7-4 Blog: Google Apps

Google Apps can be a wonderful piece of technology to use with students and on a professional development level. The difficulty that many schools face is having access to computers and reliable internet to support the use of these apps. Google has created a presentation that outlines 32 ways to use Google apps in a classroom and professional setting, some student examples include translations, sign-up sheets, flash cards, analysis for labs, and much more (Stiglitz).   There are a variety of ways that apply to the professional development aspect as well including curriculum sharing, parent communication/translation, discipline, and calendar planning (Stiglitz).  By using any of these examples you would be expanding your knowledge along with students about positive technology use for learning.

Google Apps has a lot of positive outcomes with its use in schools. One major positive point is that it is free; this helps all schools to have the opportunity to use this source for student learning. Also because the accounts are created through the school they can deny access to certain websites or apps that are inappropriate. Students will also be able to access it from school and home as long as they have a computer and internet access. As I stated above there are so many ways that Google Apps can be used that it allows creativity and innovation to engage students in learning opportunities that can directly develop future skills.

There are also some drawbacks to using Google Apps the user must be 13 years or older this limits 6^th grade and lower using this resource. There must be a reliable internet source and computer, which some schools may not have in their budget. Also teachers that expect students to use Google Apps at home may have an issue due to their economic status and access to technology tools. When using Docs sometimes people or students that you share with don’t realize they need to “make a copy” and they directly edit or delete material that is needed.

My experience with Google Apps personally and professionally has been really successful in organizing and simplifying my everyday life. I mainly use Google Classrooms, Docs, Slides, Calendar, Gmail, and Drive. I use these Apps for my students in the classroom and also for professional collaboration and communication. Through my coursework at SNHU I have used Google Forms for survey creation multiple times. I have also used it for blogging and commenting on classmates’ blogs. In this module we worked in Google Slides to create a slide on a personal inspirational quote and image. And finally my most common use I do is using it as a search engine when finding information on a topic.

I created my survey to gain a better understanding of how and why people use technology the way that they do. When I read that we could create this survey on any topic we wanted, I found myself thinking about how I use technology and wondering how others use it. I think I have a good idea why and how, but am interested in reading and analyzing the responses.

Survey Results: 

Summary

What technology do you use in your professional (work) setting?

Laptop computer	6	75%
Desktop computer	6	75%
Projector	7	87.5%
Document Projector	3	37.5%
Interactive Whiteboard (Mimio, SMART board, etc.)	7	87.5%
Tablets (iPad, Microsoft Surface, etc.)	5	62.5%
Readers (Nook, Kindle, etc.)	2	25%
Other	1	12.5%

Which professional technology tool do you use the most?

Laptop computer	4	50%
Desktop computer	1	12.5%
Projector	0	0%
Document Projector	1	12.5%
Interactive Whiteboard (Mimio, SMART board, etc.)	2	25%
Tablets (iPad, Microsoft Surface, etc.)	0	0%
Readers (Nook, Kindle, etc.)	0	0%
Other	0	0%

What do you use that tool for?

Lesson Plans

Lesson development & research

Teaching

day to day processing

To provide feedback, to grade, to construct lessons and videos, etc.

Aiding my instruction

Lesson planning and email

Teaching Lessons

What do you like about using technology in the professional setting?

I like how technology, when used effectively, can engage students in learning experiences that build on collaboration, problem solving, and higher order thinking skills.

It makes life easier!

Although it takes time to use it and create learning tools with it, it ultimately saves time because I have the tools created and I can now use them when I need them versus having to start from scratch.

Students can follow along with the instruction

The ability to access needed information quickly.

It is a great tool to help instruct and get the ideas across.

The ease of accessing information quickly, as well as the ability to connect and share what I have found with others

It helps make efforts and time more efficient.

What technology do you use in your personal (outside of work) setting?

Laptop computer	6	75%
Desktop computer	4	50%
Projector	0	0%
Document Projector	0	0%
Interactive Whiteboard (Mimio, SMART board, etc.)	0	0%
Tablets (iPad, Microsoft Surface, etc.)	7	87.5%
Readers (Nook, Kindle, etc.)	2	25%
Other	2	25%

Which personal technology tool do you use the most?

