Marie Kondo is a world-renowned expert in organization. She's well known for her book
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and her Netflix show Tidying Up.
This might seem like an odd piece of trivia to start a technology blog with, however, for
many of us, keeping our digital lives organized is an ongoing struggle. In this blog post
we are going to use a modified version of Marie Kondo’s strategy for organization known
as KonMari to help organize our Google Drives.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and her Netflix show Tidying Up.
This might seem like an odd piece of trivia to start a technology blog with, however, for
many of us, keeping our digital lives organized is an ongoing struggle. In this blog post
we are going to use a modified version of Marie Kondo’s strategy for organization known
as KonMari to help organize our Google Drives.
Step 1: Commit yourself to tidying up.
Ask yourself if any of these scenarios apply to you:
- your Google Drive has dozens of files that you haven't used in years
- half of your file names start with Untitled.
- there are files that you aren't sure where they even came from
If you said yes to any of these scenarios, then you need to organize your digital files.
Schedule a time such as during a planning period, or when you're at home away from
the students, that you can focus your full attention on organizing your files.
Schedule a time such as during a planning period, or when you're at home away from
the students, that you can focus your full attention on organizing your files.
Step 2: Look at all your files and think about how they should be organized.
Textbooks are organized into units and chapters, and because of this you can easily find
the information that you want to cover. However for most people, files are often lumped
together regardless of what they are. As you start seeing patterns in your files, make
folders so that similar content can be stored together. For some teachers this will be as
easy as making a folder for each standard or topic but remember that you can put folders
into folders. One way how I organize my classroom folders, is a Subject folder, Course
Folders, Topic Folders (such as content), Unit Folder, and Instructional Type Folder.
the information that you want to cover. However for most people, files are often lumped
together regardless of what they are. As you start seeing patterns in your files, make
folders so that similar content can be stored together. For some teachers this will be as
easy as making a folder for each standard or topic but remember that you can put folders
into folders. One way how I organize my classroom folders, is a Subject folder, Course
Folders, Topic Folders (such as content), Unit Folder, and Instructional Type Folder.
Step 3: Does the file bring you joy?
This seems like a stupid thing to ask about a file, but the truth is some things that you
have made or found for your classes are really great, while others are lousy. If you are
proud of something you have made, keep it. If you aren’t ditch it. Also really reflect on
how the file helped the students learn the content. Just because you have a worksheet
that lines up with the standard, doesn’t mean it will help the students.
If it doesn’t, get rid of it!
have made or found for your classes are really great, while others are lousy. If you are
proud of something you have made, keep it. If you aren’t ditch it. Also really reflect on
how the file helped the students learn the content. Just because you have a worksheet
that lines up with the standard, doesn’t mean it will help the students.
If it doesn’t, get rid of it!
I know it might take some time and effort, but it will be well worth it. During the process
you will most likely find some great activities that you forgot that you had. You will also
see areas of your content that don’t have as many resources, which will show you areas
where you could improve instruction. Best of all, when you are ready to use something,
you know right where it is and you don’t have to open dozens of untitled files to find the
one you want. In the words of Marie Kondo, that will, “Spark Joy.”
you will most likely find some great activities that you forgot that you had. You will also
see areas of your content that don’t have as many resources, which will show you areas
where you could improve instruction. Best of all, when you are ready to use something,
you know right where it is and you don’t have to open dozens of untitled files to find the
one you want. In the words of Marie Kondo, that will, “Spark Joy.”
In the comments below,
tell how you organize your files!
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