Google Apps for Education in the Classroom

Educating with Google

G Suite for Education was formerly known as Google apps for Education. It still offers the same apps they always have just a different name. These apps allow us as educators to schedule, present, and use Google docs, which I personally love. Google Forms includes quizzes which are easily graded within the same program. G Suite gives educators the advantage of taking control of your classroom; communicating with your students, give them with constructive feedback when needed, index classroom documents and share assignments.

I personally have seen more students use Chrome books in the classroom than Ipads. My son has been using a his Chromebook for three years now and he loves it. My own experiences with using Google docs has been a great experience as well. For the students in my own classroom, using google docs will be a must. Being able to share the assignment and have access to the students progress is a great tool. 

Pros

• Makes processing assignments quick and easy.
• Option to be paperless.
• Accessible from anywhere.

Cons

• Limited domain access.
• Once an assignment is posted it cannot be edited.
• Complaints about account management.

Daily Technology Integration in the Classroom

On the Daily 

with 

Classroom Tech

As I work my way through school I have thus far, forty five hours of clinical observations in a classroom setting. Thirty hours in eighth grade Language Arts and fifteen hours in eighth grade Social Studies. And I can honestly say that the majority of the time I have observed teachers and students they are using technology. From overhead projectors linked to the teacher's desk top computer, cameras that follow the movement of the teacher as she walks around her classroom, to the Chromebook that each students uses everyday. 

Throughout the time I have spent observing I have seen the students use an actually book only once. The students were reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. And very rarely were the given assignments on paper. The school that I was fortunate enough to observe in uses Schoology: Learning Management System. Schoology makes it easy to construct new class materials and strengthen existing content. Teachers can develop engaging lessons, recycle older lessons, and use Google Drive, Microsoft Office, YouTube, and a wide variety of other inter-web tools. 

I would most definitely use Schoology in my own classroom. For example, the students can take a virtual field trip to Ellis Island. I can create a scavenger hunt assignment for them and grade it, all on Schoology. This technology gives teachers the advantage by making classroom management more efficient. Instead of having to use multiple tech tools they can just one.

Pros

• Similar layout to Facebook.
• It is a cloud based system.
• Supports a variety of different shared platforms.

Cons

• No moderation for student discussions.
• Free version is difficult to navigate.
• The best version of Schoology is not free.

iPads and Chromebooks in the Classroom

Getting a Grip on the Technology in your Classroom

Since Ipad's came out in 2010 they have exploded as one of the most saute after educational tools. Studies have shown that students who have used Ipads received high test scores in literacy, and were more engaged in learning than students who did not have the devices. Studies have also proved that students with special needs, from mild to severe, were more engrossed and performed better while using an Ipad. 

The key is to remember that, although it offers so many advantages toward learning, it is still just a tool. Depending on what grade level you are teaching is where you can start to navigate your lesson plans and integrating the Ipad. If you are an elementary school teacher it can be used for teaching shapes, alphabet, and colors. For middle school the opportunities are almost endless. This tool is not selective for what subject it is used for. It can even replace a text book. But most of all I find it to be most effective in handling assignments and homework. 

Pros

• Apple offers hundreds of educational apps.
• It can be used to accommodate students with disabilities.
• Touch screen option.

Cons

• It does not have a keyboard attached.
• Students need to be responsible for charging the device.

Skyping in the Classroom

Exploring Connections

with Skype

I am sure most of us have used or at least heard of the free communication tool Skype. Skype is a free service used for calls and video chatting, allowing people to communicate from all around the world. This opens a window of opportunity for educators all over the world to explore and learn. 

The ability to connect students from different backgrounds and cultures is a fantastic learning opportunity for them to learn more about the world around them. It exposes them to learn from students who live outside their own community in a personal way. As educators who want to make this adventure, we can make a connection with students from our neighboring state or the other side of the planet. 

A few ideas for utilizing Skype are exploring foreign languages with students from other countries. Have your students create a project they can collaborate together with another class. And one of the ideas that I personally like the most. Using Skype to connect with students who may be in the hospital or for some reason not able to attend school. Another instance would be if a parent was unable to attend a parent/teacher conference, it is as simple as starting a video chat with Skype.

Pros

• Using Skype is free.
• Exposes students to different cultures and backgrounds.
• Could also be used as a tutoring tool.

Cons

• Requires time to verify and locate a school to connect with.
• Also requires a dependable internet connection.

Social Media in the Classroom

Twitter in your classroom?

Twitter can be used in a variety of ways for eLearning and social learning, as it opens different avenues of audiences. There are many factors you need to consider while evaluating Twitter for use in your classroom. It is a fair to assume that many of the students in our classrooms are already active on twitter, so that makes it a little easier. Lets look at the strong points of using Twitter as an educational tool.

Hashtags (#) are used in several different ways to communicate, each having a practical use in the classroom. A hashtag draws attention to the subject you want people to pay attention to or ask questions about. It will also connect people to subject matter or other people currently interested in the same subject. Twitter is also a real time discussion, you can use it during the specified time and for further discussion later. Encouraging students to share their thoughts,concerns, and interests. It is a great way to collaborate with others and reflect on what they are learning.

Pros

• The app makes it available from almost anywhere.
• It is a great way to connect to your students.
• Builds a community of learners.

Cons

• Not the best for visual content.
• Your student could easily become distracted.
• Limits content to 140 characters or less.