Author: Nabeelah Bulpitt
Posted: 10 May 2017
Estimated time to read: 4 mins
We know that as educators you’ve got a lot on your plate - there’s always something that gets added onto your to-do list, and it can be daunting when your pile of work keeps growing. This is why we’ve scoured the internet and found some apps that can not only help you to manage your workload, but to increase your productivity, so you can gain back some of your precious time and get back to focusing on what matters most.
Here are our favourite apps for productivity:
1. Trello
What is it?
Trello is a free website and app that helps you to manage and maintain your workload. You can use it as your own online To-do List or create a board to use with colleagues when working on joint projects.
How it works?
You create cards that act as pending tasks to which you can attach files, videos and photos. When working on a group board you can create a checklist where tasks can be marked as complete. On these cards you can comment and provide feedback. The platform works in real time, so as soon as you make an update, create a new task or leave a comment, your colleagues will be notified of it right away.
Trello could provide your school with a level of visibility and collaboration that they may not currently have, promote a healthy work-life balance and encourage staff to be more productive. Being able to see just how much work everyone has on could encourage an even distribution of tasks and allow SLT to see where help is needed.
Cost: Free
2. Slack
What is it?
Slack is an online communication platform for you and your colleagues that can help increase productivity and improve communication.
How it works?
With Slack you can either have one-to-one conversations with colleagues or set-up channels for particular staff members, which can be public or private. It’s a great way to give all staff updates and brainstorm ideas without having to fight for a meeting room as well as keeping up-to-date on events occurring within your team and throughout the school.
Having the app on your phone means you are instantly notified when someone has contacted you and saves information from getting lost in an email chain. Slack can be integrated with numerous platforms ranging from Twitter to Google Drive. Documents and images can be uploaded, and messages and uploads can be ‘pinned’ for you to export whenever and wherever you need.
Rather than running around and trying to locate the whereabouts of a particular staff member or sending email after email, sending over a message on Slack will save a noticeable amount of time.
Cost: Free for small teams
3. Google Drive
What is it?
Google Drive enables you to create folders, upload files, save, share, organise and manage them all in one place.
How it works?
Google Drive is an online document app directory and file-sharing storage platform. In Drive you can create documents, spreadsheets and powerpoints that are all stored in the cloud. This means you no longer have to worry about backing up your work, you can simply create a document in Drive or upload your work there.
With Drive you can share documents with colleagues where you can allow them the option to make comments and suggestions further encouraging the sharing of best practice and creating a forum for discussion.
Google Drive is free and works to save both time and money as everything you need can be found in one place. You can gain access wherever you are by downloading either the Google Drive app, or the individual applications.
Cost: Free
4. Notability
What is it?
Notability is an iOS app that can be used for note taking, PDF annotation and sketching ideas. It provides the ability to simultaneously research and make notes on the text that you’re working on, access and read through a textbook, or keep up to date with the latest developments in education by watching lectures and CPD videos.
How it works?
Notability works on both iPhones and iPads. In addition to providing a note taking platform, its Audio Recordings allow you to both record meetings and provide feedback to colleagues. The app syncs to all of your devices which means you can gain access to recordings and notes whenever you need to. They provide a stronger and more innovative means of communication, saving you time in hunting down colleagues and trying to prompt email responses.
Cost: £4.49 from the iTunes store
5. Neeto
What is it?
Neeto is a free quiz builder that allows you to browse through thousands of teacher-made quiz questions and answers. You can then present the quiz in whiteboard mode or print it out as a PDF.
How it works?
Neeto works in three simple steps:
- Search a topic (eg. Romeo & Juliet, energy, percentages)
- Add to an existing quiz OR create a new one
- Publish (present in whiteboard mode, make a printable PDF or export to your learning platform)
Cost: Free
Next: 'Making the Leap' - Thoughts on Networking & CPD by Jill Berry