Make the most of your summer

Summer has me focusing on productivity. How can I get through the task lists that build up during traditional semesters? How can I find the energy for summer classes and new fall preps?

Whether you have a nine-month appointment without summer classes, enjoy a nine-month appointment with summer classes, or have a 12-month appointment with administrative duties, you can maximize your summer efforts. Here are a few tips that work for me.

• Change your work space. Spend a few hours a week at a coffee shop, library area, home office, or empty conference room. A change in the walls (or fresh air) around you can stimulate your mind and rejuvenate you after a long semester. Or, simply close your door--a small, seemingly simple feat that took me a long time to accept, as you can read in "Closing the door--Prioritizing Research" post from last summer. 
• Compile your notes. You've probably got scattered sticky notes, e-mails to yourself, half accomplished task lists, and various research ideas thrown around your work areas. Take a morning (or evening) to compile all of those amazing ideas and start to make a plan of attack to accomplish them. Do this regularly to stay on top of the ideas that can easily get "lost" in the chasms of our tumultuous semesters. 
• Consider using a "power hour" method to tackle tasks that are looming large and that you might be dragging your feet over. Yes, professors can procrastinate, too. Try this technique to help conquer the biggies and move through tough projects. Read more about "power hours" in a post from a few years ago, "Research Power Hours."
• Don't shudder, but one great technique is to put your phone away. I turn my phone on silent and shove it in my drawer for the first few hours of some high-output days. I have also heard of others using plug-ins and apps to block Internet access during productivity/writing times. I haven't gone to that degree, but if you are interested, LeechBlock for Firefox is one option.  
• Watch out for "Mock Productivity" -- the time eaters that steal away any chance you have at tackling your to-do lists. 
• Don't create such a massive task list that you dread facing it each time. Chunk items into projects, split up your tasks, and set realistic goals to avoid burnout or frustration. 

I also set a "summer goal" for my professional life. What item is my top priority, which is second, which is third? Those are the go-to areas for my time and, when August rolls back around, I can mark of the major areas and feel a sense of accomplishment. 

Share your tried-and-true practices to make the most of your summer.

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Student leadership

It is wonderful to see just how much our students can do! I was especially impressed the past few weeks as we have taken students to undergraduate leadership conferences. Students presented and did a GREAT job. Additionally, they learned about being responsible conference attendees and active participants.

First, we took students to the Southwester Black Student Leadership Conference. There, they learned about becoming more marketable, embracing leadership opportunities, and formed networks with students from many universities.

Following that trip, we took another group of students to the Diversity Leadership Conference at Sam Houston State University. The students submitted panels and were accepted as speakers. They learned a lot about facilitating discussion, leading a panel, and working with fellow presenters.

How can you engage your undergraduate students to embrace new leadership opportunities? It does not have to happen at far-off campuses. Work to get them involved, listen to their ideas, empower them to act, and see what they can deliver. It is key to offer specific and focused guidance throughout the process and have both pre- and post- trip meetings to help students prepare and process their journeys.

Consider which conferences or opportunities you could offer your students and then watch as they surpass your expectations!

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Teaching, research, and administration: Multiple roles in higher education

You're deep into the edits for your latest research project. One that has sat for too long waiting on you. Finally, you are finding time to focus on it when your phone rings or your inbox dings or your administrative assistant comes in to remind you that a new meeting was unexpectedly set up for you today. There's that pull -- the tug of the faculty duties against the responsibilities of the administrative life.

So you've got more than one role? Welcome to higher education. We're measured on multiple areas of performance and juggling them can, sometimes, lead to stress.

How do you cope? 

Endless spreadsheets mapping your time? 

Multiple calendars? 

Protected times on those calendars for different tasks (until those above you control or modify that time)? 

16-hour working weekends? 

The death of your social life? 

While these are all likely options you have experienced in one form or another, consider how well they work for you.

