Thursday, June 30, 2016

Previous Post Revisited - T.E.A.R.S.

I previously wrote a blog about the counseling program called T.E.A.R.S. (Time Elapsed Analysis and Reporting System) that exports your Microsoft Outlook calendar into a spreadsheet. I keep track of everything from my calendar to my notes in my Outlook calendar. I didn't use this Microsoft Excel Add-on until halfway through the school year and I am kicking myself for not using it sooner. I HIGHLY recommend using this add-on and starting from the beginning of the school year. Especially if you use Microsoft Outlook for your calendar.

I realized that I was doing double the work and taking a TON of extra time (at home in the evenings) inputting all of my information from my calendar into a Google form. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY GOOGLE FORMS!!! However, for this purpose, I was spending hours entering everything in when I already had it all in my calendar. My last blog post outlines how I use my Outlook calendar to help organize my counseling program. 

I have to keep track of every minute since I am working on my LPC hours and this is by far the best and easiest way to do it! I am able to manipulate the information in the excel spreadsheet just as in a google spreadsheet. The difference being only inputting information in one place and only one time.

I also have to report about my counseling program at the end of the year such as; individual sessions conducted, amount of groups, how many students participated in groups, number of counseling lessons, etc. This was so easy to pull up and have my numbers within minutes.

If you have to do any reporting or time on task analysis AND you use Microsoft Outlook, GET THIS ADD-ON. It is only $3.95 and well worth more than that.

I am putting links below for you to get more information and to watch a tutorial.