While perhaps slightly hyperbolic, I\u2019m forging ahead with this title, courtesy of the Random Title Generator. This after a lengthy brainstorming session via Teams and mulling over a number of compelling options from the generator. Clare didn\u2019t feel that \u201cWizard of History\u201d was a fair representation of what I\u2019d written, and I felt that \u201cEye of Thoughts\u201d was too Mordor. So here we are with “Voyages of the Soul.”<\/p>\n
The new year always seems like a time for reflection on the past year, though reflection right now feels challenging. While I am not offering a reflective deep dive that encompasses all the learning and thinking I\u2019ve done this past year, I would like to share a few things that have helped me navigate working remotely the past 10 months and that I hope to continue moving forward post-COVID\/remote work.<\/p>\n
Flexibility (no crisis required).<\/strong> Flexibility shouldn\u2019t require a crisis. While I usually try to have flexibility in classes I teach, I\u2019ve been more intentional this past year\u2014requiring fewer assignments, offering options for engagement, grading complete\/incomplete. Students often believe that any request for flexibility is a big ask\u2014even when they\u2019re dealing with the unimaginable. From the instructor side of thing, the ask is often small and easily accomplished. I hold onto the idea that students shouldn\u2019t have<\/em> to ask. If I can build in flexibility from the onset, I can establish it as a norm rather than an exception.<\/p>\n Less urgency.<\/strong> So often everything<\/em> feels urgent. Emails, asks, the 10-week term. And while some things are <\/em>urgent, many things don\u2019t need to be. I\u2019m trying to push back on that culture of urgency, become more aware of its relationship to power, and be mindful of how I contribute to this culture. The more I look, the more opportunities I find to be slow down, create boundaries, and make space for myself and for others to work in more manageable ways.<\/p>\n Music. And dancing.<\/strong> As I write this, I\u2019m at a standing desk with wireless headphones, dancing. Many afternoons this past year have been improved through music and dancing. I\u2019ve been fortunate to work from home, and that set-up process challenged me to think about workspace in a new way\u2014to imagine what it could be. Now, this whole set-up may have to come back to campus with me. Waldo Hall dance party.<\/p>\n Time between meetings.<\/strong> While it\u2019s now possible to transition between meetings with a few mouse clicks, back-to-back-to-back meetings are not good for us. Days with 5 or 6 meetings in a row, constantly on screen, are exhausting. I imagine this is equally hard on students in remote classes. I\u2019m trying to be mindful of the meetings I\u2019m leading, time needed, and how I can encourage people to engage in ways that work for them. Sometimes brief audio calls or Teams messages are enough. When an hour is scheduled, I\u2019m working to end meetings at :50 and keep transition time between conversations.<\/p>\n Community. <\/strong>In November, I participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). To achieve that goal, I needed to write every day. Knowing Clare was also committed to daily writing provided solidarity. Evening writing sprints on Discord connected me with others in the same process. And Sarah\u2019s check-ins, excitement for the project, responsiveness to random writing questions, and encouragement were so helpful. As I plan for future projects and as I support others in their planning, I\u2019ll be looking for more connection points and ways we can create a stronger community of support and encouragement along the way.<\/p>\n These are just a few of my reflection points, but I\u2019ll be adding to my list in the coming months. I\u2019d also love to hear from you if you\u2019d like to share! What have you learned about your work? Or about supporting students? What are you holding onto moving forward? Feel free to email me a short description<\/a> that we could include in a spring issue of The Success Kitchen. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While perhaps slightly hyperbolic, I\u2019m forging ahead with this title, courtesy of the Random Title Generator. This after a lengthy brainstorming session via Teams and mulling over a number of compelling options from the generator. Clare didn\u2019t feel that \u201cWizard of History\u201d was a fair representation of what I\u2019d written, and I felt that \u201cEye … <\/p>\n