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