Getting Things Done Ep. 331: Exploration of GTD for Educators
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Oct 8, 2025 
Join Erik Johnson, a dedicated high school social studies teacher from Chicago, and David Drake, a microbiology professor at the University of Iowa, as they explore their unique applications of the GTD methodology in education. They share how GTD helps manage classroom chaos and academic pressures. Topics include maintaining focus in shared spaces, using agenda lists for mentoring, and effectively handling classroom surprises. Discover their strategies for prioritizing tasks and making productive use of unexpected downtimes!
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Teach GTD By Doing It
- Keep agenda lists for mentees and train them by example so they adopt GTD practices.
- Use visible systems and actions to teach colleagues and trainees GTD implicitly.
Time Block, Then Revalidate
- Use time blocking to protect high-focus work but review blocks before starting to ensure priorities haven't changed.
- Don’t turn a to-do list into rigid calendar tasks you can’t realistically complete.
Interruptions As Priority Shifts
- Classroom work is inherently interruption-heavy, so view interruptions as shifts in immediate priorities.
- GTD provides a tactical framework to handle dynamic daily changes without losing presence.
