In general, I like working with computers. From time to time, I will get the itch to put in time on a long term project on them, such as creating digital badges last school year (back when I thought they would be the focus of my doctoral study) or making a comprehensive spreadsheet that accounted for all bonuses and negatives in a Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 (and 3.6) edition character. This does not even count the hours that I can spend losing myself in a video game.
So, why then is this online teaching draining me so much by the end of the day?
I read an article recently (perhaps today, it all blends together) about why video conferencing can be more exhausting than normal face to face meetings, so that could be part of it. I had five such meetings ranging from 25 minutes to over an hour today. I'm also spending a lot of time recording and then editing my readings of the literature I'm using for my English classes. However, I also have had the help of my student teacher who has taken about half of that responsibility for me.
Perhaps it's because it takes more time to respond to student work in writing rather than just conferring with them in class. Grading online is also quite different than grading on paper. I don't feel this is quite the reason as--sadly--fewer and fewer students are submitting assignments now that our district's "no harm" grading policy was made public (it is a bit sad that grades are some students' only motivation to learn). Again, my student teacher has been helping out here as well (Wow! I'd really be having trouble this quarter if I didn't have her help.).
I know that it's actually a combination of all of the above. Especially considering that I'm not driving to and from school, I'm putting in significantly more time each school day to stay caught up in my various tasks. As much as I like my computer and office area, I feel like we're spending a bit too much time together lately.
So, why then is this online teaching draining me so much by the end of the day?
I read an article recently (perhaps today, it all blends together) about why video conferencing can be more exhausting than normal face to face meetings, so that could be part of it. I had five such meetings ranging from 25 minutes to over an hour today. I'm also spending a lot of time recording and then editing my readings of the literature I'm using for my English classes. However, I also have had the help of my student teacher who has taken about half of that responsibility for me.
Perhaps it's because it takes more time to respond to student work in writing rather than just conferring with them in class. Grading online is also quite different than grading on paper. I don't feel this is quite the reason as--sadly--fewer and fewer students are submitting assignments now that our district's "no harm" grading policy was made public (it is a bit sad that grades are some students' only motivation to learn). Again, my student teacher has been helping out here as well (Wow! I'd really be having trouble this quarter if I didn't have her help.).
I know that it's actually a combination of all of the above. Especially considering that I'm not driving to and from school, I'm putting in significantly more time each school day to stay caught up in my various tasks. As much as I like my computer and office area, I feel like we're spending a bit too much time together lately.
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