When I first used Google as a search engine, I never imagined that I will integrate this technology into my own classroom. Then I use gmail, gtalk and Google Docs everyday and it is the workshop of Google Apps triggered my interests of integrating them into classroom. While tapping the potentials of Google, the workshop also showed some directions to maximize the use of these Apps in education. Google Apps are easy-to-deploy forms of technology since Google is free of charge and implementing Google Apps in classroom requires no software to install. It may be not the most innovative and cutting edge technology available nowadays but it can be very practical in classrooms and provides students with excellent education experience. The only thing we need to do before mixing and matching the Google applications is to create an account which merely costs one minute.
Teachers and students will share thoughts more spontaneously and effectively if they could get access to the same efficient communication and Collaboration tools. I would like to consider sharing Google Calendar, Google Docs to keep students and their parents better informed and help them interact and support each other to create original works and solve problems. By incorporating Google Apps, I will be able to create an informative and collaborative class environment and get everyone involved, solving problems immediately. Preparing to integrate this technology will not cost much time. On one hand, the Google Apps are widely used in daily lives and there is no need to educate people every function of them. On the other hand, they are quite self explanatory that even first time users will grasp the usage by one or two demonstrations. Therefore I could not think of a single barrier to overcome and it will only take one or two weeks to get everyone familiar with some Google Apps to incorporate them into classroom, such as Google Docs, Google calendar and Google map, to name just a few.
The first and foremost thing for me to incorporate to my classroom is the Google Docs. Documents, spreadsheets or presentations I use in my classroom can be created and shared with students and collogues. As a teacher, I can designate tasks for students to accomplish as assignment and adjust different settings for them to view or edit. Students are allowed to add any new ideas and ask questions on the class contents. Google map will be another useful tool for my read-aloud. With its help, I could provide students with endless visual elements and evidences for the reading materials. Showing them detailed information about the locations where the story took place and the exact landscapes the author depicted in his or her book equip students with important background information to scaffold their understanding and apprehension of the book. I would also like to implement Google calendar for my future classroom. It will inform students what is going on and what to expect in the classroom such as assignment deadlines, test and quiz dates, and other class activities. As a teacher, I could well organize my schedules and set up separate calendars to share with different classes and students. Google calendar will also allow students and their parents to keep track of my office hours and flexibly sign up for parent-teacher conference dates. Last but not least, Google Talk is also an effective communication tool I will choose to use outside classroom. I could contact them by calling or sending instant messages for free no matter where they are.
It will not take me long to learn how to use them and I really enjoy exploring new functions of them. As mentioned in the Eutopia article, "You want to start with something familiar and close to what they are already doing, but so different that it can be a portal to new possibilities”. To plan out and implement the Apps in my teaching practice, I need to incorporate them step by step by introducing one element at one time therefore it will not be so difficult for the whole class. I may also embed the class calendar on classroom website, every update of my schedule will be automatically seen by anyone check the calendar.
The Google Apps are not technology used exclusive by teachers. They can be used in collaborative groups of students and in this way, I can “let people see the evidence that it's working." Take the Google Docs as an example; it gives every one in the group equal opportunity to work on the same documents, spreadsheets, or presentation. Adding everyone’s creative idea at the same time erase possible conflict in the classroom and encourage each student in the teamwork. To work well with others in the same group requires students to actively evolved and contribute to the same project. At the same time, the Google talk will enable students exchange their ideas conveniently through chatting or typing to better accomplish the group project. After they complete the required time of off classroom communication, I will evaluate their involvement in the group chat by viewing their talk synthesis.
Introducing the Google Apps to my classroom will largely broaden students’ horizons than focusing merely on text books; enhance students’ collaboration and makes classroom more organized, therefore the technology definitely worth the time and energy. I would highly recommend my colleagues to integrate the technology into their future classroom.
Teachers and students will share thoughts more spontaneously and effectively if they could get access to the same efficient communication and Collaboration tools. I would like to consider sharing Google Calendar, Google Docs to keep students and their parents better informed and help them interact and support each other to create original works and solve problems. By incorporating Google Apps, I will be able to create an informative and collaborative class environment and get everyone involved, solving problems immediately. Preparing to integrate this technology will not cost much time. On one hand, the Google Apps are widely used in daily lives and there is no need to educate people every function of them. On the other hand, they are quite self explanatory that even first time users will grasp the usage by one or two demonstrations. Therefore I could not think of a single barrier to overcome and it will only take one or two weeks to get everyone familiar with some Google Apps to incorporate them into classroom, such as Google Docs, Google calendar and Google map, to name just a few.
The first and foremost thing for me to incorporate to my classroom is the Google Docs. Documents, spreadsheets or presentations I use in my classroom can be created and shared with students and collogues. As a teacher, I can designate tasks for students to accomplish as assignment and adjust different settings for them to view or edit. Students are allowed to add any new ideas and ask questions on the class contents. Google map will be another useful tool for my read-aloud. With its help, I could provide students with endless visual elements and evidences for the reading materials. Showing them detailed information about the locations where the story took place and the exact landscapes the author depicted in his or her book equip students with important background information to scaffold their understanding and apprehension of the book. I would also like to implement Google calendar for my future classroom. It will inform students what is going on and what to expect in the classroom such as assignment deadlines, test and quiz dates, and other class activities. As a teacher, I could well organize my schedules and set up separate calendars to share with different classes and students. Google calendar will also allow students and their parents to keep track of my office hours and flexibly sign up for parent-teacher conference dates. Last but not least, Google Talk is also an effective communication tool I will choose to use outside classroom. I could contact them by calling or sending instant messages for free no matter where they are.
It will not take me long to learn how to use them and I really enjoy exploring new functions of them. As mentioned in the Eutopia article, "You want to start with something familiar and close to what they are already doing, but so different that it can be a portal to new possibilities”. To plan out and implement the Apps in my teaching practice, I need to incorporate them step by step by introducing one element at one time therefore it will not be so difficult for the whole class. I may also embed the class calendar on classroom website, every update of my schedule will be automatically seen by anyone check the calendar.
The Google Apps are not technology used exclusive by teachers. They can be used in collaborative groups of students and in this way, I can “let people see the evidence that it's working." Take the Google Docs as an example; it gives every one in the group equal opportunity to work on the same documents, spreadsheets, or presentation. Adding everyone’s creative idea at the same time erase possible conflict in the classroom and encourage each student in the teamwork. To work well with others in the same group requires students to actively evolved and contribute to the same project. At the same time, the Google talk will enable students exchange their ideas conveniently through chatting or typing to better accomplish the group project. After they complete the required time of off classroom communication, I will evaluate their involvement in the group chat by viewing their talk synthesis.
Introducing the Google Apps to my classroom will largely broaden students’ horizons than focusing merely on text books; enhance students’ collaboration and makes classroom more organized, therefore the technology definitely worth the time and energy. I would highly recommend my colleagues to integrate the technology into their future classroom.