Available March 9 – 15, 2026
Note: Contact the Teaching and Learning Center to view this week’s session to receive password and link, send email to tlc@uthsc.edu
Teaching asynchronously can often feel isolating and exhausting. Without live interaction, it’s easy to feel disconnected from students, unsure if your efforts are making an impact, and at risk of burnout. Many educators struggle to maintain a sense of purpose and connection in their online courses, especially when trying to engage students who may seem distant or disengaged.
In this 20-Minute Mentor, educator and author Flower Darby offers a powerful solution. Drawing on the PERMA Theory of well-being and emotion science, she shares six research-informed strategies to help you bring joy, connection, and meaning back into your asynchronous teaching. You’ll learn how to humanize your course, foster positive emotions, and build strong student relationships—without needing to overhaul your content. Whether you’re feeling burnt out or simply want to improve your online teaching experience, this session provides the mindset and tools to help you thrive.
After viewing this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, participants will be able to:
- Identify the five elements of the PERMA Theory and their relevance to instructor well-being
- Explain how positive emotions influence student engagement and learning in asynchronous courses
- Describe common challenges of teaching asynchronously and strategies to overcome them
- Apply techniques to foster stronger student-instructor relationships online
- Create a more humanized, encouraging presence in online course materials and communication
TOPICS COVERED
- Apply the PERMA Theory to enhance online teaching well-being
- Cultivate positive emotions to support learning and motivation
- Build meaningful relationships in asynchronous environments
- Humanize your online presence through authentic communication
- Design engaging and enjoyable course activities
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Balance interaction with boundaries to protect instructor energy