Organizing your space
I try to put everything into a plastic file cabinet for each course I teach. It is portable, easy to organize and I have all the tests, answers, quizes, hand outs and assigments all in one quick and easy access. I keep only the originals and copy them for distribution as needed.
I have my materials prepared in advance, by using folders as well. I give my students a due date and time for their assignments. I update the students folders and return them to them in the same session. The students appreciate their work back in a timely fashion and it allows me to not need as much clerical time.
Elizabeth, Yes, keeping things organized helps instructors on a few fronts. First and foremost, it's really nice to be able to know where everything is. However, your organization system is also noticed but your students, fellow faculty and administration. Giving each of these groups the perception that you are handling things well can help a lot too.
Dr. Melissa Read
I agree, the more you keep organized the better you operate as an instructor and plus your students know you are "with it" too.
Helps for a less stressful environoment too.
It is so important to keep a clean and organized work place. Not only for myself but whom I share the office with. the students also notice how organized I am by the way my office looks and says a lot about me when it is clean. It makes it easier to find things and get things for students too when it is set up properly.
In a perfect world, I would have an office and be able to organize all of my stuff; however, even after over 20 years, I have only a small space and 2 shelves of a file cabinet. What may look like a mess to some folks, is an organized mess to me. I know where anything is at a moment's notice. I do work on it from time to time, but with no place to keep books, paperwork, folders, and the like, I do the best with what I have.
I do feel that one should have a orgaize space, but this is not always an option. I have had to bring all my items to class with me. The back of my care has a small file box for all my handouts. I have taken a little corner and made it my space it helps.
I do this exact same thing and it works perfect for me! I am an adjunct instructor, so I do not have an office space on-campus. I have 2 portable plastic tubs in my car trunk - one for textbooks and one for my plastic folders. I have a separate plastic expandable folder for each of my classes. There are 15 or so slots in these expandable folders, and this gives me the space to house tests, quizzes, lesson plans, syllabi, and other handouts. When it is time for me to teach that particular class, I just grab the expandable folder that I have labeled for that section and can easily take it with me into class with all the materials I need. Great way to stay organized.
