While so many teachers and professors have been accustomed to teaching in person for most of their careers, the past few months have taught us all to adapt to a new remote environment that is probably going to become the new professional norm, or at least part of it. Teaching remotely requires different skills, technologies, and mindsets to be effective, and even more so for women. While teaching remotely may appear on the surface to be a more convenient or flexible option to teaching in person, it also takes away some of the advantages of in-person learning, including physical cues, body language, and just the incredibly important human aspect of sharing knowledge and exchanging perspectives…
Given the growing gender divide for K-12 teachers, which disproportionately favors women due to the fact that teaching is considered a low social status position and is consequently remunerated less, women tend to be on the teaching frontline in increasingly large numbers while not being compensated enough. In higher education, although the number of female professors has been increasing in the past few years, female professors have been shown to be at a disadvantage, as a result of shouldering more service work as compared to their male counterparts. This is in addition to female professors being held to more stringent standards than male professors, in terms of more work responsibilities, emotional labor, and expectations from students. These factors, among many, contribute to quite the high “glass ceiling” for women teachers and professors, without adding to it the implications and demands of remote teaching.
In this context, here are 7 proposed tips for women to successfully and effectively teach remotely:
- Prep your mindset!
The lack of physical proximity, body language and human contact inherent to remote teaching can make it challenging on the emotional and mental level for instructors. One of the main reasons so many instructors choose teaching as a vocation is related to the impact they can make on students and how they can help the latter strive in and out of the classroom. When said students are permanently reduced to screen corners and words on the chat section of a Zoom meeting, the resulting lack of human connection can be daunting to say the least.
This is why it’s so important to prepare oneself mentally for the prospect of remote teaching, especially as women who already face an uphill battle in terms of the gender inequities. This may entail educating oneself about effective methods of remote instruction, talking to other professionals about the best ways to connect with students remotely, and investing in consistent self-care as well.
- Familiarize yourself with the technology
When it comes to remote work in general, familiarizing oneself with the technology is indispensable. So much time lost and inefficiencies, not to mention aggravating frustrations, can be avoided by having a firm handle on the tools needed to effectively teach online. This is even more important for women, as much of the technology we use in our daily lives and as part of teaching, was not made with women in mind and is not gender-neutral in terms of access or use.
To this end, scheduling some time with the IT department can go a long way towards avoiding future technical snafus, and optimizing online teaching techniques as well. Taking some time to practice and prepare ahead of time is also a non-negotiable for successful remote teaching.
- Set clear goals and objectives
With remote teaching especially, setting and implementing clear goals and objectives is paramount. While it can be easy to get distracted in a remote environment, especially as working women and moms carrying most of the household and childcare burden at home, having already set objectives to refer back to can be a life-saver.
- Prioritize clear communication
In the absence of physical cues and direct communication, setting protocols and standards of clear communication, even if remotely, can be a game-changer for effective remote instruction. This is especially relevant considering the heightened level of expectations placed on women instructors.
Clear communication can take the form of daily emails recapping and reinforcing daily deliverables, or detailed weekly schedules prepared ahead of time, for instance. Whichever method is used should focus on keeping the relevant information as crystal clear as possible.
- Remember time is of the essence!
Time, especially for busy working women and moms with so many outside demands, is of the essence. This is why strategizing remote instruction in an effective and less time-consuming way is so necessary. For some, it may be dedicating the bulk of their time to advance preparation. For others, it may be choosing the right balance between synchronous and asynchronous teaching. Whatever technique or strategy one may decide to use, making wise use of time, both at the instructor and the student’s level, should be a priority.
- Find your sweet spot
Teaching remotely can feel a bit mechanical and impersonal after a while. However, finding one’s sweet spot and rhythm can make all the difference. Do you teach remotely better with case studies and practice exercises than though straight lecturing? Are you more inclined to favor remote group works, or would you rather schedule one-on-one sessions? Are you more a fan of synchronous or asynchronous teaching?
Defining your style and pinning down your sweet spot can bring an added level of effectiveness to your remote teaching, while also increasing your motivation and engagement, as well as that of the students. Showing up as who you truly are as an instructor is always the best recipe…
- Don’t forget about self-care
Last but not least, don’t neglect your own self-care. Teaching is a magnificent vocation. It’s also one that requires a lot of dedication, investment and energy. This is why it’s crucial to consistently devote some time to self-care, from bubble baths, to exciting novels and/or cardio sessions.
What would you add to this list? What are your best tips for effective remote teaching as a woman?
The Corporate Sis.