The Chronicle of Higher Education noted last fall that today's faculty are stressed and feeling the impact of multiple roles as budgets shrink in their departments and their time. This stress can be increased when exploring the dreaded "split appointment" role that has many wondering about time management and where to place their efforts when facing tasks lists that never end.

Think about evaluations. How do you evaluate the faculty/administrator appointment? Check your specific institution's handbook and know the expectations of those around and above you. This can help you prioritize your work efforts. If research is now a lesser part of your expectations, then balance your time accordingly.

Consider your split. If you are 50% administrator and 50% faculty member, consider how your hours work during the week. Review the past month. If you are in meetings for your administrative role for 12 hours a week and only have 8 hours left to actually DO the work for the administration role, you might want to explore the split with your superiors and colleagues. What expectations do they have? Talk with your fellow faculty members and department chair. Try to negotiate limited new course preps in the first year of the new appointment.

Reflect. Explore your calendar, output, energy level, and the expectations of those around you regularly in your first year on the split appointment. This will help you understand where your time and energy should go and help you communicate your expectations to others. This also creates a nice circle of communication where you can get feedback about the goals of those in both your faculty and administrator role.

Work smarter, not harder. Link your publications and research to your duties as an administrator. This way, your research informs your daily practice.

Different types of faculty/administrator positions exist and they are often called different terms ("shared/split/joint/dual appointments"). The shared duties exist for extension agents, coaches, clinical roles, department chairs, and directors, for example. Here are a few readings to explore if you are considering (or currently navigating) the split appointment:

• Brittingham described the elusive balance of teaching, research, and service in her 1996 paper, "Balancing split appointments: a view from the trenches" which explored extension offices.  
• Coaching as a split appointment is examined in Hasting's chapter. 

In the end, realize the multiple roles we have as faculty can often start to feel overwhelming. This is true whether those multiple roles are truly a "split" appointment or just the typical trio of research/teaching/service expectations we face. 

What strategies work for you? 

Consider also, exploring the earlier entry: Transition to the split appointment, September 2012

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"You are awesome!" Communicating appreciation on the job

Show your appreciation

There are many times in the busiest of days where we just forget how much work others are doing. We may become focused on our own goals, our stress, and our agendas. On such days, we are likely to see lips pressed thinly with apprehension, eyebrows furrowed, and fixed stares as we look at our distant goals and fixate on our own tasks.

Too often, we allow this tunnel-vision to interrupt our collegial relationships and can lead to us taking advantage of our peers and taking our staff for granted.

There are easy ways to step outside of your own congested mind to say a few kind words of appreciation. Here are some general tips to help communicate the appreciation that can, sometimes, become buried under our task lists.

Tell others about their strengths. Just hearing, "you're really good with the students." Or, "It is clear you love advising--and you're very clear with the advisees." Small things like, "Fixing the copier saved the day, thanks!" can go a long way when someone is having a stressful or busy day. 

Say "thank you" every single time something gets done. No exceptions. No matter how trivial, work this phrase into your every day jargon. Your administrative assistant returns pressing phone calls (saving you valuable time), then simply thank him or her. Don't brush it off. Show him/her that it means something to you. The "thank you" culture will catch on and appreciation becomes easier to show.

Break down large projects into small tasks. No one likes to be overwhelmed (and as faculty or administrators, we know how it feels to be overwhelmed!). Avoid dumping huge projects on those around you. Instead, reach out with clear plans, consistent vision, and manageable tasks to ease the burden of a huge project.

Check in often. Ask "what do you like about the work we've been doing?" Or, "what could we improve?" Put your ego in check and LISTEN when others are commenting on their work day -- what may seem like a small detail (a parking space, for example) for someone can easily make every day start out in the "crummy" column. My mantra: "Ask. Listen. Consider. Communicate. Act."

Go beyond work conversation. You do not have to be Besties with everyone at work, but a simple conversation about a colleague's family or a follow up on their on-going car problems can show that you care and value them beyond the work they are doing. 

