Organization
I find that when I am most organized that I procrastinate less. When we create more work for ourselves we are more likely to put it off. Where as when it is easy and available we feel a better sense of compeltion in our future. Post it notes are one of my favorite uses of tasks/to-do lists. When I see them listed or "stuck" to my wall I am reminded of them and can clearly identify what needs to be done.
As a seasoned instructor i have my system of organization that works for me, i have piles on my desk at the end of the day all piles are gone and my desk is clean for the next day. I keep students exams and quizzes in a coloured folder and perge them at the end of the term. I am stressed if i have too many things on my desk so i find i work better if i limit the piles. In my personal life i have to be organized, my planner is my life line, it is the first thing i look at each morning to organize my day.
I teach a multitude of different classes. I have a 3-ring binder for every class with my instructor guide, task lists, handouts, etc. all laid out by tab seperators. I have all the most important info highlighted and described if needed. I have hand written notes laid out in the text as to when to show videos or pass out activities. Any issues that arise during a class, I type up or print out copies of information to deal with the issues and include them in the guide at the appropriate place.
With all of this done, I can easily teach the class after being away from it for an extended time. I also make these binders available to other instructors to use if they desire. Most of them come to me and tell me how easy it was to teach the class using my books and that they want to copy my ideas.
When organized to the max, it makes it much easier to handle situations and to work on improvement ideas for the future. It also allows you to take a day off if needed and know that the lesson is being taught correctly.
Just goes to show you that instructors can evolve over time to be more productive and efficient. Challenges that we face when we are new are overcome and as we mature in our roles, we are able to accomplish tasks far more smoothly.
When I first started teaching, organization was one of my biggest challenges. Like a lot of people, change is a difficult thing to work with. Now that I have developed my system, things go so much more smoothly. I have a file box that I keep all of my course paperwork in (attendance, labs, and tests). Then at the end of the course, if I need to show any student why their grade is what it is I know exactly where to find it.
Yes I agree that you have to keep up with organization of your work and work station. I am very organized with my work but my work area may seem to other's that I am not.I know where every thing is located. I have all the intentions of cleaning my work area, but something always comes up. So I will try to make a to do list regarding my work area to see if that would help. How can I accomplish this task when very little time to do so.
Yes I agree with you being organized is very imporant and doing the right is important to.
Sometimes it seems that we don't want to make lists and prioritize because it takes time to do those things and that's what we don't have enough of already. It does help to manage our time better and doesn't it feel good to cross those items off the to do list!!
I like the idea of tailoring a system to your personality Mary. I think many instructors adopt the systems that they see other people using effectively. It's nice to learn from others, but we really have to know ourselves to know if a system is going to work well for us.
This is where it is important to develop a system. Just organizing is helpful but only for a short period of time unless you also develop a system...taylored to you and your personality. This is where knowing yourself if important. If lists don't work even after you have tried multiple times, then lists aren't for you.
For example, I am absentminded and therefore have developed a system using a planning book that I can glance at in a second and get an idea of how busy I am. If it isn't in the book, it doesn't happen, and it only works with a certain type of planner that fits my querks. My system is putting everything there without exception no matter if I think I will remember it or not.
You develop the system by trial and error but the trick is being consistent and picking a system that is easy to remember and become a habit. It must be simple and doesn't require any work...because you won't do it (or should I say...follow through with it) if it does.
So try a few things to get a system. And good luck.
Mary Ann Bulcher
Yes, organization doesn't just require an initial investment. It requires regular upkeep too.
I agree, when I am organized, I have less troubles with procrastination and things seem to flow better for me. My only problem is STAYING organized.
I feel that having a precise itinerary as it relates to organization with plenty of extras that may not be achievable but acceptable if not in the over all picture of success will help one to achieve more in shorter period of time.
I think you make a really important point here Mary. Often times, our biggest strengths are our biggest weaknesses. Recognizing that is an important step to understanding who we are and how we can be most effective.
I have "to do" lists at home and at work. I keep them where I can access them easily and refer to them frequently. It feels so good to cross something off of the list. I feel like I'm actually accomplishing something.
My challenge is that I have to organize in order to feel in control. The more disorganized I am, the less in control I feel and the more anxious I get about missing important tasks.
The result is that I organize everything, and I'm very good at it too. It is one of my strengths. However, even strengths can become weaknesses. I am forgetful and absentminded and so my organizastion keeps me on task and prevents me from forgetting things or getting distracted. However, sometimes I just keep organizing when I should be doing more important tasks. Then organization becomes a problem.
Over the past year, I've been starting to realize that sometimes, my organization waists a lot of time if not done prudently and wisely. So, having also the imperfection of being a perfectionist, I've been trying to make myself do tasks without first organizing when that task is more important and urgent and can't wait for me to organize. I have a ways to go yet as I learn balance because I need organization to survive due to the fact that I would qualify as "an absentminded professor".
Mary Ann
Sometimes I get so many tasks to do I just don't know what to do first. It seems all of my tasks are important and I have a hard time deciding which is most important.
Yes, for many instructors, post it notes are the organization method of choice. To your point, we can put them in places that are hard for us to later ignore!
