Wellness Dimensions Of Online Learning

12 Oct Wellness Dimensions Of Online Learning

Project Leader

Lamia Scherzinger, Senior Lecturer, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, United States

Project Collaborators

About the Project

We have applied the concept of online education to the eight dimensions of wellness: Physical, Emotional/Mental, Social, Intellectual, Environmental, Spiritual, Occupational, and Financial. We offer resources, artifacts, and inspiration to address each dimension when it comes to online education and how we can help improve or at the very least address that specific dimension in some way.

We have created a guide hosted online here: https://express.adobe.com/page/X0ht7YVpH5zCK/

Part 1—Narrative Places

Story of Self

I was one of the first 100% educators at my institution, starting back in 2011. Since then, I have become ‘the expert’ on my campus due to both my experience but also my continued effort to further my knowledge, skills, and abilities in the online education space. Though I miss being in the classroom, I feel my path has taken me to where I am now to help ensure high-quality, inclusive, and engaging online content for our students. 

Story of Us

That online teaching can be as good (and in many instances better) than F2F teaching if there is passion and effort given by the instructor; That we should always be looking for ways to improve our teaching; That online education connects us to the world in a way we could never have done in a physical space.

Story of Now

Ensuring high-quality, inclusive, and engaging work is being done across all online classes at my institution.

Part 2—Living Framework

Situate Story

With the quick move to emergency remote teaching in 2020, the focus on online learning is sharper now more than ever. However, due to the nature of the move that oftentimes resulted in poor course design and implementation, combined with the already existing viewpoint that online learning is inferior, the health of online learning is in need of some intervention.

At the same time, the change to online education has brought to light the inequalities that exist in access, both due to infrastructure as well as accessibility issues within the courses themselves.

Finally, we are going through momentous changes to our lives- a pandemic, political upheavals, racial strife, and environmental issues. These all have led us to the challenge of addressing the health and well-being of online learning and those that participate in it.

Define Story

Who are the local actors in this story?

Everyone involved in online learning- faculty, staff, instructional designers, administrators

Who are the global actors in this story?

Same as above but also then those involved in internet access in different countries, political figures and leaders, medical staff

What desirable actions do these local/global actors maintain?

There is some awareness and desire to improve the health and well-being of online learning, but oftentimes we get stuck on talking with little action. There has been a lot of talk around this area, but this leads us to undesirable actions.

What undesirable actions do these local/global actors maintain?

Too often we focus on talking points, creating committees, creating a plan of action, but then stopping there. We are hoping developing a resource such as this one will inspire others to take action and add on to our interactive Online Learning Wellness Dimensions.

How are these actions significant in local contexts?

Talking alone without action is significant in that it inhibits realisation of educational goals, limiting enlightenment and acquisition of knowledge since online, blended and digital learning exposes individual learners to broad knowledge platforms across the globe. Consequently, local exposure to opportunities which could impact local development in a sustainable manner is affected.

How are these actions significant in global contexts?

Opportunities to enhance local talent and to partner internationally for a sustainable world would be limited. Bilateral and multilateral partnerships could be affected due to ineffectiveness in the online, blended and digital learning environment since a country will hardly survive as an Island in today’s global village.

What motivates you to address these actions?

Each of us are involved in online learning and passionate about its future. We also are passionate about our students and their wellbeing. Finally, we are all going through a lot now and realize our wellness is being affected as well.

Why is new action necessary among the systems you define?

Not enough is being done, or at least not fast enough. Higher education tends to be very reactive and not proactive. We have a chance now to move forward as a proactive medium for education, but can’t let it pass us by.

Reimagine Story

What new action might you take to address this challenge?

Use the space below to brainstorm as many new actions as come to mind. Try for at least 3. Please feel free to copy and paste the template below for as many actions as you brainstorm. For each new action, please answer the sub-questions listed.

New Action Example 1

What new action might you take to address this challenge?

We are proposing an interactive Online Learning Wellness page that highlights each dimension of wellness and how it connects to digital learning in some way. We will have resources for participants to engage with, as well as videos/podcasts highlighting a story that connects with that particular aspect of wellness.

How might this action prove significant in your local context?

By having resources to use in their own classes, as well as the ability to share what resources they might have, we are breaking down the silos online instructors and course designers often work in.

How might this action prove significant in the global context?

Same as above, but now we are hoping to connect with those across the globe. We are teaching online so there is no physical boundary that separates us. We can connect and help each other as we move through this digital era.