Easy steps to being thankful: Keep cards on hand

Keep cards on hand. These little thank you notes can make someone smile -- and are particularly poignant when big projects are completed. My desk drawer always has notes and little items to help make a rough day easier or to help show others I appreciate what they do.

Post a quote. Instead of a sticky note of tasks for someone, leave a powerful quote or a kind word in a highly visible color. They won't expect that little note and some encouragement can kick-start our days.

If you feed them...Yes, bring in a little food, sweets, or fun. It might be a new flavored coffee or a simple donuts run, but sharing food breaks down walls, opens communication lines, and can perk up someone wilting under pressure.

Send an email. It is easy to threaten to write a note when services are terrible--but how often do we write a note when services are fabulous? I did this the other day and received amazing feedback from the supervisor of the staff member who effusively thanked me for going out of my way to comment on an employee who was doing good work.

A note of appreciation sent this week

Thank those who help in front of others. Recognize them. Show how you value them beyond your own office or department.

With moments a day, you can create a culture that values appreciation and shares recognition.

What steps do you take to communicate appreciation in your workplace? 

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Position openings! Tenure-track in communication

Readers, here are two great openings to consider. Please pass them on! 

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies  

https://jobs.tarleton.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1355261432003

Teach Computer Mediated Communication, Communication Research methods. Must be willing to teach a combination of Communication Theory, Survey of Communication Research, Seminar in Organizational Communication, Seminar in New Communication Technology, Seminar in Communication Ethics, Seminar in Applied Social Media, Seminar in Computer-mediated Communication. Primarily responsible for the teaching/learning process and will also participate in the necessary operations of the institution. Minimum requirements include: Ph.D. in Communication Studies or related field. Must have at least two years of full-time experience teaching college/university courses in some combination of communication theory, communication ethics, new communication technologies, applied social media, computer-mediated communication, research methods, survey of communication, organizational communication. Must have evidence of strong, ongoing, collaborative research agenda with secured external funding. This position requires teaching and in the classroom Tarleton's Southwest Metroplex campus in Ft. Worth. Preferred requirements:Three years teaching experience with online and graduate courses. Ideal candidate will communicate effectively and relate well with others (including evidence of collegiality with colleagues, as well as undergraduate and graduate students), hold membership in and present to professional communication organizations, be experienced in advance research methodologies applied specifically to communication research, possess demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills, provide evidence of facilitating experience-based student learning and of coordinating graduate student research.

The department requires a cover letter, resume and transcripts for this position. If you are not able to attach the documents when applying, please mail the requested documents to:

Dr. Charles Howard
Tarleton State University
Department of Communication Studies
Box T-0230
Stephenville, TX 76402

If mailing, please make sure you reference the Requisition Number and title of this position.

 

  

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies  

https://jobs.tarleton.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1355261432003

Teach a variety of communications courses centered on interpersonal, intercultural and basic speech. The individual will conduct research in area of specialization; serve on University committees; advise students; and participate in appropriate professional activities.  Ideal candidate will communicate effectively and relate well with others (including evidence of collegiality with colleagues, as well as undergraduate and graduate students), hold membership in and present to professional communication organizations, be experienced in advance research methodologies applied specifically to communication research, possess demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills, provide evidence of facilitating experience-based student learning and of coordinating graduate student research. Minimum requirements include: Ph.D. in Communication Studies or closely related field. Must have evidence of strong ongoing, collaborative research agenda with secured external funding. Must have 2 years' experience teaching basic college speech courses along with some combination of interpersonal, organizational, small group, and persuasion.

Dr. Charles Howard
Tarleton State University
Department of Communication Studies
Box T-0230
Stephenville, TX 76402

If mailing, please make sure you reference the Requisition Number and title of this position.

