Faculty Survival Tools

Elizabeth McMahon, Northland CTC

Tools that save time
always available
easy to use
sync automatically across multiple computers and/or smart phone
Come highly recommended
Free (or mostly free)

Time management tools
Google calendar (can share things too) www.google.com/calendar
Can send reminders
Can color code course schedules and share with students

Doodle
meetings and scheduling resource
Can tie to google calendar

Timetrade (not free)
does connect to google calendar
online office hours and sets up apt to speak with the instructor (with apt availability)
Able to leave details provide up front information
gives them a "receipt"
She uses for faculty and student apts
$30 a year

Foxtab
with firefox browser (add on browser)
makes your browser save all of the sites you want it to (saves as visual pages--like mac disply)
lets up tab fast through what you have open

Other Time Savers
Intelligent Agents (in D2L) (under tool options)
Automatic Email personalized to the student
Can set up different criteria (I see you did well on your quiz--kudos and keep up the good work. or I see you didn't do as well on your quiz as I was hoping, don't forget there are practice quizzes available.)

Google Voice
Google option to leave message to a different number
Can call from cell phone without it registering as your personal number
Free

Task Management Tools
Remember the Milk
To do list
reminder notices
aps
integrates with google calendar
set up in lists
add tasks from email
Blog every Tuesday with tips and tools of that program

Information Management Tools
Dropbox.com
backup of files
keeps files synced across computers
2G free (can buy more) If you refer others to site you get more space free
drag and drop feature to online files (then accessible on any online computer)
Can have public and private online storage

Springpad
Notes. Really, really smart notes
Can send reminders
Can be synced across multiple sites

Evernote
Similar to springpad
Save webpage, whole webpage
Capture and organize

Google docs
documents
presentations
spreadsheets
collaboration

Googleforms
create a form (ie Student information Form)
creates certificates
(has a behind the scenes spreadsheet so creator can see bigger picture in spreadsheet)
gives you an URL to access information

TOOLS CAN BE USED TOGETHER

Elizabeth.mcmahon@northlandcollege.edu