Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model

We propose a model for use in higher education after COVID-19 that addresses how to organize class methods for effective and efficient teaching outcomes for both students and instructors. Faculty have a finite amount of time that they may spend on their courses and must determine which time combinat...

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Main Authors: Naeem Bajwa, Thomas Tudor, Otmar Varela, Karen Leonard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/2/121
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author Naeem Bajwa
Thomas Tudor
Otmar Varela
Karen Leonard
author_facet Naeem Bajwa
Thomas Tudor
Otmar Varela
Karen Leonard
author_sort Naeem Bajwa
collection DOAJ
description We propose a model for use in higher education after COVID-19 that addresses how to organize class methods for effective and efficient teaching outcomes for both students and instructors. Faculty have a finite amount of time that they may spend on their courses and must determine which time combinations produce the best outcomes. First, we discuss the key work-related challenges faced by faculty and contend that competing demands on faculty time result in inefficient allocation of their time and effort. We then model the issue as an optimization problem and illustrate through examples how to help faculty choose optimal method combinations along with time spent. We use time as a measure of effort and define which combination of methods might be most effective for achieving course learning objectives. There are opportunities for wider use of this methodology, as effective application of effort toward meeting the appropriate learning objectives should create better outcomes. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model, including how administrators can use it to support and encourage faculty.
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spelling doaj.art-d1c758fcc92d4f28ab5bc18a536416aa2024-02-23T15:14:20ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022024-01-0114212110.3390/educsci14020121Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed ModelNaeem Bajwa0Thomas Tudor1Otmar Varela2Karen Leonard3Department of Management, School of Business, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72205, USADepartment of Management, School of Business, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72205, USADepartment of Management, School of Business, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72205, USADepartment of Management, School of Business, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72205, USAWe propose a model for use in higher education after COVID-19 that addresses how to organize class methods for effective and efficient teaching outcomes for both students and instructors. Faculty have a finite amount of time that they may spend on their courses and must determine which time combinations produce the best outcomes. First, we discuss the key work-related challenges faced by faculty and contend that competing demands on faculty time result in inefficient allocation of their time and effort. We then model the issue as an optimization problem and illustrate through examples how to help faculty choose optimal method combinations along with time spent. We use time as a measure of effort and define which combination of methods might be most effective for achieving course learning objectives. There are opportunities for wider use of this methodology, as effective application of effort toward meeting the appropriate learning objectives should create better outcomes. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model, including how administrators can use it to support and encourage faculty.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/2/121teaching modelfaculty workloadteaching methodshigher educationtime and effort
spellingShingle Naeem Bajwa
Thomas Tudor
Otmar Varela
Karen Leonard
Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model
Education Sciences
teaching model
faculty workload
teaching methods
higher education
time and effort
title Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model
title_full Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model
title_fullStr Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model
title_full_unstemmed Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model
title_short Teaching in Higher Education after COVID-19: Optimizing Faculty Time and Effort Using a Proposed Model
title_sort teaching in higher education after covid 19 optimizing faculty time and effort using a proposed model
topic teaching model
faculty workload
teaching methods
higher education
time and effort
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/2/121
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