2 Ways For Administrators (And Other Educators) to Use Evernote

Evernote is one of the most versatile note taking tools available on the web today. With it's syncing desktop app, iPad apps, and smartphone apps, it is the most useful application in a school administrator's arsenal.

Two ways I have found Evernote most useful in my everyday job as an administrator are:

1. Using It to Create Weekly To-Do Lists
2. Using It to Create a Daily Administrator's Log

Using Evernote to Create Weekly To-Do Lists

I have tried a number of applications to track my daily tasks over the years, but came to use Evernote for several reasons. First of all, in Evernote it is so easy to create a check list. All I need do is create a new note, give it the appropriate title, and to enter a checkbox by holding down the Ctrl, Shift, and C keys which inserts a check box into the page. All I need do then is type the task item. This process makes it so easy to enter tasks. Secondly, Evernote's simplicity makes it most useful to me in another way. Other programs allow you to send email reminders regarding the task, or bombard you with pop-ups to remind you to get the task done. I just don't need that for my To-Do List. I just need a list I can look at throughout the day to remind me of what needs to be done and be able to check those items off as I complete them. I don't need more emails in my Inbox, nor do I want anymore pop-ups plastering my screen. I need a simple electronic To-Do List and Evernote gives me that. Thirdly, Evernote allows me to create a Notebook entitled "To-Do Lists." This notebook contains all of my past To-Do lists. I can easily check back to see if there was a task I missed, or to see when I perhaps accomplished a task. I have easy access to a complete history of my to-do list items.  Finally, Evernote's desktop app, iPad app, and Android app let me check that To-Do List no matter where I happen to be. I can take my list with me, and get the satisfaction of checking those items off wherever I am. The only issue with the iPad app that I do not like is the lack of ability to enter new items on the To-Do List. With Evernote, my To-Do List is with me at all times.

Evernote To-Do List Creation

Using Evernote to Create a Daily Administrators Log

When began as a teacher, I had a professor in college who impressed upon me the importance of documentation as an educator. He stated that many educators do not document things that happen while they are on the job. The end result is that sometimes, questions are raised about an action taken, or a grade given, and the teacher has no documentation to support those actions. 

As a school administrator, documentation becomes even more important since so many of my decisions made during the course of the day require investigations and multiple sources of information. Because of this, it necessary to document these things regularly.  Enter Evernote.

At one time I used a simple MS Word file as my daily Administrator's Log. I simply typed a title at the top of the page, and as things happened or decisions were made, I made notes in this file and saved it at the end of the day. Now, Evernote has given my Administrator Log writing process even greater functionality and flexibility.

• Create a Notebook Entitled Administrator Logs:  By doing this, I place all of my administrative notes in a single location. Should I need to quickly glance at the previous day's notes or the previous weeks, I have one location to turn to in order to do this.
• Create a New Note Each Day and Entitle It "Administrator's Log with That Day's Date:  This gives me a single location to document investigation findings, conversations, and contacts made during the course of the day.
• Use the Tag Feature to Index Administrative Notes: At the end of the day, I quickly skim through that day's notes and create tags that identify the significant items in those notes. This allows me to access my entire Administrative Notes library by key word.
• Use the Email Feature to Share Notes with Other Parties: For example, suppose I conducted an investigation into a parent complaint, and my superintendent wanted to know what I found out. I could email notes to him, obviously with needed explanation to provide her with that information.

Add the fact that Evernote syncs all of its apps, and I have instant access to these two Evernote notebooks anywhere. 

I am continually amazed at the number of ways I can use Evernote's functionality on the job as a school administrator. It is one of my front line administrative applications. Every administrator needs to know how to use it.