Managing Information Overload Icebreaker Questions

How many tabs do you currently have open on your computer or device?

• 1-3

• 4-7

• 8-15

• Who has time to count...

When do you usually check your work emails?

• During work hours only

• Morning, lunch, and evening

• Every time a notification pops up

• Constantly refreshing—it's a lifestyle

What’s your typical reaction to a new app or platform introduced at school?

• New tools, new possibilities!

• I’ll give it a go

• another thing to manage

• not another password!

How do you usually deal with incoming information?

•  I’ve got folders and colour codes

• I respond as things come in

• I try but can’t keep up

• If I ignore it, maybe it’ll go away

What’s your ‘info overload’ red flag?

• Snapping at emails

• Skimming everything

• Forgetting tasks

• All of the above

When do you most feel overwhelmed by information?

• During staff meetings

• While checking emails

• While planning lessons

• While scrolling social media

Which of these do you check first in the morning?

• Work email

• Personal messages, emails

• News or social media

• Nothing—enjoy the silence!

You often feel the urge to "just quickly check" something during a task.

• Always

• Rarely

• Never

• Sometimes

Which system do you use to keep track of all your information?

• Notebooks and sticky notes

• Google Drive or OneNote

• It’s all in my head 😬

• Bullet Journal or digital task manager

• Something else

How much information do we consume per day compared to 50 years ago?

• 2x more

• 5x more

• 10x more

• 34x more

Answer explanation

Today, we consume 34 times more information daily than we did 50 years ago, driven by the internet, smartphones, and digital media, which have drastically increased the volume and speed of information available.