Let's not beat about the bush here: we have a problem.
The principles involved in this aspect of time management are crystal clear:
- we want to use as few systems as possible
- we want those systems to be as simple as possible.
These principles, when applied to the topics we're interested in should lead us inexorably towards using a smartphone and a laptop with a basket of integrated apps. You would be looking at a calendar app (eg Google Calendar) and some kind of note-taking app (eg Journey, or Jotter pad, or even Google Docs) and probably something like Trello as a general productivity tool. The big plus of software like this is that it's relatively easy to integrate what you do on your phone with other mobile devices (Pads or laptops) and with your desktop at home, and of course at work. Ah. No. Sorry, I forgot. We're teachers aren't we?
Some of us, of course, work at schools which provide us with our own Macs or laptops which are compatible with the school's systems, and allow teachers to use iPhones in class, and offer high speed Wi-fi, and have sensible policies on the use of e-mails, and share resources via the Cloud so location isn't an issue. Some of us do. At some schools. Most of us, though, don't.
So here's the thing. Before you do anything about changing the way you work, or - for an NQT, deciding the best way to do things, it is really important to suss out how your school's technology actually works.