It’s the first day after the 30-day blogging challenge I just finished with my friends, and what am I doing? I’m blogging. I guess 30-day habits die hard.

I mentioned in one of my blog posts that I’m working on a book on more sustainable educational technology practices for teachers and academics.  My friend, Anna, asked if I meant environmental sustainability or life sustainability.  The simple answer is the latter rather than the former. But more than just sustaining our lives, I hope to approach my use of technology as a way for teachers and academics to thrive.

So, if I’m going to write this book, let me share some thoughts on how technology has helped me to thrive as an academic since it will help me to also further organize and sort through my thoughts as I’m presenting them to you.  Today, I’ll start with these 3 tips to thriving with technology use as an academic:

1. My LMS is my best friend

A learning management system (LMS) is a standard 1-stop platform in academic settings.  All LMS platforms have their advantages and disadvantages including the one my university currently uses.  But, I have made it my mission to make my LMS my best friend.  This has been wonderful.  In doing so, I’ve been able to reach out to the company that designed our LMS, and get information on how to embed my Twitter feed; I never have to recreate my course from scratch, and can import files I need from other courses in seconds (such a huge timesaver) to adapt or update; my students get access to all the information they need in a timely manner; and everything is in one place.  In the semesters when I’m really on top of it, I can set up my flipped modules to release automatically so that I’m not trying to remember to do it at a specific time each week.

2. My social media game is strong and specific

I use Twitter for my professional network.  I have a Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram account, and have used several of those social media platforms in the past to connect to my professional work, but I focus my professional interactions on Twitter.  I participate in specific Twitter chats that have helped me build up a professional network. I keep in contact with former students; tweet resources for educators and teacher educators; I live tweet from conferences. I also let my students know that Twitter is one of the fastest ways to reach me and integrate opportunities to Tweet and establish networks in class. But, I’m also not on Twitter all the time when I’m on breaks from school.  I am intentional with my Twitter use and it’s helped me to connect with amazing educators (K-12 & higher ed) that keep me motivated and focused professionally.

3. I am learning to set boundaries on my tech use

This is a hard tip for me because this one does not come naturally.  But, if you want to thrive, you can’t be available 24/7.  I’ve begun engaging in more mindful technology practices like those named by David Levy in his book Mindful Tech.  Levy’s exercises have helped me to become more focused on my use of e-mail and reign in my tendency to multi-task.  I am trying to communicate these boundaries with students and give myself more time to respond, even if my natural tendency is to see a notification and take care of it before it even gets on my to-do list.  It’s a slow process, but, I remind myself that, moving from an “as immediate as possible” response rate to a 24-hour response rate isn’t slacking. Instead, it’s building in greater personal sustainability and setting a foundation to use tech as a tool to support my goals rather than being enslaved to those red notification numbers.

This is a starting post, for this book that I’m working on writing.  Would love your feedback, thoughts, tips and tricks (or questions) about how technology helps you to thrive in your work and life (or how you wish it would but it doesn’t)! Comment below if you have thoughts…