Did you grow up knowing the ins and outs of a
PC, but now feel the social allure of a Mac? Love your iPhone but your cousin
swears by Anroid? Microsoft is your “suite” spot, but Google docs seems the
wave of the future? Go for it all! But your
tech must be a good fit for you. I have recently seen more education-related
websites, apps, and app add-ons than in the entirety of my career to date. The
two questions I continually revisit are, 1) is this technology truly new and
beneficial, and 2) do I have a productive need or desire for this technology
that is not already fulfilled? If I can answer “yes” to one or both questions,
I invest at least an additional five minutes discovering the resource.
If I don’t have a goal set forth before I sit down at my computer or peek at my
device, then I will procrastinate, guaranteed. When entering the rabbit hole of
social media or e-mail, I often set a small goal, such as, “I will discover an
uplifting article about parenting and re-post it,” or “I will send a note of
encouragement to a friend.” Even our procrastination can become productive with
tiny goals laid out. Here are five additional ideas that teachers and
administrators alike could develop to increase our roles as effective leaders.
1. Shortcut Keys. I know this sounds
trite, but I’ve come to realize that most people use a mouse or trackpad for
the majority of tasks that could be done with shortcut keys. Remember Henry
Ford and the assembly line…the fewer times we touch something, the greater our
productivity. Search for “PC or Mac shortcut keys” to find a one-sheet that you
can keep handy until the strokes come right off your fingertips.
2. Google Calendar. Chief among the
growing conglomerate of Google products is the calendar, especially for those
who lead multi-faceted lives as teachers, parents, spouses, and perhaps have
other careers that need managing outside of education. In my own household, we manage,
share, and/or subscribe to six separate calendars (each with beautifully
color-coding). The Edmond North Orchestra calendar that I manage is also
visible on our orchestra website, and families can link into it for their own
viewing and immediate updates. Google Calendar also sends notifications and
reminders.
3. Twitter. If you are not using
Twitter as a professional learning resource, begin today. An article like this
is only the tip of the continued learning and productivity iceberg.
4. Clean. This has nothing to do
with technology, but it is worth every bit of time. An organized space begets
organized thoughts. Take the time, every time, to establish an organized
workspace, and include your device views and organization of your apps as well.
The productivity in ideas and palpable knowledge will far outpace the cost in
time.
5. Take It With You. Evernote, Google Keep,
and now even Apple Notes are all apps that allow us to organize and keep lists
and related photos, e-mails, and documents in our pockets. Whatever works for
you (please share!), download it, and take it with you. I can sneak three
minutes in a grocery checkout line reading on my Kindle app. Unlimited podcasts
suited for numerous interests drive along with me on my 26-minute commute. We
don’t always have to be productive, but I am certain we will have greater space
for leadership and creativity when we are!
