Topic Area: Pandemic Pivot
Presented By: Crista Reaves, Michael Martel
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a swift transition to online learning that left students emotionally distressed secondary to isolation, disruption in routine, and navigating how to learn virtually. The stress students were under was often palpable in the virtual classroom setting. Creating an online environment that supported students’ mental health and self-care was a priority for the course faculty.
To address student mental health in the course, a widget was created on the D2L course homepage providing students with quick access to counseling and psychiatric service contact information. A mental health and self-care resource module were also created within the D2L course, providing students with self-care resources, mindfulness videos and instructions, and the MSU CAPS resources.
To promote and support mental health and self-care during online synchronous theory, faculty would pause halfway through lectures to guide students through a mindfulness exercise. Examples of the mindfulness exercises utilized were guided imagery, stretching, deep breathing, turning negative to positive thoughts, and music. The goal was to educate students on a variety of mental health self-care techniques allowing students the opportunity to deploy the technique they found most beneficial when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or distressed. Having course faculty teach and demonstrate the techniques during theory communicated to the students the importance, value, and need for self-care.
The hope is to continue supporting mental health by improving the self-care techniques offered during theory and to share our lessons learned with other faculty seeking to implement similar strategies to promote mental health and self-care.
Mindfulness Exercises Incorporated During Theory
- Guided Imagery
- Deep Breathing
- 5-Square Breathing
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- The 5 Senses
- Resource Sharing
- Laughter
- Dancing
- Yoga
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (turning negative thoughts to positive)
- Grateful Journaling Exercise (journal 5 things you are grateful for)