One Minute Teaching

One skill I think can be surprisingly helpful for teachers is learning a little basic HTML. You do not need to become a web developer. But knowing a few simple tags can make a big difference when working in an LMS. Have you ever clicked to edit a page and then noticed that not all of the content appears on the edit screen?  You know the part you want to change is there somewhere, but it seems to have disappeared. That can be frustrating. But if you click the code symbol in the toolbar and open the HTML view, you can usually find exactly what you are looking for there. Even better, you can press Ctrl + F to use the find feature, type in a word from the sentence you want to change, and the matching section will appear right away in the code. It can also help when the LMS editor does not display things the way you want. Have you ever added an image to a course announcement and noticed that the text wrapping around the image is way too close to it, making the whole thing look strange ...

One teaching learning theory that I keep coming back to is connectivism. Connectivism is the idea that learning does not happen only through direct instruction. It also happens through connections with other people, digital spaces, and networks of shared knowledge.  It reminds us that students do not only learn from us. They also learn from one another. Because of that, teachers can encourage students to build their own peer networks outside of class. For example, students in a Health Insurance program might create their own WhatsApp group where they can ask questions, remind one another about deadlines, share study tips, and support each other as they move through the program. That kind of student-led space can be powerful. When students explain ideas to one another, solve small problems together, and stay connected outside of formal class time, learning becomes more continuous and more collaborative. It also helps students feel that they are part of a learning community, no...

One small shortcut that can make a big difference for teachers is Alt Tab . It is easy to overlook because it seems so simple, but being able to switch quickly between open windows can make teaching feel much smoother. A teacher might move between slides, attendance, an LMS page, a spreadsheet, a rubric, and a video all within the same class.  Alt Tab helps make those transitions faster and less awkward. That matters more than it may seem. For example, if a teacher is presenting in PowerPoint slide show view and wants to show a YouTube video or another resource, the usual habit might be to press Esc , exit the slide show, and then use the mouse to hunt around for the right window.  That can interrupt the rhythm of the lesson.  But if the teacher is prepared and uses Alt Tab , they can move much more quickly between the presentation and the other open resource. The transition feels smoother and more intentional. It can also help teachers feel more confident. Instead o...

One tool that can be surprisingly helpful for teachers is uploading screenshots to ChatGPT. Sometimes a screenshot is clearer than a long explanation.  A teacher can upload a screenshot of a rubric, a slide, a discussion prompt, a Brightspace page, or even a spreadsheet and ask for help improving clarity, organization, or wording. It can also be very useful when a teacher is working in a digital tool and is not quite sure how to complete a task. For example, a teacher might be working in their LMS, Excel, or gamification platform and feel stuck on a setting, layout, or feature. Instead of trying to describe the whole screen in words, the teacher can upload a screenshot to ChatGPT and ask, “How do I do this?”  That can make the help much more specific and much easier to follow. To take a screenshot on a Windows computer, you can use the Snipping Tool by pressing  Windows + Shift + S on your keyboard. What I like most about screenshots is that they reduce guessing. Som...

One communication method I keep coming back to is the Point Evidence Impact model. I like it because it gives teachers a simple way to explain ideas clearly and persuasively. The model is a way to structure each main idea: first make your point, then support it with evidence, and finally explain the impact on the audience or bigger picture. That is helpful in teaching because students do not just need information. They need to understand why it matters. For example, in a project management class, a teacher might say, “Clear scope helps prevent project failure.” That is the point . Then the teacher might give evidence by sharing a case where a project went off track because expectations were not clearly defined. Finally, the teacher explains the impact : when scope is unclear, time, cost, and team alignment can all suffer. Now the concept feels more real and more important. What I like most about this method is that it keeps a lesson from becoming flat. Instead of simply stating ideas, ...

Hello, I hope this message finds you well. One small email habit that can make a big difference for teachers is using a send delay. Teachers send a lot of email. Messages to students, colleagues, administrators, and sometimes parents.  When things are busy, it is easy to hit send too quickly. A send delay gives you a short buffer to catch a typo, notice a missing attachment, rethink your tone, or realize you sent the message to the wrong person.  Gmail’s built in Undo Send can be set for 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds, and Outlook also offers ways to delay or schedule messages. That small pause can save a lot of stress. In Gmail , go to Settings , then See all settings , then under Undo Send choose a send cancellation period and save your changes. You can choose 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds. In the new Outlook desktop app , go to the gear icon , then Mail , then Compose and reply , then Undo send . Sometimes, the smartest email you send is the one you pause before sending. Warm R...

One model that can be especially helpful for new teachers is the ROPES method. ROPES stands for Review, Overview, Presentation, Exercise, and Summary . What I like about ROPES is that it gives a lesson a clear rhythm. That can be very helpful when you are new to teaching. Sometimes the hardest part is not knowing what should happen next. ROPES gives you a sequence to follow, which can make planning feel less overwhelming and teaching feel more intentional. For example, in a project management class, a teacher might begin by reviewing key concepts discussed in last week’s class, such as scope, stakeholders, or project goals. That is the Review .  Then the teacher lists the learning outcomes for the class that day so students know what they are expected to learn. That is the Overview . Next comes the Presentation and Exercise . One effective way to use these two parts is not to treat them as one long lecture followed by one long activity. Instead, the teacher can break them into...