Laptop computer	4	50%
Desktop computer	1	12.5%
Projector	0	0%
Document Projector	0	0%
Interactive Whiteboard (Mimio, SMART board, etc.)	0	0%
Tablets (iPad, Microsoft Surface, etc.)	1	12.5%
Readers (Nook, Kindle, etc.)	0	0%
Other	2	25%

What do you use that tool for?

calls, social media, GPS, scheduling, podcasts, music player

School and social thing

School work.

Email, Lesson Plan Research

Grade papers, watch TV

Gaming and streaming

Designing custom graphics/artwork, editing photographs

organization and entertainment

What do you like about using technology in the personal setting?

The ability to communicate easily.

It's a great way to unwind and relax.

It helps me communicate with others and my family that do not live close by. Helps me keep in touch with the world.

It provides me with yet another tool to express my creativity.

It keeps me connected to my interests.

I like how technology connects with the world in real time experiences.

Accessability

It can be relaxing.

Number of daily responses

https://docs.google.com/a/framingham.k12.ma.us/forms/d/1XVM3gBnwi1kv8G_XSI996WSOSXgT607pZ1kIeHghY9o/viewanalytics

Resources:

Google. (n.d.). Integrating Google Tools 4 Teachers. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/colettecassinelli/proscons

Stiglitz, J. (n.d.). Google Apps in Classrooms and Schools. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/a/framingham.k12.ma.us/presentation/d/1_6fh7wXkugHQbbA2ILrjsFqysvclJCbul2I3Oc912D8/present?slide=id.i148

5-4 Blog: Social Networking

“Social networking is the use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users, or to find people with similar interests,” (Google, 2015). The important information to realize is that social networking is mostly about communicating with others and the way chosen to use it in the classroom is up to the teacher. Some of the ways that social networking sites are being used in the classroom are “blog posts, status updates, connecting with other classrooms in the state, country or world, to give feedback on an assignment, to create videos or podcasts and special interest projects,” (Edutopia, 2015). These types of classroom assessments could also be used for professional development or for administration to contact staff. Whatever source is used it is essential that the educator using it must have a large amount of knowledge of that program. That way he or she is aware of possible issues that could occur and then create a plan to prevent them from happening.

There are many advantages to using social networking sites in the classroom, such as increasing student engagement, by creating value and interest for the student. Also teachers are able to get valuable data to track student’s progress (Pandolfo, 2012). The systems that are being created “will be able to analyze that student's work and their understanding and be able to give the right kind of feedback at the right time to help them deepen their understanding,” (Pandolfo, 2012). Profile based websites, like LinkedIn, have “enhanced profiles to include organizations, projects, awards, test scores and courses to make that first job out of college more attainable,”(Goble, & Leicht, 2014). Many college campuses are using social networking sites to promote “professional networking, outreach to current and potential students and school pride,” (Glenn, 2012). Using these types of websites in the classroom allows students to feel like what they are producing can go beyond the classroom.

Although the advantages are significant, there are disadvantages as well. Many educators feel that it could lead to too much computer time; school should be a place where students can shut off their technology (Pandolfo, 2012). Another disadvantage is that many of our students are becoming “deficient in the face-to-face social skills needed in the workplace,” (Pandolfo, 2012). “Students want to use social media for socializing, not as an extended classroom,” (Glenn, 2012). In addition some believe that “Social media is not expanding their social circle or worldview, it’s limiting it,” (Pandolfo, 2012).

I personally believe that social networking websites used in the classroom could be successful, although there does need to be guidelines. Educators should not be using these sources just to use them, there needs to be an educational purpose. The educator needs to have strict expectations and instructions when using networking sites. Also I believe that certain age groups may be more successful than others, for example college level learners should be able to maintain a blog or twitter account, where as an elementary student may struggle at this task and need more guidance. From my experience I think that middle school students may take advantage of the assignment and use it for social not educational purposes. “The digital environment is offering us some of the greatest learning opportunities that young learners have ever had,” how we use them is important (Edutopia, 2015).

Resources:

Edutopia. (2015). A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/guidebook-social-media-in-classroom-vicki-davis

Glenn, D. (2012). How Well are Schools Using Social Media? Retrieved from http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/how-well-are-schools-using-social-media-infographic/90209?red=st

Goble, D. & Leicht, G. (2014). Should Teachers be Using Social Media in the Classroom? Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/social-media-valuable-tool-teachers/

Google. (2015). Social Networking. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=definition+of+social+networking

Pandolfo, N. (2012). Social Media and Video Games in Classrooms Can Yield Valuable Data For Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/social-media-and-video-ga_n_1465082.html