Google Apps for Education is changing Education and allowing districts to bring tools to teachers and students in a way never thought possible.
How do you think you could use Google Apps for Education in your own class? What type of projects/best practices might you integrate into the curriculum?
In a performance based class or extra curricular activities, Google Calendars would be a great idea! If all activites (concerts, games, events, invitationals, competitions, etc.) were posted on a calendar that was made public for all to see, it would be easier for parents to know what was coming up in their children's schedule.
Thanks Alyssa. One of the most important pieces of Google Apps is the ability to enhance communication through collaboration. Using Google Calendar's share options is one tool that enables a teacher to communicate more effectively with the community.
I also use google calendars in classes I teach. It is a great tool for keeping students and parents up to date on when things are due and up coming events.
I'm working on using Google Apps for mini-research projects. After they share their projects I can check in on their progress to make sure they understand. I'm also planning on having them share with a classmate so they can practice their peer editing skills.
The collaboration feature is one of I the best pieces. I love how you are using it as a tool for students to use for learning. Some are afraid to introduce collaborative projects to students but Google Apps has made it possible to do it in a safe/controlled way.
Google Apps tools allows Students to post, share and edit documents such as note pads and slides presentation. Apps such as Gmail, Google Groups, Google Calendar, Talk, Docs and Sites is great for group assignments at school and or at work. Google hangouts can be used for meetings and video chatting. I can definitely use and will continue to use Google Apps frequently.
I already use Google in my classroom, so much so that my students joke around that I am secretly a Google employee who is trying to take over the school. I use Google Apps when my students work on projects and group assignments. The ability to access their information from any computer helps cut down on the problem of missing flash drives/files and it also cuts down on paper projects taking over my classroom. I uses Google Presentation during group work and when all projects are completed the students share their files on my Moodle page so all students can look at them for future reference or to help study for an exam.
I have been accused of that too Kelly! Moodle is also a great tool. One of the nice things about Google Apps is that other applications integrate seamlessly. Open Campus - another Moodle like service - Learning Management System - is another website/application that integrates nicely.
Now that my district has created google accounts for all of our students, I look forward to working on integrating Google Apps in my classroom. All of the benefits seem to be something that I've been looking for the more that I include technology in my classroom!
I am very excited about integrating Google Apps into my classroom on a daily basis. I do have a google calendar for major events in my class but find myself constrained by the small boxes. I guess I could have my students going to a weekly view but I haven't tried that. I anticipate (now that our students have access) using it for collaborative projects. I also plan to use it for common planning purposes within my department. We have created curricular material together but when we need to tweak a powerpoint it is a pain to redistribute it. It would save time if it were in one location on a Google Drive that we could all access. We could even have our students access documents (for review) without them having editing privileges. I believe that Google Apps is definitely the wave of the future.
Great thought Kathleen. One of the most common request of Google Calendar is that it would allow for full description within the boxes on the monthly view. Maybe we can let Google know!
I have been using Google Apps in my classroom to distribute information to parents as well as to collect information on various topics. It is a great tool to link the classroom to the home. Now that all my students have their own Google accounts I can't wait to show them how to create presentations and documents and colloborate with their classmates. Our students work so hard throughout the day and learn so much I am excited for them to have an easy way to share their learning and show off what they have been doing in the classroom by using the collaboration features and sharing options. Google Apps is exactly what the doctor ordered!
I use google calendars to keep my students up to date with assignments. It has been especially valuable this year with the constantly changing schedule due to Sandy.
Google apps allows the reach of your class to extend beyond the confines of the physical room. We use Google Docs and Google Presentations in the ELA classroom to help their work to be a living document that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Students love the ability to collaborate in real time with each other which allows for cooperative learning to occur despite something as trivial as conflicting schedules :) My students have worked on Book Talks with partners and constructed digital visual aids with each other simultaneously in class on different computers...and again at home from different locations. Students love the social aspect of learning, and this allows for students to work together to achieve a goal.
"...help their work to be a living document that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection" I think your use of Google Docs/Presentations within school is a great idea. It gives students the opportunity to use these tools with an experienced teacher there to guide the process and lesson. Then when they go home, it is an easier transition for them to collaborate and complete quality work.
There are many tools within Google Apps that can help improve the instruction process in the classroom. I particularly like the way Google Sites has made it possible for any one to design a website that integrates many of the Google Apps (forms, calendars, blogs, etc). Integrating Google Apps into the classroom appropriately can help teachers manage their time more effectively and encourage/improve collaboration with and among students, co-workers and parents.
Also, adding to the past post under "Education", the translator feature in Gmail and Google docs can also help get over the language barrier and improve communication with parents that don't speak English. Even though it is not perfect for simple messages it is a nice tool.
I have used the translator occasionally. It works pretty well according to some of my LOTE teachers. It is another example of the depth of Google Apps and its ability to expand with the needs of educators.
