The classroom is a dynamic environment, and it should be treated as such. As a teacher, you want to make an impact on your student’s learning experience, especially since your classroom brings together students with various abilities and personalities. If so, here is one high-impact teaching strategy that accelerates learning, which you can try- time tracking.
Improving academic achievements by time tracking
Research already shows that many of the teaching strategies you use have a positive impact on your students. However, some strategies have a much deeper impact than others. Incorporating technology in the classroom, for instance, is an excellent way to engage your students, especially with digital media surrounding them.
Since time matters for everyone, including teachers and students, it is becoming very common to find teachers, professors, and coaches using time tracking tools in the classroom. Why wouldn’t they? When you have a classroom full of students and a curriculum to follow, every distraction can prove fatal. Implementing time-tracking tools helps these educators create a friendlier atmosphere, where processes are improved, and paperwork is reduced.
Simply put, teachers use time-tracking tools to stay on course. You can do a lot in the preparation and execution of an upcoming lesson. But only a time tracking software can help you remain focused and deliver top-notch lectures without getting interrupted by the bell. Transferring knowledge to students is not easy. That’s where time-on-task tools such as asana time tracking come in.
With this technology integration, the teacher can define each lesson, prioritize, and organize the class around the essential tasks. With these objectives set, the teacher can become more flexible to distractions since things don’t always go as planned. In this case, scheduling a deviation after 30 minutes can help students refocus. Besides, time tracking tools help the teacher assess the time demands using a stopwatch application together with a plan for transition.
Establishing a specific time for each task to increase productivity
As a teacher, setting clear objectives and goals can help with flexibility and efficient working. With your priorities in mind, you can monitor your progress and stay on track even when an unexpected situation happens. Making a detailed time-table is an excellent way to ensure the lecture accomplishes the final goal.
The first thing you need to do when planning classes and materials is to estimate how long your students take to complete a task. Remember to be realistic about that, but also always remind your students of the time allocated for each task. If there is a need for a computer or projector, you can use the stopwatch feature available on most time management tools.
Set aside 10 minutes for warming up and getting your students focused, along with a short recap of the previous lecture. If your class lasts 60 minutes, then the core information transfer and presentation should last approximately 15 minutes. The next 15 minutes should go to discussions, and free practice with teachers’ guidance takes another 15 minutes. The last five minutes should go to wrapping up and assigning homework.
Your plan for transition time, periods, and other non-structured times should be ideal for students who may need help with homework or projects. Delaying the question to the end of the lesson is also an excellent way to manage time and help your students remain focused. However, if the lesson has a crucial point, which draws more attention or demands more explaining, then the teacher should encourage the students to ask questions during the lesson.
The impact of using a timer on teaching effectiveness
That brings us to the major challenges that teachers face and how time-on-task tracking helps avoid these hurdles. There are plenty of technology tools that can help lighten the burden for a teacher. If you are a teacher, then you know how essential it is to have good time management skills to finish your daily to-do list.
As a dedicated teacher, you are expected to transfer knowledge of certain quality and standards. It is no secret that effective time management skills help you become more productive and efficient as a teacher. The meaning of time management is not only doing more than doing more in less time but also performing to your level best within a limited period.
Using a time tracker enables the teacher to feel less overwhelmed at the end of a workday. That way, the teacher also has time to work on other projects like writing a book. This can not only improve their productivity but also reduce the toll on their overall health. Besides, using a timer allows you to become more punctual with your work, which will not only increase your teaching effectiveness but also help you earn a good reputation among your students.
In any case, when was the last time you had time to engage your students? If you want to meet the individual needs of your learners, use a time tracking tool to re-purpose the learning experience for your students by organizing your lecture around them. Ultimately this helps you create the perfect balance between giving a lecture and active learning.
Time-tracking to improve lessons flow and transition
In the end, you simply cannot avoid distraction and wasting time. When you are deep in your lecture, the last thing you want is something to throw you off your plan. Using a time-tracking tool allows you to maintain your workflow by making time for distraction and recovery.
As a teacher, you actively engage with multiple students at a time. Often, this means spending way too much time on a particular maintaining order in the classroom. However, time tracking is a simple technique that allows you to spend less time on keeping your student in check by planning smartly.
For example, after you start tracking time, you might notice that you spend more than 15 minutes getting your students settled. Such insights will help you identify areas that require improvement, and you can start finding a way to streamline the process by properly managing your students. More precisely, time tracking allows you to identify problems and make strategic plans to improve productivity.
Bottom line
One of the best pieces of advice for teachers is to reduce wasted time. Getting there is not an easy task. That is where time tracking tools for teachers come in to help in preparation for classes and the classroom. Remember to schedule breaks within your class and give your students time-controlled activities. Use a time tracking tool and anticipate interruptions but keep priority tasks on track.