Principles of Managing
Time and Boundaries in
the Virtual Classroom
Harry Starn, Jr., MS, CFA, CFP®
Director of Distance Learning
How Many Students in the Class?
“A faculty member told me once that he was just
overwhelmed, just swamped, by the amount of
communication needed in his online course. He just
couldn’t handle it.”
“The Most Needed Competency for Online Instructors” by Daniel Fusch, AI Academic Impressions
http://www.academicimpressions.com/news/most-needed-competency-online-instructors
Introduction
Time issues:
- Student contact
- Course admin
- Grading
“Workload Management Strategies for Online Educators” by Tena Crews and colleagues.
http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume10Number2/MandernachHudsonWise.pdf
8 Suggestions
for managing your time and boundaries
in the virtual classroom
#1 – Establish Expectations for
Student-Contact Responsiveness
Online learning is 24/7 but that doesn’t mean you are in the
virtual classroom all day and night
• Set bar for how quickly will you respond
to student inquiries
– During the week
– During the weekend
• Office hours
• Scheduling of appointment
Course Expectations Thread
Set a reasonable standard
#2 – Sustainable Pace / Daily Routine
Daily Routine
Tip: Higher frequency / less time per engagement
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You select time and place to check in
When are you most effective?
Consider blocking out time
You may have to adapt for rhythms of the
class (they will be different dynamics)
#3 – Aim for “Strategic Presence”
Establishing the right balance… not too little,
not overload, but just right
• Communicate regularly (e.g., class reminders,
group emails)
• Balance synchronous and asynchronous contact
• Show discussion board presence several times in
the week
• Meaningful, timely feedback
“Instructor Presence in the Online Class – Key to Learner Success” Online Learner Insights
https://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/instructor-presence-in-the-online-class-key-to-learner-success/
Strategic Presence
2 Personal Case Studies
• So professor… “What’s the answer”
• Guiding the discussion
#4 – Think Leverage
for Group Communication
When can group communication replace 1-on-1?
What is the best communication tool?
• Use live chats as your face-to-face session to
answer content questions
• Send out group announcements
• Consider building a resource of FAQs
• Weekly one-minute surveys
One-on-One  Class Feedback
Answer student questions during the live chats or discussion
board thread, rather than by email.
#5 – Shift Student/Faculty Roles
Students learning from students
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Student-led activities
Study groups
Research activities in discussion board
“Flipped classroom” concept even in fullyonline environment
Students as the Instructor
Interactive Live Chats
#6 – Leverage the LMS
Let the learning management system do some of
the work for you.
• Detailed, automatic grading and feedback on
quizzes
• Resource links
• Learner analytics
• Course shells / course copy
“Instructor Presence in the Online Class – Key to Learner Success” Online Learner Insights
https://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/instructor-presence-in-the-online-class-key-to-learner-success/
Efficiencies of the LMS
Taking the time to create detailed feedback can save hours
of work in answering student questions.
Learner Analytics
#7 – Setting the Stage
Reduces administrative/technology questions
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User-friendly course navigation
“Self-help” introductory materials
Student orientation to the online environment
Technology training and help desk information
Detailed syllabus
Course expectations thread
Broadcast letter
Broadcast Letter (pre-class)
#8 – Use Institutional Resources
Ask for help and you will get it
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Center for Teaching and Learning
Distance Learning Group
ISS
Your colleagues
In summary…
1. Set the boundaries (expectations) on day one
2. Incorporate time-management efficiencies so
that you can focus your energies on student
learning outcomes
Discussion
Resources
“Effective Workload Management Strategies for the Online Environment,”
Lawrence C Regan and Sara L Terheggen, Penn State University World Campus, 2003.
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/sites/default/files/legacy_static/pdf/fac/workload_strat.pdf
“Faculty Strategies for Balancing Workload When Teaching Online,” Simone C O
Conceicao and Rosemary M Lehman, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2010.
https://www.msu.edu/~mwr2p/ConceicaoLehman-MR2P-2010.pdf
“Where has the Time Gone? Faculty Activities and Time Commitments in the
Online Classroom,” B Jean Mandernach, Swinton Hudson and Shanna Wise, Grand
Canyon University
http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume10Number2/MandernachHudsonWise.pdf
“The Most-Needed Competency for Online Instructors,” Daniel Fusch, Director of
Penn State’s Center for Online Innovations in Learning, Academic Impressions, 2014.
http://www.academicimpressions.com/news/most-needed-competency-online-instructors
Harry Starn Jr.
MS, CFA, CFP®
Director of the Financial Planning Program
hstarn@callutheran.edu
(805) 493-3410