DFI Session 2

DFI session 2: Workflow

This week we looked at our ways and tools to manage our workload. Tanya a teacher from up north came down and shared her knowledge on extensions that she and other Manaiakalnai use.

The first was Google Keep. This was an extension that allows for you to record notes from meetings, create shopping lists, set reminders and so much more. The great thing about Google Keep for me is that it organises everything in a simple and neat manner. Google Keep is also accessible on your phones, which means that you are able to make lists or notes and even take pictures. These pictures can also capture words from a text and transform them into a Google Doc. Both on the device and phone allows you to share your lists/notes with others which would be beneficial for any work meeting.


Another area we looked at was our Gmail and how we could better organise our inbox for the ever increasing emails we receive. We looked over labels and how these could be used to manage emails. Labels are a great way to store emails that relate to certain topics, for example, a label for your team meetings or an out of the classroom trip.

We also explored the settings in mail. We looked at ways that we could organise emails (configured emails) this allows emails to be organised into folders based on their importance and needs. The emails in the primary folder are the important ones that Google deems. You can change the emails by dropping them into the different folders, thus allowing the emails to be sent to those folders from then on.



One thing that I learnt and can't wait to use is the calendar button in the mail, this allows me to add dates into the calendar from the mail page. This will save me time and effort as I won't have to open another tab and open up the calendar.

Google calendar was another site we explored.  We looked at ways that we could view the calendar to help with viewing and making it easier on the eyes. We explored the colours and how these can help with assigning importance and meetings. I learnt how to use the letters on the keyboard as a shortcut when moving through the days, months, years etc.


Google Hangouts was a new tool that was introduced to me today. We were able to experience this through a chat with Dorothy who was out of the country at the time. Dorothy talked about the importance of Learn from the pedagogy. The most important things that came out of this for me was the reminder that technology is not just a tool, it is a way for us to accelerate student achievement. Another thing that was highlighted again for me is the term rewindable learning and how it is allowing students to have the ability to access learning.

We also learnt ways to manage our tabs. We were introduced to OneTab, Toby Mini and Session Buddy.  I really liked Toby Mini as it allows you to create folders with the tabs to go under. This will be great with organising subjects and sites to use.

I really enjoyed today's session as I was able to explore different extensions and sites that can help manage my workflow.