How to Create Classroom Learning Materials Like a Content Creator to Save Time
Inside: Learn how to streamline your lesson planning and the process you use to create classroom learning materials to save time and get more done. Content creators use the term Batch Content Creation to describe how they streamline their workflow. Learn how this pertains to teachers and how to get started.
Are you busy?
What a silly question!
Of course you are!
But yet you are here… which means you are overwhelmed and looking for some way to help streamline the long list of tasks you need to get done.
The Mysterious “Caught Up”
As educators, we always add to our to-do list and rarely get to the point of ‘caught up.’
When the stack of papers on my desk grew so high it threatened to fall over and my inbox was a lost cause, like most teachers, I found ways to stay positive and brush off the ever-mounting stress.
I started “behind” in August and lived in various degrees of “behind” until July.
July is when I would give up and let go of what still needed to be done and consider myself ‘caught up’ until August started.
This is not a great feeling but an unfortunate reality for most educators.
Educators have learned and understand it is just the way things are, and they adjust to working in that environment.
Most other fields look at ways to streamline tasks and become more efficient.
Teachers spend evenings and weekends trying to get more done.
Bring on The Magic
Recently I took some time to delve into the product creation and business management side of the world to see if they had a different way of doing things.
And they did!
In the business and content creation world, there is a concept that frees up time and makes a creator more productive.
The best part is this system can help streamline portions of an educator’s day as well.
Which could leave you time
To run to the bathroom
To make supper
To hang out with your friends and family
What is this magic? Batch Content Creation!
Multitasking is Out- Batch Content Creation is In!
So what is Batch Content Creation?
It is the idea of doing all of the same tasks at the same time.
For example, if you are planning out a new unit for Science class, your workflow may include:
pulling out files
reading through new material
collaborating with your colleague next door
making copies
writing quizzes
uploading assignments to a digital learning management system
setting up email reminders
adding assignments to your grading system
all while checking your email and answering questions for whoever shows up at your door
We are masters at multitasking and have learned to be proud of that skill.
Unfortunately, this multitasking often takes us away from devoting our time to one set of tasks and thought processes. This can slow us down in the long run.
Throughout the lesson planning process, you are likely running to the copier/scanner multiple times and starting and stopping each task frequently as you remember one more thing you needed to add or an email pops into your inbox.
If you are like me, you start with the first topic:
create the handout
look for the video file you needed
go to make sure you have the supplies for the lab
create the quiz
upload files
add them to the grade book
and then go on to the second topic.
This method is effective, and you get everything done.
However, once you complete this unit, you realize you have another to get ready, and you repeat all of those same steps.
Batch creation looks at this process differently.
Get Started Getting Your Time Back
The first step is to take a few moments to think through your workflow.
What types of tasks do you do multiple times, and which ones are done once?
Is there a specific order you have to do certain tasks?
Take a look at the entire process, including little things that change the focus of what you are doing at the time.
Every time you switch tasks, it takes time for your brain to switch to the next task.
Have you ever started working on something, and it seems to take about 5-10 minutes before you feel like you are in the ‘flow’ of the task?
Our brains take time to get focused on the task at hand. Every time we switch, it takes our brain time to get back to the level of focus it was at previously.
(This is me feeling guilty for stopping every five minutes to check my email.)
How Many Times Do We Switch Tasks
If you are creating a quiz for the Science unit we talked about above, you may:
get out the textbook or reading you used
gather previous worksheets/materials
boot up a computer
open up the file
name it
write out the questions
save the file
print it, or upload it to a learning management system.
That alone includes at least six examples of switching tasks. However, we do not think of it that way. We consider creating a quiz a single task.
When you are finished with that quiz, you will end everything you were doing and move on to the next task on your list.
But, some of the other projects you have to do also include opening files and writing questions, some may consist of printing, some may include uploading files, and some may use the same textbook.
When you move on to the next project, you will need to repeat many of those same steps.
Batch content creation experts will tell you it saves time in their day and has made them more efficient with their time. From my experience, it makes the tasks that need to get done go much smoother and helps me feel much more productive and focused.
Science Unit- Batch Creation Style
Let’s go back to the example of the Science unit. Using batch creation, the process will look a bit different.
Tasks that require the computer get blocked together and accomplished all at once.
For example, when you sit down to accomplish the computer portion of your unit planning, you would:
sit down with the textbook and materials
open your word processing program
create all of the written materials for the course
By creating the handouts, quizzes, etc., all at once, your focus remains on the computer and the text, and you are not moving away and coming back to these tasks.
The trick here is to not go any further with each one of these materials. Stay in the word processing program and finish them all.
(This was the most challenging part for me)
Once they are finished, perhaps the next step is to print everything that needs to be printed. Then upload every file that needs to be uploaded.
When you are at the printer, you get all of the materials at once instead of walking back and forth. Uploading also goes faster with all materials ready to be uploaded at once.
Getting logged into the LMS and adding files is much faster when all of the files are ready, and you can do it all at once.
Making an Entire Batch of Cookies
This was a hard concept for me to wrap my head around at first. Because it isn’t how I was used to working, and it seemed too simple of an idea.
Then someone shared with me an example of baking, and suddenly it made sense.
If you want a cookie, you get out all of the ingredients, mix them, and bake many cookies at once.
Even though you wanted one, you made the entire batch. Then the rest you have ready for later when you want a cookie again.
Imagine if we baked cookies the way we are used to preparing materials as a teacher! We would:
get out the flour, sugar, and the eggs
get out the mixing bowls
Mix enough for one cookie
put it in the oven
clean up our mess.
Two days later, when we wanted a cookie again, we would go through those same steps.
We would NEVER do this when baking.
But we have been taught to be so good at multitasking we forget we are often repeating the exact same steps over and over again.
We work longer hours instead of finding ways to streamline our work and live in a constant state of “behind.”
The Challenge
I challenge you to take a few days and pay attention to how you are working.
Then, take a few minutes to focus on one area of what you create or work on in a day and try to adjust your workflow to ‘batch’ things together.
Look for things that require the same materials, same workspace, and same thought process.
Try making the entire batch of cookies at once instead of one at a time and see how much time it can save you!
