Teaching online often blurs the line between work and personal time. Building sustainable teaching habits benefits both instructors and students. Without intentional boundaries, it can become easy to:

• Feel pressure to respond immediately to student messages
• Spend excessive time grading
• Continuously update course materials
• Experience "Zoom fatigue"
• Feel responsible for solving every student issue
• Work evenings and weekends without realizing it

Students appreciate knowing when and how they can expect to hear from you. Clear expectations reduce anxiety for students while protecting your own time.

Consider including in your syllabus:

• Your typical response time (for example, within 24 hours on weekdays)
• Office hours
• When you are not available
• The best method for contacting you
• Expectations for discussion board participation

Clear expectations reduce anxiety for students while protecting your own time.

Well designed courses create fewer questions. The more predictable your course is, the fewer repetitive emails you will receive. Consider the following practices in your courses:

• Weekly modules with consistent organization
• Clear due dates
• Assignment checklists
• Detailed instructions
• Rubrics for grading
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page
• Short welcome videos explaining/outlining each week's expectations

Feedback is essential, but it doesn't have to take hours. Remember that meaningful feedback is more valuable than lengthy feedback.

Strategies include:

• Use Canvas SpeedGrader comments
• Save frequently used comments in a comment library
• Grade similar questions together
• Use rubrics whenever possible
• Record short audio or video feedback for complex assignments
• Focus feedback on the learning objectives rather than correcting every minor issue

Take advantage of tools that reduce repetitive tasks. Technology should reduce workload, not create more of it. Examples include:

Many instructors find it helpful to batch similar tasks together. Dedicated work blocks often feel less overwhelming than constantly switching between tasks.

Faculty do not have to solve every problem personally. Helping students become independent learners reduces repeated requests while building valuable skills.

Encourage students to:

• Read assignment instructions first
• Check course announcements
• Review the syllabus
• Visit the FAQ page
• Use available university support services
• Ask classmates clarifying questions in discussion forums when appropriate

Healthy boundaries improve both teaching quality and personal well-being. Consider setting personal boundaries such as:

Healthy boundaries improve both teaching quality and personal well-being.

You don't have to do everything alone. When instructional challenges arise, reach out to QILT early. We are happy to collaborate with you regarding:

• QILT Course Design Consultations and Instructional Support
• QILT Faculty Advancement in Teaching Excellence
• Canvas Instructor Guides
• Quinnipiac Employee Assistance Program (EAP)