What motivates you to undertake this action?

We are overwhelmed and we see this in our students and our colleagues. A resource like this might be able to help others find some relief, comradery, and resources that allows them to improve a specific aspect of their wellness.

How can global collaboration support this action?

Utilizing resources others have, as well as leaning into the passion they have for the digital space, we can grow this asset even more.

What resources do you need in order to act?

Website software, podcast software, video platform

Part 3—Antenarrative Inquiry

SDGs Connected

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 4: Quality Education

Craft

SDG 3: Good Health & Wellness

• How might new action bring about the aspirational vision of the world as contextualized by this SDG?
  • Through this project we are addressing the need to have strong health & wellness practices rooted in an environment that might be seen as too expansive (being online) to be able to carry out this work effectively. 
• Who will be responsible?
  • Each member of the group will contribute to 1 or more of the areas listed in the Wellness Dimensions Table:
    • Physical
    • Mental/Emotional
    • Intellectual
    • Social
    • Environmental
    • Spiritual
    • Occupational
    • Financial
• What opportunities exist for collaboration?
  • We discussed the possibility of allowing outside individuals to contribute their own resources that could be included in the webpage. This would later allow the resource to serve as a hub of continued learning. 
• Who will be affected?
  • Those working in online education that desire to enhance stability and support within the field. This can include those willing to create healthy teams and business models rooted in a multidimensional approach.
• Who will maintain the action? 
  • The core team of members will monitor and evaluate the different resources they have selected to start the project. It will be through our own lived experiences (elements of storytelling) that will aid in the longevity or relevance of our work. 
• What may success look like?
  • Feedback received and shared among those utilizing the resources we have compiled and how it is being used elsewhere. 
• What may impede success?
  • Because there are so many dimensions to explore, it may get complex to bring them all together in a way that supports our readers to see how they can connect/be implemented. 
• How will you collect feedback?
  • There will be a form located on the webpage that we create to house this information. 
• What ongoing resources are needed?
  • Website / Collection Form
  • Sources for the different elements of the wellness wheel
• If desirable, how may new action be sustained?
  • Podcasts and Videos of those willing to share their insight in the different areas could help/be added to sustain this initiative.

SDG 4: Quality Education 

• How might new action bring about the aspirational vision of the world as contextualized by this SDG?
  • Through this project we are addressing the need to have quality education in the digital space. Too often it is overlooked or perceived as secondary due to it being relatively new compared to traditional in-class education, the loose standardization surrounding it, and the lack of training that exists for instructors.
• Who will be responsible?
  • Each member of the group will contribute to 1 or more of the areas listed in the Wellness Dimensions Table:
    • Physical
    • Mental/Emotional
    • Intellectual
    • Social
    • Environmental
    • Spiritual
    • Occupational
    • Financial
• What opportunities exist for collaboration?
  • We discussed the possibility of allowing outside individuals to contribute their own resources that could be included in the webpage. This would later allow the resource to serve as a hub of continued learning. 
• Who will be affected?
  • Those working in online education that desire to enhance stability and support within the field. This can include those willing to create healthy teams and business models rooted in a multidimensional approach. 
• Who will maintain the action? 
  • The core team of members will monitor and evaluate the different resources they have selected to start the project. It will be through our own lived experiences (elements of storytelling) that will aid in the longevity or relevance of our work. 
• What may success look like?
  • Feedback received and shared among those utilizing the resources we have compiled and how it is being used elsewhere. 
• What may impede success?
  • Because there are so many dimensions to explore, it may get complex to bring them all together in a way that supports our readers to see how they can connect/be implemented. 
• How will you collect feedback?
  • There will be a form located on the webpage that we create to house this information. 
• What ongoing resources are needed?
  • Website / Collection Form
  • Sources for the different elements of the wellness webpage
• If desirable, how may new action be sustained?
  • Podcasts and Videos of those willing to share their insight in the different areas could help/be added to sustain this initiative. 

Craft (cont.)

We have created a guide that we hope is immediately useful to people in various roles across online learning (i.e. students, teachers, staff, faculty, administrators).

Analyze

Perhaps the greatest ‘new idea’ to emerge through our storytelling work was simply the realization that the concept of wellness spans local, national, and global boundaries. The commonalities and differences among our group members was stark and inspiration for the categories and tools we eventually created. 

Share

We have created a guide hosted online here: https://express.adobe.com/page/X0ht7YVpH5zCK/

Please comment, share, like, remix, and reach out to us to help continually improve the tool!