Bay Path University

A P I O N E E R I N R E M O T E L E A R N I N G A N D T E A C H I N G Dr. Robin Saunders is the director of digital marketing programs at Bay Path University. A proud technology geek, she works and teaches remotely from her home in New Hampshire. "In 1964, I believe I might have been one of the first people to be a remote learner. It was eighth grade, and I was burned in an accident that required me to study from home. It started my fascination with technology." As the director of digitalmarketing programs, Dr. Saunders lives what she teaches. She is one hundred percent remote. Her office is a command center for online learning: desktops with large screens, movable desk, special lighting, and audio equipment. All her classes and programs are taught online— even before the pandemic pushed higher education to frantically adapt on ground courses to online. "I have been a big proponent of online learning and working remotely. I could see where technology was leading us as a society. In February of 2020, I launched www.facultytoolkit.com, a primer available to everyone on how to teach online. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Within one month, I had six thousand subscribers. The site is still going strong. "Online teaching can be very engaging for students. You have to think of it in terms of multi-modal content: videos, podcasts, and augmented reality are some options. Communication with students is also critical. Remember, I am working remotely, and they are learning remotely. With my online students, I share my cell so that way they can chat or text me if they need help. They have never abused it. I feel very connected to the students." K E E P Y O U R S E L F M E N T A L L Y F I T Dr. Kristina Hallett is the director of clinical training for psychology programs at Bay Path University. In addition to her own practice in psychotherapy, Dr. Hallett's specialty is assisting driven professionals and entrepreneurs to become stress-smart by harnessing the positive power of stress to increase resilience, productivity, and well-being. The flip from office to home caught many people by surprise. Those in-person connections so important in the day-to-day workflow were replaced by a new form of communication: Zoom. "There are many benefits to working either fully or partially remote. For some, it is a better work-life balance, or it could be the flexibility that takes the stress out of people's lives. Of course, we are all concerned with human interaction.' "To meet that need, you have to have your own personal support system. They could be friends, family, or co-workers that can provide you with that interaction to combat feeling disconnected." In the office, our interactions can take many forms, such as weekly group meetings, water cooler chats, or uninten- tional breaks. Some are productive, and others can absorb an enormous amount of time. "A personal support system is much more intentional in nature, unlike casual interactions at work. I recommend, for example, reaching out to someone to have a Zoom coffee, or have a weekly chat. Another important element in working remotely is to set up a routine. In the morning, make sure you get up, shower, and dress appropriately. Create a structure and routine that works for you. Use your time to benefit you. If you had a commute that was thirty or forty-five minutes, use that new time— the time you gained—to take a walk, do some mediation, or stretching. Instead of being in a car, you are doing something for yourself." "Finally, I emphasize taking breaks at home. Use your lunchtime. You don't have to feel guilty. Peak performance literature indicates that if you get up every fifty to seventy-five minutes, it will reset your brain. It will refresh and energize you, and you will be more productive." Over time, people have become acclimated to Zoom. We have learned to read people's facial and microexpressions. We are, for a lack of a better term, recognizing the humanness in each other. "When working remotely, we all have to be more attentive to kindness, compassion, and empathy. By practicing and following those emotions, we feel good about ourselves. It offsets the lack of in person interactions. Zoom has already had an impact on our behavior. For example, when an in person meeting would end, many people would just get up and leave. When Zoom meetings end, many people now wave and say, 'See you later!' It's a small thing, but it brings the essence of the real world, our best selves, into the digital space." 5 www.baypath.edu Among the many benefits to working either fully or partially remote are a better work-life balance and flexibility that takes stress out of people's lives.

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