OMG... INBOX OVERLOAD!

This is what I imagine that I look like every time I look at my email inbox lately – it seems to be totally out of control! It makes me feel like I am in a constant battle with the mythological hydra; every time I deal with one email, two more (or possibly ten more…) rise up to take its place.

This rapid uptick in the volume of emails is understandable given the looming crisis – we are now inundated with information from our discipline, Division, Department, College, District, and professional communities, not to mention our most important “constituents,” our students! But is it, perhaps, time to step back and ask ourselves whether email is the best mode of communication for everything?

I have been hoarding emails containing tips and resources for dealing with instruction in the era of COVID-19 for the past 2-3 weeks, thinking to compile a consolidated list of resources that I could share with all of you.

What I discovered is that (to paraphrase Harold Ramis), “if all of the information in my inbox was a Twinkie, it would be a Twinkie thirty-five feet long weighing approximately six hundred pounds.” Seem like hyperbole? OK, would you believe that my metaphorical Twinkie is 35 pages long? Because it is that – and growing by the email!

Here are some things that we can all do:

• Got ideas, tips, and tricks? By all means, share them – just not always by email!! Try joining the CTLA Facebook Group (https://tinyurl.com/CGCC-CTLA-Facebook), and share your resources there. See what has already been posted. Encourage others to join. The voice of the collective group gets richer, the more of us who decide to be an active part of it.
• Actively check the CTLA website (https://ctla.cgc.edu) and blog (https://ctla.cgc.edu/tech-tuesdays). Comment on posts there, and add your own ideas and/or suggestions. Give feedback if you’ve tried something, whether it worked or not – either way, it’s valuable information for others.
• Did someone else share something awesome by email? By all means, thank them – just maybe not by using “Reply All”? A private “thank you” message to the author will usually be just as meaningful to that individual, letting them know that their efforts are appreciated, without adding another email to the inbox of every person at the college.
  

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Take a deep breath...
and if you have questions or need assistance regarding Teaching, Learning and/or Assessment, your friendly neighborhood CTLA is (as always) happy to help. These days that means remote assistance, but we're still here for you!
 
Use this link to Submit a Request for Assistance:
https://ctla.cgc.edu/help.html
HAPPY TUESDAY, EVERYONE!
-Mary

HERE IS A HIGHLIGHT FROM THE 35-PAGE TWINKIE...
From the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) post, "Continuity Planning - Emergency Preparedness Resources":

Student Engagement
Communication — This resource from Northwestern University provides some helpful tips and best practices for how to establish an effective communication strategy with students in an online learning space.

Empathy — This resource created by San Mateo County Community College District for Instructional Continuity has “A Note on Empathy” advising staying calm and having empathy as everyone is trying to adapt to a new situation.
 
Humanizing Online Learning — In her website, Michelle Pacansky-Brock offers podcasts, articles, infographics and slides related to humanizing online learning, which entails designing human-centered learning experiences leveraging the potential of digital technologies.