Multitasking of Teachers in the Contemporary Settings: Boon or Bane?

Abstract

The purpose of this undertaking was to describe the multitasking of teachers in the workplace. Employing phenomenological approach with 15 teachers, in-depth interviews and focus group discussion were conducted which revealed that multitasking of teachers in the workplace is prevalent. Three major themes of multitasking of teachers as experienced emerged, such as self-sacrifice, personal and career challenge and personal growth and development. Multitasking of teachers in the workplace affected all facets of the teachers’ lives, their time management, prioritizing task and multitasking being the emergent themes as consequences of teachers multitasking in the workplace. The participants of the study had different approaches in coping with the experience, through strengths and perseverance, industry, faith in oneself and faith in God. Based on the results of the study, it came out that most of the teachers doing multitasking in the workplace enjoyed and continued the work flow that comes from switching one tasks to another and considered it as the most productive way when stimulated with a variety of task. In view of the above, school heads hold a unique position in our society and have a special obligation to foster cognitive and non-cognitive activities which inspire the multitasking teachers to continue to refuel their experiences to become more productive and successful in their fields of endeavours, and to widen their insights on how to conquer the task and responsibilities assigned to them as they go along the journey of their professional careers.