Example: How a School Could Improve Lesson Transitions with UbiTimer
👩🏫 Department: Maths & Science Faculty
⏱ Problem: Lost lesson time during transitions and starter tasks
🎓 Goal: Use visible PowerPoint timers to improve routines, pacing and student focus
The Problem
Before using a consistent classroom timer routine, teachers may experience:
- Starter tasks regularly running over time
- Students frequently asking “How long is left?”
- Several minutes lost between activity transitions
- KS3 pupils struggling with time awareness
- Behaviour dips when routines lack urgency or structure
Over a week, these small losses can add up to a significant amount of teaching time.
The UbiTimer Approach
A school or department could use UbiTimer in three practical ways:
| Feature | How it can be used | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| ⏱ Countdown Timer | Used on starter, main task and plenary slides | Classroom Free |
| 🌍 Global Timer Mode | Keeps one timer running across multiple slides | Pro Lifetime / Presenter Plus / Team |
| 🎨 Radial Timer | Provides a clear visual countdown for students who benefit from seeing time pass | Pro Lifetime / Presenter Plus / Team |
“Showing a countdown on the board can change how students respond to timed tasks. When the time is visible, students are more likely to pace themselves and prepare for the next transition.”
— Example teacher feedback
Expected Benefits
| Classroom issue | How a visible timer helps |
|---|---|
| Slow transitions | Students can see exactly how long they have before the next activity starts |
| Repeated “how long left?” questions | The timer answers the question visually without interrupting the teacher |
| Starter tasks overrun | A fixed countdown helps keep the opening routine sharp and predictable |
| Low-level disruption during task changes | Visible time limits create clearer expectations and reduce uncertainty |
Overall: UbiTimer helps make timing visible, predictable and easier to manage during lessons.
Teachers can start with UbiTimer Classroom Free. Advanced features such as Global Timer Mode, radial timers and presenter controls are available in Pro Lifetime, Presenter Plus and Team / School plans.
Why It Works
- Visible structure: Students can see the time remaining
- Fewer repeated reminders: The timer reduces constant teacher narration
- Predictable routines: Timer plus starter slide creates a clear expectation
- No separate timer website: UbiTimer works inside existing PowerPoint slides
Start with UbiTimer Classroom Free for everyday PowerPoint timers. Existing EDU users keep their legacy access.
👉 Get Classroom Free
👉 Compare UbiTimer plans
👉 View Team / School plans
Implementation Checklist
- Starter slide template with a 3-minute countdown
- 5-minute timer for retrieval practice or quick writing tasks
- 10-minute timer for group work or independent practice
- Optional Pro feature: Global Timer Mode for activities that span multiple slides
- Optional Pro feature: Radial Timer for highly visual countdowns
Try UbiTimer Yourself
- UbiTimer Classroom Free
- Global Timer Mode explained
- Radial visual countdown
- Compare Pro Lifetime, Presenter Plus and Team / School plans
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UbiTimer work on Macs?
UbiTimer works with supported Microsoft PowerPoint environments on Windows and Mac.
Do all teachers need separate licences?
Individual teachers can start with Classroom Free. For departments, schools and organisations that need wider access,
use a Team / School plan.
Can UbiTimer help behaviour?
Visible timing can support classroom routines by reducing uncertainty, improving pacing and making transitions clearer.
Is UbiTimer Pro free for schools?
No. Classroom Free is available for everyday teaching timers. Pro Lifetime, Presenter Plus and Team / School plans are paid options for advanced features or wider deployment.