Using Google Apps for Education in Activity #4

I have been messing around with Google Apps for a few years now, but have finally had the right motivation to really try hard to utilize more of them more often...this class. Seriously, though, Google has managed to bring together so many power and collaborative tools. A teacher would have to be crazy not to tap into what they have to offer. Now, by no means does Google have everything down pat or have all bases covered, but it is reasonable to think that one could operate much of what they do personally and professionally in the Google Universe.

One idea that I am going to work on this fall is to use Google Drive to allow groups to work together on creating a lab report. There isn't anything new about having groups work together to create a lab write-up, but often the finished product shows that the effort was a little disjointed. Before, students would email their part of the report to each other, with one person left to compile everything. This was a difficult task with different formatting used by almost everyone. Google Drive allows for them to all work on the same document and then just share with me when they are done. No paper ever needs to be printed and virtually no time needs to be wasted on formatting. Both the students and teacher will save valuable time.

Using forms and Flubaroo will a great way to assess learning quickly. Now, I will likely use it as an entrance quiz or exit quiz to see where kids are at after a lab or discussion. Strengthening formative assessments in my class has proven to be helpful to solidifying concepts with my student.

I created a calendar for each of my classes. This is where the assignment sheets of the past will become more useful to students and their supports. I will post class plans for the future and alter them with homework so kids will always be able to see what is coming down the road and what they might have missed on a day they were gone. The key with this one will be staying on top of planning forward and updating changes when they happen. Waiting will always lead to not doing it when its needed...if at all.

All in all, Google Apps for Education is going to make my communication with my student infinitely better. The 2013-2014 school year is going to be a whole new experience in Mr. Palmberg's class.