Collaboration project

Here's a link to the Brainstorm Activity on how Google+ can enhance Professional Development

Using Google+ to Enhance PD

PBL Lesson Plan Assignment - Water Conservation PSA

HEre's the link to my PBL Lesson Plan. The student will create a Water Conservation PSA.

Water Conservation PSA Lesson plan - PBL

Collaborative Activity: Graphic Organizer

Here's a link to the collaborative activity of creating a graphic organizer with information on using Google to enhance professional development.

Graphic Organizer

Reflection

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Reflection

For the Fable lesson, I incorporated Google Docs. This allows the students to collaborate on a “worksheet” online. They can add to the document simultaneously from their own devices. I also created documents that can be used as a whole class lesson, individual practice, or as homework. There is some flexibility for the teacher which I like. I know this isn’t a tool, but through this course I learned how to use links feature in a document to get to other places on the internet. I used this in this lesson plan quite a bit. I linked to YouTube for visuals of the fables, an audio version of the fable for learners that need this accommodation, and I linked to docs we use throughout the lesson. These docs can be used on student devices or thrown up on a smartboard for whole class instruction.

Our county has adopted the Portrait of a Graduate to answer this question “What are the skills necessary for success for all children in this rapidly changing, increasingly diverse, and interconnected world” The use of Google Docs (and many of the other tools in the Google suite) addresses the skills a student needs to be a successful portrait of a graduate...Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen and Creative and Critical Thinker.

Throughout this course I have learned so much about the different Google Tools. Honestly, I had no idea so much existed!!! As a teacher, I can see myself utilizing Google Docs a lot. It’s is so easy to use and versatile, and with the many add-on options, you can do so much more than simple word processing!! I am still learning what all the features are, but I am so excited! I can see myself using Docs to create lesson plans, Venn Diagrams, charts and graphs (thinking math and science!!). I can save them in folders on My Drive for easy organization and access. It’s super easy to share docs (slides, sheets, etc) with colleagues and students. I can also see myself using Google Calendar a lot, with both students and parents. What an easy way to keep track of assignments and their due dates. You can also link documents so there’s no more ”I forgot my worksheet”. You can put school holidays, field trips, project due dates, links to videos and study guides and so much more. Google Sites is another Google Tool I will use. I will create  a newsletter type of place for parents to go to for information regarding our class. I will have links to the class calendar, signups, parent resources, and any other information I feel parents need to know. It’s so frustrating to have to dig through old emails or papers brought home looking for information.

To make sure the students see the value in learning the skills associated with working with Google tools, I will use them myself in the classroom. During whole class lessons we will do searches, look at the class calendar, and collaborate on documents. We will also create documents, blogs, slides, etc as part of lessons. I would love to do a hangout with a class in another school, county, state or even country!! THAT would be fun!!! Modeling is very important. Students to see the value and validity of Google tools by using them in the classroom, and hopefully that learning will extend beyond the classroom walls. 

I love that Google has much to offer to enhance my professional development. Throughout this course, we have used Google Doc to collaborate on different assignments. This has given us the opportunity to work together on a single product as time allows in our schedule. Another great tool I learned about is Google Hangout. What a fun way to gather  and collaborate on lessons, share ideas or participate in a training when everyone getting together in one location isn’t an option. Google Slides is a great way to present a topic at a staff development workshop.  Blogger is also a great way to share information. Teachers, librarians, etc can set up a blog as a place to share information on their specialty so that other educators may have access to the information as well. This opens up a whole new world of opportunities for teachers.

Reflection 2

Reflection

For the Fable lesson, I incorporated Google Docs. This allows the students to collaborate on a “worksheet” online. They can add to the document simultaneously from their own devices. I also created documents that can be used as a whole class lesson, individual practice, or as homework. There is some flexibility for the teacher which I like. I know this isn’t a tool, but through this course I learned how to use links feature in a document to get to other places on the internet. I used this in this lesson plan quite a bit. I linked to YouTube for visuals of the fables, an audio version of the fable for learners that need this accommodation, and I linked to docs we use throughout the lesson. These docs can be used on student devices or thrown up on a smartboard for whole class instruction.

Our county has adopted the Portrait of a Graduate to answer this question “What are the skills necessary for success for all children in this rapidly changing, increasingly diverse, and interconnected world” The use of Google Docs (and many of the other tools in the Google suite) addresses the skills a student needs to be a successful portrait of a graduate...Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen and Creative and Critical Thinker.

