Strategies to support teachers in order to maintain professional well-being in an online/blended teaching environment

Abstract

Fully-online and blended-platform educators face challenges as unique as their online teaching environments. Along with developing an engaging program for students, they must manage additional administrative challenges that contribute to an already heavy workload. Subsequently, many teachers report feelings of mounting time pressure and ongoing stress, which may lead to emotional exhaustion and eventually teacher burnout. In an attempt to address a complex issue facing the online teaching community, my Critical Challenge Question, “What supports can be developed to further strengthen the social/emotional well-being of teachers in order to maintain professional well-being in an online/blended teaching environment?” has been the focus of a comprehensive literature analysis. The resulting research has guided development of pragmatic resources in the form of both Teacher and Parent Handbook websites, and streamlines the administration of enrichment funding for home learning families. Feedback provided by new and experienced online teachers lends support to the current iteration of the Major Project websites and will continue to inform future revisions.