Read in a healthier way: While print books are better for your circadian rhythm, e-readers are formatted in a way (text size, page layout and lighting (dimmer/less blue light than tablets)) to be a close second (certainly better than computers and tablets). And if you can 'read' by listening, you can move while you read (and take notes via audio clips (which can sync with an e-reader copy of the text) as you do)! (This will allow you to convert your audio notes readily to your text copy for highlighting, adding notes, etc.)

Research/Write more efficiently: You can save audio clips (Audible has this functionalilty) and/or highlights and notes from your reading on an e-reader. With the latter, a file of your highlights and notes can be exported from your e-reader and readily used for later reference/writing.

This column just touched on the capacities of e-readers to enhance learning. They can also be used to foster collaboration in the classroom (through shared notes/quotes and highlights), look up words as you read, create flashcards, show pronunciation guides above Chinese characters (handy for Acupuncture & Chinese medicine?), improve accessibility and retention (through text-to-speech) and more...

As lives move more online, time spent typing increases exponentially it seems. How can you type more strategically? Herein I will share a few strategies to consider:

Use dictation software to create your text. You may still need to edit what is dictated a bit, but in time these tools can get more efficient... and they save you typing so much and are often faster (depending on your typing skills). Mac systems have a built-in dictating tool under 'Stickies'> Edit> Start Dictation. You can then cut and paste your text from the Sticky into any screen/field (see more on Stickies in the next strategy). PCs have a dictation tool as well. There are also a plethora of softwares for dictation (such as DragonDictate). In Canvas, you can also record audio (or video feedback).

Keep comment/note banks in a Word document or Sticky for grading or for frequent questions, resources and administrative details (Mac Sticky User Guide & Sticky note for PC User Guide). These have the advantage of hovering over a screen and floating as you go back and forth from different tabs/views. They can be saved and used in future and can be color coded (I keep separate colors for each course that I teach, for administrative tasks, etc.).

Use a tool to encode frequently typed words, phrases or longer sections of text Bonni Stachowiak (Teaching in Higher Ed) has an informative blog post on such a tool (TextExpander) with a few Demo videos.

- This tool, and similar tools, can be a bit of an investment to set up, but can certainly pay off over time...and keep your musculoskeletal system healthier!

on the go, plain or dot pages to permit text and/or drawing entries, and page numbers (or a willingness to add these yourself)).

I find it very helpful to keep track of many disparate ideas, tasks and plans within my work and beyond. Periodically (I find once a week works) you can review the daily log and separate out entries into different parts (explained below) to track progress, tasks to do and more. And then each month, the monthly log and task lists are to be reviewed. This saves time and lowers the threshold to tracking these things elsewhere (as one often doesn't have the right journal or file or list with you to separate out and elaborate on these ideas or notes in the moment).

The method consists of dividing up your journal into the following key parts (index, future log, monthly log & task list, daily log and collections (can be books to read, projects, goals, mind map, gratitude log, exercise log, food log,...). You can learn more about it and the key symbols to use in journaling in the video and tutorials created by its founder, Ryder Carroll.

you too and establishing connections versus putting up walls against being imposed upon or overwhelmed).

My latest experiments with this principle in teaching have been to provide student appointments with an e-booking app (Office 365's 'Booking App'). The booking will populate in your Outlook calendar. For more instructions, see below.