In a performance based class or extra curricular activities, Google Calendars would be a great idea! If all activites (concerts, games, events, invitationals, competitions, etc.) were posted on a calendar that was made public for all to see, it would be easier for parents to know what was coming up in their children's schedule.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alyssa. One of the most important pieces of Google Apps is the ability to enhance communication through collaboration. Using Google Calendar's share options is one tool that enables a teacher to communicate more effectively with the community.
DeleteI also use google calendars in classes I teach. It is a great tool for keeping students and parents up to date on when things are due and up coming events.
DeleteI'm working on using Google Apps for mini-research projects. After they share their projects I can check in on their progress to make sure they understand. I'm also planning on having them share with a classmate so they can practice their peer editing skills.
ReplyDeleteThe collaboration feature is one of I the best pieces. I love how you are using it as a tool for students to use for learning. Some are afraid to introduce collaborative projects to students but Google Apps has made it possible to do it in a safe/controlled way.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Apps tools allows Students to post, share and edit documents such as note pads and slides presentation. Apps such as Gmail, Google Groups, Google Calendar, Talk, Docs and Sites is great for group assignments at school and or at work. Google hangouts can be used for meetings and video chatting. I can definitely use and will continue to use Google Apps frequently.
ReplyDeleteSome of the nice features include the ability to add additional Apps to an account in the Create Menu in Drive under More>Get More Apps.
DeleteI already use Google in my classroom, so much so that my students joke around that I am secretly a Google employee who is trying to take over the school.
ReplyDeleteI use Google Apps when my students work on projects and group assignments. The ability to access their information from any computer helps cut down on the problem of missing flash drives/files and it also cuts down on paper projects taking over my classroom.
I uses Google Presentation during group work and when all projects are completed the students share their files on my Moodle page so all students can look at them for future reference or to help study for an exam.
I have been accused of that too Kelly! Moodle is also a great tool. One of the nice things about Google Apps is that other applications integrate seamlessly. Open Campus - another Moodle like service - Learning Management System - is another website/application that integrates nicely.
DeleteNow that my district has created google accounts for all of our students, I look forward to working on integrating Google Apps in my classroom. All of the benefits seem to be something that I've been looking for the more that I include technology in my classroom!
ReplyDeleteHopefully you will learn some techniques in our courses!
DeleteI am very excited about integrating Google Apps into my classroom on a daily basis. I do have a google calendar for major events in my class but find myself constrained by the small boxes. I guess I could have my students going to a weekly view but I haven't tried that. I anticipate (now that our students have access) using it for collaborative projects. I also plan to use it for common planning purposes within my department. We have created curricular material together but when we need to tweak a powerpoint it is a pain to redistribute it. It would save time if it were in one location on a Google Drive that we could all access. We could even have our students access documents (for review) without them having editing privileges. I believe that Google Apps is definitely the wave of the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat thought Kathleen. One of the most common request of Google Calendar is that it would allow for full description within the boxes on the monthly view. Maybe we can let Google know!
DeleteI have been using Google Apps in my classroom to distribute information to parents as well as to collect information on various topics. It is a great tool to link the classroom to the home. Now that all my students have their own Google accounts I can't wait to show them how to create presentations and documents and colloborate with their classmates. Our students work so hard throughout the day and learn so much I am excited for them to have an easy way to share their learning and show off what they have been doing in the classroom by using the collaboration features and sharing options. Google Apps is exactly what the doctor ordered!
ReplyDeleteWe did a project in one of the courses using Google Forms to collect information from your students and parents. Is that what you are using?
DeleteI use google calendars to keep my students up to date with assignments. It has been especially valuable this year with the constantly changing schedule due to Sandy.
ReplyDeleteHow have they been with it. Has there been positive feedback as a valuable communication tool?
DeleteGoogle apps allows the reach of your class to extend beyond the confines of the physical room. We use Google Docs and Google Presentations in the ELA classroom to help their work to be a living document that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Students love the ability to collaborate in real time with each other which allows for cooperative learning to occur despite something as trivial as conflicting schedules :)
ReplyDeleteMy students have worked on Book Talks with partners and constructed digital visual aids with each other simultaneously in class on different computers...and again at home from different locations.
Students love the social aspect of learning, and this allows for students to work together to achieve a goal.
"...help their work to be a living document that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection" I think your use of Google Docs/Presentations within school is a great idea. It gives students the opportunity to use these tools with an experienced teacher there to guide the process and lesson. Then when they go home, it is an easier transition for them to collaborate and complete quality work.
DeleteThere are many tools within Google Apps that can help improve the instruction process in the classroom. I particularly like the way Google Sites has made it possible for any one to design a website that integrates many of the Google Apps (forms, calendars, blogs, etc). Integrating Google Apps into the classroom appropriately can help teachers manage their time more effectively and encourage/improve collaboration with and among students, co-workers and parents.
ReplyDeleteAlso, adding to the past post under "Education", the translator feature in Gmail and Google docs can also help get over the language barrier and improve communication with parents that don't speak English. Even though it is not perfect for simple messages it is a nice tool.
ReplyDeleteI have used the translator occasionally. It works pretty well according to some of my LOTE teachers. It is another example of the depth of Google Apps and its ability to expand with the needs of educators.
Delete