Give Me a Minute!

Teachers are busy. And rarely have more than a few minutes of “extra time.”

That’s the barrier I’m attempting to tackle lately – and, as always, I’m using my Design Thinking Coaching model to do it.

How can I provide meaningful ideas and strategies to teachers, without taking up too much of their time?

After analyzing the data from my Needs Assessment sent out in September and January, it became clear that teachers prefer to receive professional development in a way that doesn’t take up too much time. An overwhelming number of respondents – over 75% – expressed interest in receiving PD through instructional videos, tutorial documents, and self-paced courses.

This led me to create a Curriculum Technology Newsletter this fall, filled with PD opportunities, videos, links to online resources, etc. Because I use bit.ly URL Shortener to create links to the newsletter, videos, and resources, I could see which things were getting “clicks” and which were not. It seemed anytime I described something as “quick” or “short,” people clicked on it!

As a teacher, time is precious. Between planning, grading, conferencing with students, meeting with departments, admin, and parents – and SO much more – it can be difficult to find the time to sit and watch a 10 minute tutorial video during plan time. So, my goal was to create something that honored my teachers’ time.

What I came up with was Give Me A Minute. Each week, I will create a video or graphic of a quick, easy tool or idea that takes teachers no longer than one minute to watch or read. We’re not talking big, multi-step tutorials here. We’re talking taking tools they are likely already using, and showing them a new way to use – a feature they hadn’t noticed, a different way to use it with students, or a way to be more productive.

Give me a minute of your time, and I’ll give you an awesome tool or strategy you can use right away.

That’s my first video – using the Bookmarks Bar in Google Chrome to curate resources for a lesson. It’s nothing amazing or mindblowing – just a new way to use something you’re likely already familiar with.

Hopefully providing these Give Me A Minute resources will give teachers an entry point into other, more advanced forms of professional learning.

I’d love to hear how YOU are tackling the issue of time in your district or school! How do you deliver professional development that fits teachers needs and schedule?