"You have five minutes to complete this assignment"
This is the well-intentioned statement we all start with. However, if you are anything like me, one of two things always happens. Scenario 1: Student needs help. A LOT of help. While you are helping this student, five minutes passes, six minutes, seven, etc. Scenario 2: "Mr. Samberg - HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE LEFT NOW?/WHAT TIME DID WE START?/WHAT DOES THAT STUFF PRINTED ON THE BOARD MEAN?"
Enter: E.gg Timer (http://e.ggtimer.com) - an online countdown timer, which displays, in REALLY BIG font how much time is remaining for you, and your class (if you have a projector) to see. When time has elapsed, it even beeps.
What makes e.gg timer a little better is that there are two ways to use it: the easy way, and the easier way. The easy way, go to http://e.ggtimer.com, and in the big box that says "Start a Timer", enter your time using natural language (5 minutes or 10 minutes and 20 seconds or 1 hour 3 minutes 11 seconds - just don't use commas). Press "GO" and you are done. The timer appears in the middle, with progress bars at the top and bottom.
Now, the easier way. Just put the time in the URL. For example, type in http://e.ggtimer.com/3minutes for a 3-minute timer, or http://e.ggtimer.com/5minutes20seconds for a 5 minute and 20 second timer, etc. It's natural language without spaces...
Easy, effective and VERY useful.