CALL for Proposals: International Society for Educational Biography

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR EDUCATIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Call for Papers

The Thirtieth Annual Conference

San Antonio, Texas   April 4-6, 2013

Submission deadline is February 4, 2013 

ISEB on Facebook                  ISEB on Twitter: @EducationalBiog

I.S.E.B. invites academics, teachers, graduate students, researchers and anyone who engages aspects of biography in their writing, teaching, research, or other professional endeavors to submit proposals for our annual conference. Previous papers have come from a variety of disciplines including history, education, English, religion, and many more. We encourage submissions from graduate students.

Possible topics include: Collective biographies, Role of biography in the history of education, biography and fiction, general biography, plot structures of biographies, biographic criticism, publishing biographies, feminist approaches to life writing, oral history, experimental approaches, ethical issues, methodology, and the use of biography in classroom instruction.

Proposal Information: The refereed conference invites individual papers, panel discussions; and other  presentation formats. Generally, the conference schedule allows 30 minutes for individual papers (includes discussion time), and 60-75 minutes for panel sand other kinds of presentations.

Proposals should be sent as attachments and include:

1) A title page which includes title, name of author(s), address, telephone #, and e-mail.

2) A 250-350 word abstract describing the importance of the topic, the approach taken & the need for any technology.

3) A statement with any time and day that you cannot present.

Send proposals by surface mail, or e-mail attachment to

Dr.Raji Swaminathan,  Director, Urban Education Doctoral Program 
Department of Educational Policy & Community Studies
515 Enderis Hall, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,WI 53211   
Phone: 414-229-5752   Fax: 414-229-3700               Email: swaminar@uwm.edu

DUES & CONFERENCE REGISTRATION:

ALL persons presenting papers MUST be current in ISEB dues. The Conference Registration fee is a separate fee from membership dues.

Membership - regular - (includes ISEB's journal, Vitae Scholasticae) $75
Membership - retired - (includes conference registration, does not include lunch or journal) $50
Membership - student -(includes conference registration, does not include lunch or journal) $30
Conference registration (before April 1. Includes lunch) $170
Conference registration (after April 1. Includes lunch) $190
Additional lunch (optional) $45/each
Student subscription to Vitae Scholasticae $40

*Please complete the membership/conference form at http://tinyurl.com/3s3z67q. Then follow the link at the end of the membership survey to pay via PayPal or mail dues and registration to: 

 Lora Helvie-Mason, Tarleton State University , PO Box T-0490, Stephenville, TX 76042, helviemason@tarleton.edu, educationalbiography@gmail.com, 254-968-9488

Checks and money orders (in US funds) made to International Society for Educational Biography.

Conference Hotel: MENGER HOTEL 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX; 800/345-9285. The Menger Hotel is an historic hotel located across the street from the Alamo and about a block from the River Walk.  

The rate is $132 US single or double; $20.00/night roll away bed.  Committed guest rooms will only be held until March 3 so please reserve early. Reservations received after the cut-off date will be accepted on the basis of availability.  If more persons reserve early than are in the guaranteed room block, the rooms could be taken prior to the cut-off date. (Some rooms have been reserved for those who come early and for those who plan to stay over the weekend).

PLEASE SHARE THIS CFP WITH OTHERS

Website: http://www.isebio.org/

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Return of the Gadget Girl: Apple to Android

After over a year on an Apple product (iPad) supplied by an institutional initiative, I found myself exploring options for a new tablet. My primary question: should I go with another Apple item?

I found myself at a unique point in my gadget driven life, I had none. My institutional change led to most of my tech items sticking with the previous institution and my work at home being driven by a clunky, much forgotten laptop with, get this, Vista. 

I really missed having a tablet.

After exploring a few options, I made one of my famous pro/con lists. My family may mock me for their continued use, but it is something that remains helpful to me especially as I face bigger decisions.

