sessions. (b) treating all students with dignity and respect. As an online instructor, I will show no favoritism or preferential treatment to any student. (c) Immediately address any breach of rules and policy. As an instructor, I will immediately address issues that may jeopardize the safe learning environment, including verbal abuse between students or any other form of indiscipline. 

· How can you ensure that you maintain a comfortable work-life balance?

            It's vital to strike a healthy work-life balance since it benefits not just our physical, emotional, and mental health but also our careers. I plan on implementing the following strategies to maintain a comfortable work-life balance; (a) prioritize time. Like any other person, I will have a to-do list that will probably seem endless. Therefore, I will prioritize my work into two groups- urgent and important, important but not urgent. (b) Plot some personal time (Sudibjo & Suwarli, 2020). It is possible for one to bury themselves in their work if they do not have activities to do during their personal time. (c) Set goals and priorities. By using time-management tactics, reviewing my to-do list, and eliminating chores that are of little or no value, I will create attainable objectives. (d) Set work hours and stick to them. I intend to set my own work hours and do all in my ability to keep to them.

· Describe your plan for completing your workload as an online instructor in a timely and professional manner each week.

                        I plan on completing my workload in a timely and professional manner by (a) Creating a daily planner. Every morning, I will list down the jobs I want to accomplish before the day ends. (b) Keep a time limit for each task. I'll put a time restriction on each assignment in my daily calendar so that I can equally attend to all my duties. (c) Block out distractions. To have a better focus, I will block out any form of distraction, including my email, TV, phone, and, if needed – doors and windows.

·  What changes might you need to make to your current priorities?

                        Some of the changes that I might need to make to my current priorities include (a) organizing my tasks. Evaluating my to-do list of initiatives and determining their influence on the scope of work, timeline, or budget will assist me in completing my assignments on time. (b) Be open to change. As an online instructor, I will need to be open to new technology and other online teaching tools to maximize my output. (c) Prioritize my student. Being an online instructor calls for more commitment and dedication to my learners so that they can grasp and understand my content. Therefore, I will have to make a few adjustments to my priorities so that I can create more time for my students.

·  What strategies can you employ to position yourself for success?

            As an online instructor, I am optimistic about my new venture's success; nevertheless, this will not be possible without a set of strategies to guide me. Some of the strategies I can employ to position myself for success include (a) Embrace my strengths. By identifying and embracing my strengths, I will have a better understanding of myself and how to best operate (Natalie Kaweckyj et al., 2021). Knowing my strengths will also increase my self-awareness, giving me a new appreciation for traits that I previously undervalued in myself. (b) Embrace change. Throughout my career, I have always embraced change. Although change can be scary at times, it often leads to greater success. (c) Keep a long-term focus. By thinking about where my actions may lead or what future benefits current relationships may bring, I can position myself for success in the long term.

References

Gillett-Swan, J. (2017). The challenges of online learning: Supporting and engaging the isolated learner. Journal of Learning Design, 10(1), 20-30.

Natalie Kaweckyj, L. D. A., RF, C., CDPMA, C., COMSA, C., & CRFDA, M. (2021). Setting     Yourself Up for Success in Your New Career. Dental Assistant, 90(3), 14-15.

Skinner, N., & Pocock, B. (2018). Work-life conflict: Is work time or work overload more important? Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 46(3), 303-315.

Sudibjo, N., & Suwarli, M. B. N. (2020). Job Embeddedness and Job Satisfaction as a Mediator between Work-Life Balance and Intention to Stay. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity, and Change, 11(8), 311-331.