- Reflect on the use of Google Apps in schools with students as well as professional development with other educators. Also reflect upon your experience using Google Apps with your classmates in this course.
There are numerous benefits with using Google Apps the main being that you can access them from any computer with internet access. Students often do not use the same technological devices in their homes as are provided for them in the classroom. If teachers rely solely on machine based software then students are required to either use the same machine every time. Under this system files must be stored on flash drives which are easily misplaced or destroyed. By utilising Google Apps’ auto-saving feature student work is secured online and easily shareable and collaborative.
Google Apps enable students to create and share information in a variety of formats, they are as adept at helping students research data as they are processing it and creating products of student learning. From the Google search, which can be customised through Google Custom Search, to the Research tool in Drive Google brings information to students at amazing speed. Maps enable learners to do so much more than just use GPS from their phones. The My Places tool in Google maps can be used by teachers and students to teach and demonstrate mathematical problems, to demonstrate the travels of a character in a novel in an English class and a host of other possibilities.
Google Drive is a students mobile office suite. All of a students projects and papers, notes and images once stored in Drive are available at the touch of a mouse. Drive opens with a basic set of tools: Docs, Slides, Spreadsheets, Forms, and Draw. If a student opens these Apps with the Create button he has access to a wide range of additional applications in order to create a fully customizable digital office. Additional programs can be added to either the teachers or the students toolkit from the Chrome Web Store. If a student has an idea for a project there is probably a google app that can handle the job.
Modern teaching requires collaboration from at many levels. Professional development, once only conducted in grade level meetings and on teacher workdays is now the product of real time digital communication. Teachers build lesson plans and track student data through shared documents and spreadsheets. Teachers gain additional degrees while communicating through Google’s Blogger platform and use it to share their ideas with the world. Digital Application such as Google Apps, and Zoho’s digital suite give transparency to classroom walls. Students and teachers create knowledge with instant access a world full of information.
Solomon, G. and Schrum, L. (2010). Web 2.0 how-to for educators: the indispensable companion to web 2.0: new tools, new schools. Washington, D.C.: ISTE
Good point about Google Apps being available anywhere. Unfortunately, not all students have computers and internet access at home yet. However, they number that do has become a high majority in many districts, and this number continues to increase. If the assignment is done using Google Apps, then homework cannot be forgotten - either when it is brought home, or when it is turned in at school. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate but not every student has internet. However, utilizing these tools does make it beneficial for students to utilize the tools in other classes or study hall when their other work is done to access their work. Giving efficiency and ease to student makes everything easier for them because they are so used to the instantaneous answers to their questions that it only makes sense to provide tools that assist in their norm.
ReplyDeleteA great advantage of using Google Apps is allowing students to use websites and features within the classroom, they are very likely to use outside of the classroom. By using resources students use outside of the classroom, students are practicing practical skills. This allows students to create connections and meanings to what they learn and do in the classroom, as students can see the value when using the skills at home.
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