The apps are strong, the resources for the classroom are excellent, and I was already familiar with the iPad. However, I never had an iPhone and had lived in the Blackberry world since smartphones came on the scene, but my phone was on its last leg. All signs were pointing to a change--but did I want to make a full commitment and dive into a life of Apple products or was it time for a shift?

 

As I explored what I loved about the iPad and what I wanted, I realized I wanted something that could produce a bit more work--the only way I could do that, would be to focus on storage and accessibility. I could continue working with the cloud or consider items that might allow me to connect beyond the cloud. Were there tablets that could serve the same function as my trusty, and returned to my previous institution, netbook? Is it possible to kill two birds with one stone?

As much as I love the iPad, it simply pushed me deeper than I wanted to go into the Apple world to maximize its use. I did not want an iPhone. What was a gadget-girl to do?

I looked at several options, including Lenovo IdeaTab, iPad, the Microsoft Surface, and kept returning to the Asus Transformer. It had removable storage options - a HUGE pro on my pro/con list. It also allowed a connection through USB and SDcards along with a focus on very similar capabilities as the iPad. The Transformer is an Android device and most of the apps available from Apple are easily available through Android.

In the end, I determined that I would take a risk and make a change -- I went all out into the Android world! I got the Galaxy sIII and the Asus Transformer tf700T and it has been a transition where I learn the processes of another system.

Granted, I miss a few items, including my favorite app for class, The Attendance App, which is not yet available for Android and some of my nephew's favorite games, but I found the transition very easy overall. 

Some of my favorite things about the transition to the Asus Transformer tablet include:

• Connecting everything with my Google account.
• Attaching my huge 500 Gig hard drive and taking EVERYTHING with me wherever I go.
• Most of the apps that I love are available, including YouSeeU, my favorite social media options, the amazing Astrid, and my news sources.
• Just swapping out the SD card to share pictures, videos, and files with other devices makes me smile. So easy!
• Though I loved the iPad, I must admit the keyboard option is much better with the Transformer than with the iPad. I had a great blue-tooth keyboard from Brookstone for the iPad, but the Transformer's easy click into place keyboard is amazing and it pushes my battery life to amazing levels.

Apple to Android can be a slight challenge, but overall, I am excited by this change and look forward to exploring more opportunities. What are your thoughts? Have you had to transition systems? Share!

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Social Media Research Conference

What's trending? Social media research!

Explore the continual growth and increasingly innovative uses of social media within higher education, business, and organizations by attending the Texas Social Media Research Institute's annual conference.

To find out more: http://www.txsocialmedia.org/ or see their many access points via their pages on social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterist.

You can review the call for papers at http://www.txsocialmedia.org/call-for-proposals/ and consider submitting your latest work on social media as it pertains to your field of interest. You can also plan on attending to absorb the changes in social media use in the classroom.

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Transitions into the "split" academic appointment

Split Appointments (Image Created by CommHigherEd blog)

Not only are we transitioning as faculty into the new Fall term after our summers (summers that those outside of academia typically assume we spent in frivolity enjoying the "vacation" and being "so lucky" we "don't have to work"). This blog is also enjoying a transition as I explore a new administrative/faculty position at a new institution. With this transition comes a whole new (rather wide-eyed-with-awe) respect for those who juggle the "split positions" of faculty/administrative appointments.

Though balance has always intrigued me when it comes to work, hours, effort, and life outside of the job, I have a new fascination based on the duties of this exciting change.

There are a lot of things to consider with the split appointment. When on earth do I tackle that line of research? Why don't I have a cloning machine?  Each day is new and different in a really positive way.

There are a few basic lessons that I have discovered over the last few weeks to help accomplish tasks on both the faculty and administrative tasks.

