Presenters:
Tima Nerlange, Rochelle Clark, and Abigale Thomas
Whether you are building a syllabus from scratch or refining it, this session empowers novice and experienced educators navigating the demands of course design by offering stress relief. Post-pandemic educators continue to face a myriad of challenges in today’s academic landscape marked by mounting stressors. Dadariya and Sahu (2025 identified key contributors to faculty stress, including heavy workloads, time constraints, administrative demands, inconsistent expectations, and a lack of routine self-care. Dabrowski et al. (2025) further highlighted increased pressure on educators to address student mental health needs without adequate training, resources, and institutional support. While these challenges persist, emerging research suggests that technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), can serve as a supportive partner rather than as an added burden. To prevent compassion fatigue and burnout, AI can be used as a partner collaborating with educators to facilitate course development and reduce time spent on mundane tasks. Almutairi (2025) underscores the need for systemic changes in teacher training to address technostress to enhance digital confidence and well-being. This session will explore the psychosomatic impact of chronic stress on educators and present AI as a proactive tool for self-care and workload management. Descriptions of how educator stress manifests over time will be detailed. A hands-on activity using AI will demonstrate a collaborative partnership aiding in the reduction of stress and explore how an AI partnership aids in reclaiming time. Attendees will leave with firsthand experience in leveraging AI to foster resilience and restore balance in their professional lives.
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