Schedule? The "unknown."
I know that one thing that stresses me out is the "unknown." Normally I will not find out my schedule for next quarter until (at most) three days before the start of the quarter. It makes it very hard to plan much of anything (with family, friends, or co-workers). Also, just making my agenda and syllabi in a matter of three days, is very difficult. How do you deal with the "unknown?"
This also happen to me, but it was the day before classes started, and I had never taught this class, so I went to the Instructor that had the class and ask for his assistant, and asked if I could ues his materials to help me, and he even gave his time to help me to get organize.
Wonderful to hear Brenda! It's so nice to be able to rely on senior instructors for help with new classes. Often times, they have developed a full suite of class materials that you can use as a foundation. It's so much easier to tweak and optimize materials that already exist as opposed to starting from scratch.
Our employer operates on a three week schedule and we usually do not know our schedule till the friday before classes begins, this makes planing your life inside and ouside of class very stressful when you have to live your life three weeks at a time.
The unknown is always an issue for me. I have had my schedule for the next quarter when I leave on break only to receive a phone call during break week and it has changed. While I feel that I am flexible, but it still causes a great deal of stress. Anytime we have this happen and it is not a class we have taught before it is helpful to go to someone who has taught the class before. They can be a great resource, but I still feel the stress of the unknown and not feeling prepared. Over the last 10 years I have learned this is an uncomfortable situation for me in all aspects of my life, I need to know what to expect or what is going to happen.
I agree it is very stressful to deal with getting your assignments with little notice. My employer tries to get them out early but then the unknown, like staff leaving. The most difficult part is no breathing space, and little prep time especially if it is the first itme teaching the class. I am blessed to have a great team of instructors committed to the program
I also can understand your source of stress when it comes to the unknown schedule. We have had times when we get the schedule only a few days before teaching the course. This sometimes can creates stress in not knowing how many students you will have and getting prepared for the class. I try to plan as much as I can for the unknown to help alleviate the stress as much as I can.
The unknown always causes stress.
I try to have as much of the information on a class as I can ahead of time.
I search out other instructors who teach different classes and gain information.
If I am prepared to teach a variety of classes it seems to reduce some of the stress.
There has been many times that our schedules are not given to us until last minute. It is hard to prepare in such a short time.
Lyndi, It's always hard to prepare at the last minute. What we can do is to plan for the unexpected. Build a buffer into your schedule to allow for last minute tasks. This will give you the wiggle room you need.
Dr. Melissa Read
Great topic. I think the best way to deal with the unknown is to create categories. Some of the "unknown" can be almost known by prior experiences. Even if we don't know our exact schedules, we sort of know from our background what is going to be our area to instruct and we can break down the overall school schedule to limit days and times to those being offered in our area of knowledge.
Next, there is the medium level of unknown such as who will be our new students. Often schools furnish lists and pictures so we can familairize ourselves with names and faces before hand.
Of course there will always be the true unknown such as a new boss or building change or health change. The best advice I have which of course I don't always follow is to prepare for change if it happens but do not stress over it because it impacts everyone and we are all in the same "boat", so to speak. Perhaps there are books or blogs by people with similar experiences so one can prepare in part or more for such change.
I agree the unknown of not knowing how well your studdent or you are going to cope with the class can be stressful also. I search for wqays to take the edge off a class you are unknown of. The class my be shorted due to sheduling or the class may have challenged students who need extra help regardless its sometimes stressful to help the situation.
