Using QTimmer Effectively

QTimmer is designed to be flexible enough for a variety of classroom situations. Whether you are running a timed quiz, managing group discussions or simply keeping track of lesson segments, our timer can adapt to your needs. This guide outlines some practical ways to get the most out of QTimmer in day‑to‑day teaching.

Starting and Stopping

At its core, QTimmer works like any other countdown timer: choose a preset time or enter your own duration, then press Start. You can pause the timer at any point by hitting Stop and resume by clicking Start again. Resetting clears the current time back to zero or your preset.

Quick Presets for Common Activities

For convenience, QTimmer includes quick‑access buttons for frequently used durations. These cover short breaks (5–10 minutes), medium activities (15–30 minutes) and longer lessons (45–60 minutes). Presets save valuable class time because you don’t have to manually enter the same duration repeatedly.

Advanced Mode

Switching to advanced mode unlocks additional features:

Custom Title – label the timer with the name of your activity (e.g. “Math Quiz” or “Group Discussion”). A clear title helps students know what is being timed.
Teacher Code – preload a subject and duration using a code defined in the subjects.js file. This is useful if you run the same 40‑minute test every week.
Background Music – play calming audio to help students relax during timed assignments. You can toggle this on or off.
Alarm Sounds – choose from a range of sound effects that play when the timer ends. Pick a gentle chime for reading time or a loud bell for quizzes.

Managing Exams and Tests

QTimmer supports long durations up to several hours, making it suitable for formal examinations. To minimise stress, we recommend entering a custom title (e.g. “Physics Test”) and using a calm theme. Encourage students to glance at the timer periodically to pace themselves. When only a few minutes remain, consider using our brighter alarm to signal the end.

Encouraging Collaboration

Timed group activities can help keep discussions focused and give students an equal opportunity to speak. Try setting a short timer (5–10 minutes) for brainstorming sessions. Display the timer prominently on a smartboard so everyone can follow along. When the countdown reaches zero, rotate to the next group or summarise the discussion.

Balancing Work and Breaks

Research shows that short breaks improve concentration and reduce fatigue. Between lessons, set a 2–5 minute timer to encourage students to stretch, hydrate or rest their eyes. The visual countdown reminds everyone to return promptly, keeping the schedule on track.

Customising Themes

Themes change the colour palette of QTimmer to suit different learning environments. Dark themes improve projector visibility in well‑lit rooms, while lighter themes may be preferable for printed handouts. Encourage your students to vote for their favourite theme to create a shared classroom atmosphere.

We continually update QTimmer based on feedback from teachers. If you have suggestions for other features or improvements, please reach out via our contact page. Your input helps shape a better tool for everyone.