Digital Efficiency

Let’s face it, teaching is a profession that at times can be overwhelming and stressful.  Sometimes, it seems as though there is not enough time in a day to get everything done.  After nine years of teaching, I have through trial and error developed a system that seems to help me stay on top of my game.  There are many things I love about my profession but as with any other occupation, there are always those little things that get under my skin.  The greatest is the grading of papers and the time spent returning them. Another irking situation is the perpetual loss of papers.  There is nothing more frustrating than getting students ready to take a quiz and not remembering where it was put. 

1.    Organize your digital life.

Studies have shown that nearly 2/3 people spend roughly 30 minutes a week looking for lost.  (Daniels, 2014)  Clean up your computer by making folders and organizing your files by lesson, unit, or whatever works best for you.  I personally, have a folder for each course I teach and inside, is a folder for each unit, and even further, by lesson.  Does this mean I have the same file in multiple locations?  Of course!  This is a system that works for me but of course there are other methods of organization. While this may require a few hours of work up front, the time saved in the long term will be well worth it.

2.    Capitalize on the Cloud.

My district has recently shifted to using a cloud-based storage system: Microsoft 365.  Cloud based storage allows you to access your files from anywhere.  Furthermore, with Microsoft 365, teachers can share different files with different students which allows for diversified instruction.  You can assign work to students based on their interests, abilities, or accommodations.  What I also love about cloud-based work like Microsoft 365 is my ability to access student work on these shared files and check in on projects as they progress.  If a student is moving in a direction that does not support the objective, I can intervene and get them back on course.   One of the new digital trends in technology is the shift towards online collaboration.  With platforms like 365 or Google Drive, students can work on documents simultaneously.  Another bonus- the students’ work is saved automatically as they work.

3.    Find a way to digitize your turn in and feedback procedures.

My district, like many others uses an online gradebook.  This is great in that it is accessible from any location.  There are several sites and apps out there that are helpful in this.  Turnitin.com is a great place for students to submit work. The site automatically scans the submitted work for possible situations of plagiarism, allows for randomized online peer review, and grading by teachers.  Teachers can create rubrics on this site and also host engaging discussions.  If you a looking to have students take a quiz with instant feedback, check out Socrative.  This site allows you to create quizzes that automatically grade giving students instant feedback.  While developing these assignments can be initially time consuming, they can be saved and reused in the future.  If you aren’t too keen on having all your assignments in different places, consider using a platform such as Edmodo, Google Education, or Classdojo.  These platforms allow you to post documents in folders, make announcements, administer quizzes, and have students submit work.  Working with Edmodo, there are several apps you can add to make the content more engaging.

Where am I in this?  Currently, I feel pretty good about my organization using Microsoft 365 and Edmodo platforms.  Where would I like to go?  Next year, I have several students completing a Work Study with me in AP European History and to streamline their course and to work and make it student driven and self-paced, an online course.  Having taught the course before, I can use the digital resources to transfer the assignments to an online course platform like Canvas.  By using these platforms, I can administer quizzes and assignments in an efficient manner and also encourage deeper learning through self-driven curriculum.  Each module can focus on a unit or chapter within the assigned text and the final assessment can be a student created project of their choice.  My goal is to have this site set up and running by the end of summer and have students engage throughout the year.  If all goes well, perhaps, I will convert all of my other courses to a similar platform.

            The key to this is staying organized.  Does it have to be digital?  Of course not, but the one semester I had a paperless classroom, I was able to spend more time working with students individually and giving feedback rather than making copies that I will have to hunt for at some point in time.  I was also able to cover more material faster and students were able to access any and all materials from the course page when they were absent.  The whole frustration of dealing with catching a student up was eliminated as they could take their learning into their own hands.

 References:

Adams, S. (2014, November 03). Microsoft 365 in the classroom. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TrAJDMpcr0

Daniels, L. (2014, March 24). 8 ways for teachers to save time in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/8-ways-teachers-save-time-classroom/ 

Davis, V. (2013, December 23). 18 epic productivity apps. Retrieved from http://www.coolcatteacher.com/best-productivity-apps/ 

Davis, V. (2015, July 28). Essential habits of an excellent educator. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/essential-habits-excellent-educator

Galan, C. (2013, August 27). Time management: Planning for the adventure. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/time-management-planning-the-adventure-clara-galan 

Google. (n.d.). Google apps for education: Common questions. Retrieved from https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019?hl=en

Ledesma, P. (2011, May 16). Are educators ready for cloud computing in schools? Retrieved from http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/leading_from_the_classroom/2011/05/are_you_ready_ for_cloud_computing_in_schools.html?r=64413797&preview=1 

Microsoft. (n.d.). Microsoft Office in education. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/enus/education/products/office/default.aspx

Schrock, K. (2013, May 1). Work smarter, not harder. Retrieved from http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2013/05/01/work-smarter-not-harder/

The Art Tech Teacher. (2011, August 10). How to use Edmodo in your classroom. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCfnb9vTPSo