Storhamar school gained full overview with one tool: PlanIt
School: Storhamar Upper Secondary School
Number of students: approx. 650
We spoke with: Marie Edin Solheim, adjunct with additional responsibilities, and learning technology and XR coordinator
Uses PlanIt for: Annual planning, overview, and collaboration internally and with students
PlanIt was adopted: 2022
Storhamar Upper Secondary School wanted a better overview and structure in a busy school day. We talked to Marie Edin Solheim to hear how they use PlanIt in practice, and what it has meant for both staff and students.
From Excel chaos to full control with PlanIt
Previously, our annual plans were in various Excel sheets – the information was available, but cumbersome to use and difficult to navigate.
“We avoided using it because it was difficult to find, there were many sheets, and it involved a lot of scrolling back and forth,” says Marie Edin Solheim, teacher and learning technology and XR coordinator at the school.
When the county introduced PlanIt, Marie took the initiative to test it out. Many were skeptical at first, but when she showed how the tool could be used with the students, the rest of the school followed. Two years later, PlanIt is a natural part of the school day, and the overview has never been better.
With PlanIt, the annual plans are much more accessible and clear than before.
One common platform – integrated in Teams
PlanIt is a separate tab in Teams and gives staff easy access to the plans. It is very flexible.
“You just click on the tab, and then you get the whole school year – either for a single subject group, an entire line, all lines, or the whole school. You can view the plan as a list, table, or wheel, and filter by week, month, or year.”
In addition to planning, PlanIt functions as a communication tool. Tests, meetings, exams, and other activities are entered, and give all staff an overview across subjects and departments. Students are also involved in the planning, including using a large screen in the classroom.
“I use it actively with my students, while many of my colleagues use it mostly collegially. It works regardless.”
More engagement and better learning
One of the most noticeable results is how PlanIt has affected the students. When they see what is happening ahead and how different activities are connected, both engagement and learning outcomes increase.
“I use it actively in teaching – for example, by showing the annual wheel on a large screen and letting the students participate in planning.”
Less time on systems – more time with students
The benefits are also evident among the staff. With PlanIt as a common platform, it has become easier to coordinate, plan, and share experiences across teachers and departments, while better information flow between management and teachers has reduced misunderstandings and made meetings more targeted. The result is more time for teaching and individual follow-up of students.
Layer upon layer – and full control
One of the functions the school values most is the ability to combine different layers of information.
“You can layer upon layer – and easily go through them. First, you might only see the annual plan for your own line. But then you can add information from other lines or the whole school. It provides both an overall picture and detailed overview.”
PlanIt makes it easy to get an overview of important dates, tests, meetings, and activities, while also keeping track of what is happening across the entire school.
“I am more concerned with accessibility than efficiency. But when everything is gathered in one place, it leads to you becoming more efficient.”
A tool we recommend further
The transition to PlanIt required some trial and error, but it has been an important part of the process.
“It takes some time to learn how to enter things correctly, but that is a good thing. You get to know the tool, and then it goes faster over time. I recommend setting aside some time for joint training at the start.”
Do you want to move away from fragmented Excel sheets and gather everything in one place?
“For me, it is about two things: accessibility and overview. It makes things much easier – both for staff and students.”
Try PlanIt for free – or book a demo
Do you want to see how PlanIt can make planning easier and clearer at your school?
Test PlanIt for free for 30 days – or book a non-binding demo with one of our product experts today!