After at least 3 years of trying to go paperless, I am throwing in the towel. Well sort of. I think I have tried ALL the “notes” apps for the iPad and can never remember if I saved something in a notes app, Evernote, or Google docs. In my fast-paced work and personal life I need to be able to find things quickly and I appear unorganized when I start clicking through apps to find something. I can also write something down faster than I can open an app, title it, and enter something. So I have settled on a few “apps” and tools………
First the 3-ring binder is back! Don’t freak out, I still use the ipad and my iphone for note-taking etc.
Back to the binder! This is probably shocking but there are just some things in paper form that I need access to ALL THE TIME and quickly.
I just went back to the binder last week so I will be tweaking what I keep in it.
Daily Documention = My arm is covering up my daily calendar print out where I keep all my daily documentation.
Misc. = “Inbox” of papers that come in all day. Emptied every Friday.
Staff List = Copies of the staff list to use a check off for various staff assignments. About 10 copies here.
PTO = Upcoming flyer copies from last year that I will recreate for this year.
Monday Early-outs = My schedule of meetings for Mondays. 2nd semester at a glance.
90/90/90 Study = We reference this at various meetings
Behavior Support = Packet I gave staff at beginning of year.
Summative Evaluation = To reference when needed. It’s new this year so I need to be able to look at it frequently.
(Sidebar – I bedazzled my binder too:) Since I never have time for scrapbooking at least I can personalize my binder:))
iPad 3-ring binder cover – Fits in my iPad in my binder:)
This post is titled “Part 1” because there is actually more to the story and I hope to eventually post the rest:) All the “notes” apps should be Part 2.
So organized and efficient! You are my hero! Send me your behavior support packet please!! 🙂
Melinda,
I am an associate principal at a large high school in the NW Chicago suburbs. With my many roles I receive a plethora of paper and e-mails each day. I, too, am searching for the best manner to handle and retrieve information when needed in an efficient manner. I was excited to read your post about Evernote. I have the Evernote and Dropbox app on my iphone and computer, but have not seriously used them. I have not found a tool that plays nicely with Outlook (I actually miss Lotus Notes)as my secretary and rely on the calendar feature heavily to schedule appointments and meetings. I feel the positive of paper files is that I can mentally visualize were certain files are within my office. With digital copies, I don’t have those same clues. I look forward to part two. Besides the three ring binder, are you pretty much paperless with your files?
Hey Eric,
I guess you are motivating me post "Part 2." I usually do not create paper files anymore. I have a HUGE pile on my desk that I try to go through once a week and scan into evernote. I also have 2 HUGE file cabinets that I have wanted to scan for 2 years and haven't gotten to it. My secretary and I use Google calendar. Yes, I too can visualize where my papers are as well:)
I'll start working on Part 2.
Melinda