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9 Tech Resolutions for Teachers to Make in the New Year

You are here: Home / TOOLS & TIPS / 9 Tech Resolutions for Teachers to Make in the New Year
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Teachers should consider these 9 tech resolutions to help take advantage of technology to work smarter (not harder) and protect data on school computers in the new year!

What would you add, take away, or tweak on this list? Join the conversation on my Instagram and read more tips and suggestions in this post!

1. Go Inbox Zero

Yes, clear out your school email account and set up a filtering system to maintain a zero – or close to it – inbox this new year.

School emails are overwhelming. For one, you are probably signed up for ads, newsletters, and spam emails just by nature of having an edu account. Remove these emails quickly by unsubscribing and then mass deleting them. Depending on your email server, the tool may be called something different, but for my Outlook Account, I use a sweep tool to make a rule that deletes all like-emails to one I specify. You can easily delete several hundred of these emails that way.

Next, set a rule or filter that automatically moves emails from your principal, colleagues and parents into specified folders. These are emails you will typically read and may want to save so by already having them out of your inbox, you save yourself a step.

Turn off any auto-emailing notifications from other accounts such as calender, Google Drive, social media accounts, etc.

Finally, do not be afraid of deleting emails! In the very rare chance you need it and it can’t be resent, most email trash bins will save deleted emails for a period of time to be “dug up” if needed. I have yet to be in a situation where I deleted and then needed an email months and months later.

2. Organize Desktop or Drive Folders

No more random programs, files, and images scattered all over your desktop or Drive this year, ok?

If you like everything in its place, use a desktop organizer and stay commited to dragging items into the correct places.

View this post on Instagram

Some people call it procrastination but I call making this desktop organizer self-care! {Free – Link in Profile} #teacherorganization #rainboworganization

A post shared by Erin Flanagan (@erintegration) on Mar 1, 2018 at 8:47am PST

You can grab the ones I use above for FREE here.

You can also pretty up folders with colors and icons. Windows users right-click onto the folder and choose Properties > Customize. Mac users click the folder and choose “Get Info.”

View this post on Instagram

I received tons of questions about my desktop folder icons, so here's a quick tutorial for my fellow Mac people! 1️⃣ First, create an icon in PowerPoint. Make sure it fills the entire page. 2️⃣ Next, make sure all of the images and text boxes are grouped together. To group, make sure all the images/boxes are selected or highlighted. Right click and copy the entire image directly from PowerPoint. 3️⃣ Then right-click the file folder you want to edit. 4️⃣ Select "Get Info." 5️⃣ Click on the small folder icon first and then hit paste. 6️⃣ Buh-bye ugly blue folders. #byefelicia . . Fonts Used: AG On Fleek (Amy Groesbeck fonts on TPT), Markus the Cow (dafont.com) and Sweet Peony (Etsy).

A post shared by Amy Groesbeck (@theamygroesbeck) on Jul 13, 2017 at 6:40pm PDT

Color-coded Google Drive files make your drive look good but will also help with future organization. Ladybug Teacher Files takes it next level.

View this post on Instagram

We’ve had several snow days lately so I thought I should actually be productive today 😉 Reorganized my Drive and worked on a lesson planning template in Google Slides…I figured I was using Google Drive so much already I might as well store my plans there too. Will share more with you if it works out well! How do you keep your lesson plans? #googledrive #technologyintheclassroom #classroomorganization #classroommanagement #iteachfourth #iteach4th #iteach456

A post shared by Kristen (@ladybugsteacherfiles) on Jan 17, 2018 at 4:43pm PST

3. Digitize Lesson Plans, Calendars, and Notes if Possible

I write “if possible” because I understand different schools have varying access to digital. If your school WiFi is wonky or you do not have access to reliable equipment or software, then I recommend doing the best you can. By digitizing administrative documents when possible, you reduce clutter and the stress associated with it, make sharing easier, and lessen the chances of misplacing an important note.

If you do have access to Google or Microsoft online tools, think about how to replace one paper or hardgood with a digital tool. If you love writing things out, consider using OneNote, Apple Notes app, or Google Keep to digitize your writen notes.

4. Back Up Files Remotely or Onto a Hard Drive

I actually use and recommend both backing up into the Cloud and using a hard drive. I use a mixture of iCloud and OneDrive depending on the devices. I also pay for Carbonite for my laptop since it is a set and forget situation.

For hard drives, I recommend WD Passport hard drives. I have used this brand for several years and so far, they have worked out well. Check out the specs and many options at my affiliate link.

If you leave the Passport Hard Drive plugged in, you can set up auto backups too.

5. Clear Cache & Disable Auto Fill on Your School Computer

This teacher tech resolution is for your privacy and protection.

