File Not Found: Let’s Fix That
Digital File Clean-Up
While searching for a presentation, I absolutely, positively, definitely knew I had "somewhere" on my computer (narrator: it was); I realized my digital teaching life needed an intervention. After 30 minutes of clicking through folders and docs, named everything from "FallCoursePresentation" to “Document 5” and my cringe-worthy "NewVersion.Final.FINAL.syllabus.usethisone," I said out loud “This can not be the way forward”. I need a better approach to digital content organization.
Wouldn't it be nicer to find what you need when you need it? Better yet, wouldn't it be great to easily remix and reuse your best materials across different teaching formats? Below are a few steps that I’m still working to perfect (I’m a digital hoarder) as I strive to become a more organized educator.
It started with a simple question: If I can't find it easily, does it really exist?
Here's my plan:
Do a Digital Clean-Out
Assess what you actually use (goodbye, 2005 PowerPoints with clip art!)
Consider each resource's potential across different formats
Keep only what serves the learning objectives
Create a Naming System That Works
My improved go-to format: coursedocumenttitle.fileextension
Example: edtech101-alignment-worksheet.pdf
Organize folders by term: YYYY[f/s/su] Example: 2024s (for Spring 2024)
Think Multimodal so Your Face to Face and Online Students Can Use The Same Items
Look at your video content - could those mini-lectures work in both online and face-to-face settings?
Examine your discussion prompts - could they become small group activities or individual reflection exercises?
Review your handouts - which ones could become interactive digital activities?
Consider your PowerPoints - could they be transformed into self-paced learning modules?
Use Your LMS as Home Base
Mirror your folder structure in your course shell
Keep consistent naming across platforms
Create clear module titles that match your materials
You don't need to use every teaching resource you own. Focus on what works, make it findable, and make it flexible.
Before Your Next Class:
Choose one course module. Rename all related files using a consistent format. Then, identify one text-heavy resource you could transform into something more engaging. I tell myself that small steps lead to more organized semesters, but it will be progress over perfection for me for a while - we’ll get there one file at a time.
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