As online and distance learning (ODL) instructors, managers or members of support teams in the current pandemic, we are challenged with a multitude of demands on our time and energy. A central responsibility right now is providing care and support for students and ensuring that they feel safe and secure in their new online learning environments, or supporting teachers so that they are in a position to provide that care. Many of us must also care for our children and/or other family members during the lockdown, in addition to carrying out teaching and other work activities from home. Most importantly, though, we need to find the time and space for self-care: focusing on ensuring that one stays strong and healthy in order to care for others.

During this session, our panel of experts will talk about the topic of care and self-care, particularly within online and distance learning environments. Joining our panel of experts will be Deborah Arnold from AUNEGe in France, Dr. Paul Prinsloo from the University of South Africa, Eszter Salamon from Parents International in The Netherlands, and Dr. Jane Brindley from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.   Moderating the session will be Dr. Don Olcott, Jr., Global Higher Education Consultant from Romania. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar!

What would you like a post-pandemic world to look like?’ (and my answer will be in terms of the tension between emergency/survival mode and planning ahead/mobilising to change the things which need to be changed). Which itself relates to your essay on leadership, but also I think to the whole self-care angle.

Deborah Arnold is National and International Projects Coordinator, Digital University for Economic Management (AUNEGe), France Deborah has over 20 years’ experience in the field of transnational collaboration to support the transformation of learning and teaching through the use of digital technology and media. From 2010 to 2016 she served on the Executive Committee of EDEN (European Distance and E-learning Network) and held the position of Vice- President Communication (2015-2016). She is a Senior Fellow of EDEN and currently serves on the Board of the EDEN Fellows Council. Deborah has a Masters degree in media production, journalism and communication from the University of Burgundy, and is currently completing a PhD on the topic of digital education leadership in higher education at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

How does one scale, care?

Dr. Paul Prinsloo  is a Research Professor in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in the Department of Business Management, in the College of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa (Unisa). In 2019, the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa awarded Paul with a B3 rating confirming his considerable international reputation for the high quality and impact of his research outputs. He is also a Fellow of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) and serves on several editorial boards. His academic background includes fields as diverse as theology, art history, business management, online learning, and religious studies. Paul is an internationally recognised speaker, scholar and researcher and has published numerous articles in the fields of teaching and learning, student success in distance education contexts, learning analytics, and curriculum development. His current research focuses on the collection, analysis and use of student data in learning analytics, graduate supervision and digital identity.

How do I balance care for my students with self-care? What kinds of institutional support for online teaching should I expect?