So many sites store and regurgitate (via autofill) credit card info, personal data such as your address, social, name, etc. You may have signed up for a service on your school computer and not realized your information was saved there.

Do yourself a favor and clean the cache, internet history, and then turn off autofill. On Chrome check out your settings to see what is saved. You just never can be too safe!

6. Utilize a Secure Sharing and/or Communication App to Connect with Parents

Sharing & communication apps like Seesaw, Classtag, Bloomz, Homeroom, and Remind can make your life easier and parents love it. Plus if students are looped in, it becomes a powerful tool for building a digital portfolio and showcasing learning.

If students are going to be doing a lot of the posting, then I recommend Seesaw. But if you are just looking for a quick and easy way to connect with parents, my preference is Classtag based on design alone. However both Remind and Bloomz are easy enough to set up and use. My major gripe with Bloomz is having to sign in to view ANYTHING – even email updates.

If you are just looking for a way to share photo and videos with parents, then I can’t recommend the Homeroom App enough. I have blogged WAY back in the day about it – so back-in-the-day I’m not even sure I want to link to it because of formatting situations – but it is a VERY easy and secure way to share rather than messing around with social media like Instagram and Facebook.

It is so easy, I typically had a class photographer in charge of uploading.

7. Set an Email Signature

Email signatures are definitely a relic of the early internet that are actually under-utilized these days, but really should make a come back.

Maybe don’t put a quote or an ASCII image, but all teachers should use their email signature to link to any class sites and accounts.

If you were a parent in my class before I used a helpful email signature, I’m sorry! It definitely saves a lot of time if your signature is also a home-base of links.

The Techie Teacher posted a helpful tutorial for doing this in Gmail.

8. Connect with Other Teachers on Social Media

Teaching is hard and it’s especially hard to do it alone or without the support of like-minded teachers and mentors.

Whether you follow teachers on Instagram and Pinterest just for the pretty or you connect and converse on Edutwitter or Facebook, you need to build your network of teachers that inspire you, share ideas, support you, challenge you, and help you!

I seriously cannot say enough about our Teach with Tech group and its members.

9. Use Different Passwords on Different Sites

I was hacked earlier this year for this exact thing! Use tools like those integrated into Chrome and Apple to create and store passwords for your more frequent accounts. If you don’t want to use these tools on a school computer, use a 3rd party site or app to keep track.

I created a set of password tips bulletin board posters inspired by what I learned about secure passwords after my hack issue.

View this post on Instagram

❄️ Even if you or your IT person is responsible for setting up school accounts, be sure to discuss secure password tips because most of your students are setting up accounts at home, a friend’s house, the library, etc. _____________________ ❄️ In a perfect world, yes, kids wouldn’t have unfettered access outside of school, but we need to recognize it and help kids navigate technology in a safe way. _____________________ ❄️ The first step is to talk about it. You would be surprised at how little kids consider about online safety! _____________________ ❄️ Even adults are still using “password” to “secure” their bank accounts! I messed up with an old online account and my info was hacked! It was lots of hours of stress fixing it all. _____________________ EDITABLE Bulletin Board & Student Activity at the {Link in My Profile} _____________________ #teachwithtech #classroomdecor #googleclassroom #teachingwithtechnology #technologyintheclassroom #teacherspayteachers #bulletinboardideas #technologydecor #techwithus

A post shared by Erin Flanagan (@erintegration) on Nov 20, 2018 at 1:35pm PST

Print and display as part of a digital citizenship lesson for students or if you are a tech coach – post these by your office to help teachers!

View this post on Instagram

Once I had an account hacked because of an extremely weak password, but now I *snow* better. {Link in Profile} _____________________ My latest seasonal #digitalcitizenship #bulletinboard set includes an editable contract with password security tips and a fun practice sheet for students to create memorable, but unique passwords from phrases! _____________________ Here are some ways to use this bulletin board & activity: ❄️ Tech coaches can hang outside their office ❄️ Tech teachers can discuss & display plus have students use the blank set to add more tips ❄️ Classroom teachers can set up a Digital Citizenship corner by a classroom computer, device cart, or even on a door – do the 10 minute activity after lunch…it’s short but great practice EVEN if you never use tech in your classroom 👋 _____________________ #teachwithtech #classroomdecor #googleclassroom #teachingwithtechnology #technologyintheclassroom #teacherspayteachers #bulletinboardideas #technologydecor #techwithus

A post shared by Erin Flanagan (@erintegration) on Nov 20, 2018 at 7:22am PST

Get the Digital Citizenship Bulletin Board, Contract & Activity: Password Security Tips set here.


What are your tech resolutions this year? Share on my original post or tag me on social media if you create ones I haven’t listed here!

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Filed Under: TOOLS & TIPS Tagged With: Teacher Tool

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