Throughout this course I have learned so much about the different Google Tools. Honestly, I had no idea so much existed!!! As a teacher, I can see myself utilizing Google Docs a lot. It’s is so easy to use and versatile, and with the many add-on options, you can do so much more than simple word processing!! I am still learning what all the features are, but I am so excited! I can see myself using Docs to create lesson plans, Venn Diagrams, charts and graphs (thinking math and science!!). I can save them in folders on My Drive for easy organization and access. It’s super easy to share docs (slides, sheets, etc) with colleagues and students. I can also see myself using Google Calendar a lot, with both students and parents. What an easy way to keep track of assignments and their due dates. You can also link documents so there’s no more ”I forgot my worksheet”. You can put school holidays, field trips, project due dates, links to videos and study guides and so much more. Google Sites is another Google Tool I will use. I will create  a newsletter type of place for parents to go to for information regarding our class. I will have links to the class calendar, signups, parent resources, and any other information I feel parents need to know. It’s so frustrating to have to dig through old emails or papers brought home looking for information.

To make sure the students see the value in learning the skills associated with working with Google tools, I will use them myself in the classroom. During whole class lessons we will do searches, look at the class calendar, and collaborate on documents. We will also create documents, blogs, slides, etc as part of lessons. I would love to do a hangout with a class in another school, county, state or even country!! THAT would be fun!!! Modeling is very important. Students to see the value and validity of Google tools by using them in the classroom, and hopefully that learning will extend beyond the classroom walls.  

I love that Google has much to offer to enhance my professional development. Throughout this course, we have used Google Doc to collaborate on different assignments. This has given us the opportunity to work together on a single product as time allows in our schedule. Another great tool I learned about is Google Hangout. What a fun way to gather  and collaborate on lessons, share ideas or participate in a training when everyone getting together in one location isn’t an option. Google Slides is a great way to present a topic at a staff development workshop. Blogger is also a great way to share information. Teachers, librarians, etc can set up a blog as a place to share information on their specialty so that other educators may have access to the information as well. This opens up a whole new world of opportunities for teachers.

Reflection

Instruction Product using Google Tools

I revised a lesson plan I found online to incorporate Google Tools. I have included the original lesson plan, the revised lesson plan and related Docs.

Solar System

Revise a Lesson Plan Assignment

I do not have any lesson plans so I borrowed one from the internet and revised it to include Google Tools.

Here is a link to the folder with the original lesson plan from teacher.org, the revised lesson plan and the 3 Google Docs we will use during the lesson

Fable Lesson

Top 5 Google Tools

Here are the top 5 Google Tools (in my humble opinion) for use in the classroom...

1. Google Calendar: students can use it daily. It could be used for assignments, project due dates, homework, spirit days, field trips and so much more. I would have students check this DAILY. It's also a good resource if a student is absent. You can put links to assignments in it so everyone has access (even if they forgot the hard document at school). No more (or at least a lot less) "I left my worksheet at school so I couldn't do my homework". YAY!

2. Google Docs: it's so versitile. Students may write papers on it, use it to collaborate on documents, they may create diagrams, use it for reflection, etc. 

3 & 4. Google Search and YouTube: students have a wealth of information right at their fingertips. They can access how to videos, information on a particular topic, use it to answer questions, and more. No more flipping endlessly through books.

5. Google Slides: it's a great way to present a project. They are fun for the students to work on and a lot more interesting to watch and learn than to just listen to someone talking about a topic.

Using Google Tools

I don't currently have a classroom, but when I do, you bet I am going to implement Google Tools.

1. I will use Google Sites to create a newsletter type of communication for parents. A paper newsletter may or may not make it home. Email newsletters are fine, but a Google Site can be more visual pleasing. Also, with emails, you have to constantly search for back issues/emails to find specific information. This will help alleviate some of that hassle as everything can be on the Site at all times. 

2. I love the idea of using Google Slides in the classroom. What a fun way to present a lesson or for students to create in groups. 

3. I love the idea of finding YouTube channels to provide daily writing prompts. Just something different.

4. I think using Google Earth to trace a character's journey would be fun. Magic Treehouse comes to mind. SUPER fun!!! You could take that and just run with it...link it to history, science and math where applicable. 

5. Of course, Google Docs is a no brainer. So versatile. I could create "worksheets" that students can use, diagrams we can collaborate on, students can collaborate on documents, and so much more.

Google wasn't around as a teaching tool when I was a teacher 14 years ago. So much has changed. I am excited to get back into the classroom and start using some of these resources.