• The administrative tasks will easily seep into the faculty "time" -- Consider blocking time, teaching-specific days (such as only MWF or only TR) to help stay focused on which role you are working within on which day/time block.
• There will not be enough hours in the day -- Prioritize. A lot. 
• Be prepared to put every organizational muscle you have to work -- Wrestle each day into a structure with goals, mini-goals, and back-up plans.
• Pull people together to help enact the visions you have -- Share your enthusiasm, show your excitement, and spread the word to help meet your mission.
• Assessment and evidence -- Track everything. Organization here helps! Create files, labels, and e-files where you can easily map out your efforts on both sides of your duties. Keep track of everything you do and measure those outcomes. 
• Create bleed-over -- Perhaps not the nicest sounding lesson, but ideally you can find in-roads between your research and your administrative appointment that allows you to maximize your time and write about what you are doing or implement the research outcomes that you uncovered in your every day efforts. 
• Journal it -- No surprise for long-time readers of this blog, but I believe that reflective writing and a few moments of documenting and exploring your thoughts can help you manage the day ahead.
• Find down time -- It may just be a few hours a week, but embrace some time that is just for YOU. My music helps me with this, a book on CD while you drive to work would serve the same purpose.
• Squeeze time in for mental breaks and restful moments so you can stay energized and rock that split appointment!

As we transition to the new semester, read back over your notes from the past semesters or even your journals from your time as a student. Remember, reflect, explore. No matter how divided you feel, there is an inherent value to the split appointment that can create an amazing holistic perspective of your academic world. Embrace it!

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Finding energy

There are many times in academia where we can find ourselves slowly overwhelmed and overrun by our seemingly endless to-do lists. At times, we need to reclaim our lost energy. One of the best resources for reclaiming lost energy comes from our students. Watching a spark of an idea transform to a completed project throughout a semester always gets me re-energized. Seeing students' progress as a term draws to a close allows me to leap the hurdle of fatigue to sprint to the finish of another semester. Are you looking for your lost energy -- especially if you have spent the past eight weeks teaching a frantic summer? Try a few of these ideas and share your own!

Image created by CommHigherEd blog

• Look for the rewards. As noted often in this blog, higher education is full of delayed gratification. Seek out rewards - if you are in an especially satisfied mood, examine the day, reflect, see what led to that mood. Then seek out those circumstances. For example, a chat with a colleague may help you emotionally arm yourself for a tough week. You might not realize it unless you reflect back on the day/week. Schedule a chat as often as you can and protect that time in your day planner.
• Borrow emotional victories. Use the success of those around you. This is how I discovered my students' successes makes me feel really energized. When they were excited, I allowed myself to see experiences through their eyes and "borrow" their excitement, energy, and eagerness. Additionally, when a new colleague got a grant, I absorbed the excitement that the funding would mean for our department and allowed myself to wallow in and benefit from her success by thinking of all of the great opportunities our students and faculty would get from the funding.  
• Write for FUN. Wait, we used to LIKE writing? Yes! Many academics, once upon a time, loved to write. It is only when faced with extreme deadlines and little time that we find the task becomes more onerous. Try to write something that is just for you or that is silly. For me, the journal is an endless resource. I also like to write letters and share with my family. This type of writing is a nice release and grounds me for other, more academic tasks. 
• Read for FUN. Similar to our writing, too often our reading becomes so centralized around our research that we groan at the thought of reading at the end of the day. My rule is basic, no work-based reading before bed. Instead, I can read much loved biographies, science fiction, and mysteries that I adore. I protect that rule after years of falling asleep over my laptop in bed. Those moments right before sleep are now mine and if I only read two pages before drifting off then at least they were pages that did not lead me to tally up my to-do lists or projects right before dreaming. My sleep is more restful when I adhere to this easy policy.
• Take a time out. Sometimes you need distance from a project or activity that is causing burnout/stress. Table it for a little while. Work on something completely unrelated, if possible, then dive back in. 

What re-energizes you? Is it a good science fiction novel? A day away from campus? The really bad poetry that you try to write in the margins of your journal? Time with family? A road trip with friends? A quiet afternoon in the garden? A walk at the park or a trip to the museum? Share what works!

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