Hey everyone! Take a look at the blog questions we posted for week 9! There are three questions that you can choose from. Please pick one of questions that relates to a reading and also be sure to incorporate other students reactions if they are relevant to your response.
We look forward to hearing what you have to say!
Roberta Brown, Victoria Buckley, Jennifer Salisbury, Ashley Volino, Becky Wheaton, Danielle Ziobrowski
Q1: What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
Q2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
Q3: The YouTube videos listed for week 9 all discuss the features of Google Sites and how to use Google Sites in general. What do you think is the the best feature of Google Sites and how would you incorporate Google Sites into your classroom? (Readings 9.3-9.7)
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Q2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
ReplyDeleteGoogle Apps offers an array of useful technological tools that can easily be incorporated into any teacher’s curriculum. Teachers can rely on the fact that Google Apps has created a space that is collaborative, purposeful, and always current; making this an excellent resources to use in the classroom.
Google Apps is extremely versatile, meaning that a teacher could virtually incorporate this technological asset into numerous parts of their curriculum. An excellent application to use for both students and teachers is Google Sites. This specific feature is an easy way to create secure dynamic web pages. This would be an excellent contribution to the classroom because students can create their own web pages individually or in groups by researching any topic that is related to the content areas being taught. Google Sites is an incredibly useful tool to have when conducting a large group project because it aids in organizing students data such as, documents, spreadsheets, videos, and slideshows. Also, Google Sites is user friendly. So, even a beginner to technology could follow the templates and directions with ease.
Another Google App that is monumental for the classroom is Google Groups. This particular application is beneficial to teachers and students because it allocates discussions between several different groups. For example, teachers may find this tool useful because they can now communicate with other groups of teachers that are not in the area. Google Groups opens up to a wide range of ideas and expressions to be shared between diverse groups of people. Students will find this tool valuable because now students can share their thoughts, ideas, and comments amongst other individuals as well.
Google Apps offers an assortment of positive technological tools to be used within the classroom. I just mentioned a couple that I would incorporate into my classroom curriculum but there are several more constructive applications obtainable.
I agree with you, Ashley. Google Apps can be incorporated into "numerous parts of their curriculum." You gave excellent examples. Can any one else think of a way they include Google Apps into their future classrooms or have seen it used in practicum?
ReplyDeleteThe Google sites videos gave a lot of information about different ways to use Google sites. The first video (9.3) discusses many different ways to use Google sites including how to use it as a teacher. I think one great feature of Google sites is that you can quickly and easily create a virtual classroom. Google sites makes it very easy to create a page in only a few short minutes and edit the page sporadically whenever you may need or want to without confusion. This would be a great tool for teachers because it allows them to easily update a classroom page with whatever they feel necessary as often as they like. The page can be used for homework assignments, class announcements, can document class activities and events, etc. Students and their teacher can also add new pictures, videos, or comments that correlate to projects or reports they may be doing or even updates on what is occurring in the classroom. Google sites allows you to create a network of sites. A teacher can create several different pages that are linked to the classroom website that are relevant to course material and the classroom. In addition, teachers can make the website public or private. That way, a teacher can control who can see their website and contribute to the material on it. This also keeps parents very informed and updated on events in the classroom and the material their children are learning. Using Google sites would be very beneficial to a classroom because it is so simple and easy to use for the teacher, students, and parents.
ReplyDeleteQ1: What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
ReplyDeleteCurtis Bonk mentions many reasons why instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might want to share online content. One reason Bonk mentions is that they may want to gain feedback on the information they are talking about. This is very important because if the content they are talking about receives positive feedback, they know that viewers agree with what they are talking about and their content is correct. If the feedback is mainly negative, the creators may realize that they need to go back and work on their content a bit more. A few more reasons they may share their content are because they want potential students to be able to view what courses are available, they may want to share their content with other instructors, and it may help some people keep a job or find a new job in our current economic crisis. Bonk also talks about ten different reasons why potential learners may want to use online content. One of these reasons is that learners may not know what they want to major in when they attend college. Many online educational resources may help potential learners figure out what major they wish to concentrate in. A few other reasons that Bonk mentions in his article are there are fewer learning restrictions, potential learners have a better view of what colleges are available, and potential learners have the ability to look up pre-requisite skills for college. Over-all, the amount of open educational resources on the Internet is a great benefit to much of society.
Q2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
ReplyDeleteIn this article, I chose to view the presentation on class collection of book reviews by Carol LaRow. LaRow suggests using Google Apps to involve the students in a reading activity. She lists six things that Google will contribute to the lesson, which are to inspire investigation & research, bring assignments to life, process and organize information, extend learning beyond the school day, encourage sharing and collaboration, and publish for authentic audiences. The lesson has the students read novels throughout the school year, choose two favorite novels to review and post online, write reviews “For Students, By Students”, contribute to a class collection which serves as a student-to-student resource, offer their opinions so other students can choose novels, and clarify their own understanding of literature as they write reviews. In the lesson, the students are using iGoogle Start Page, Author/Novel Searches, Docs, Presentation, Blogger, Book Search, Book List, and Forms. The presentation goes on to say that the students will use forms to request novels in the school’s library, write book reviews using Docs, work with writing partners in peer editing mode using Docs, use Forms to indicate which novels they are reviewing, use Forms to indicate that they are ready for the teacher to access their book reviews for a final grade, use the teacher’s online Book List as a resource, publish their book reviews online, keep their own book lists of novels they have read, and use Presentation to create visual reviews of their novels.
I think that this presentation and lesson is a great resource. It has so many different Google Apps that are involved in one Language Arts lesson. The lesson promotes students’ use of technological tools as well as expands their reading and book sources. Instead of individually going to the school library for books, the students have much more of a variety for researching books. They are also working on writing, editing, and presenting. Overall, Google Apps helps make a simple language arts lesson much more engaging and interesting.
Question 3- I think the best feature of the Google sites is that it is user friendly. It is very self explanatory. In the second you tube video for Google sites, it shows us how we can easily use it. For example, if you want to change the font and text styles you literally scroll up to the toolbar and it is available for you to do so. If you wanted to insert an image you literally go to "insert image" and then you are able to browse through your images to add one. If you wanted to create a new page you literally go to "create new page" and then you start creating whatever type of page you would like to have on your own personal Google site.
ReplyDeleteI would incorporate Google sites in my classroom because it will make communication and organization easy. There are very few times where I can think of when organizing a class (during observations) was easy. If I had a Google site in my classroom I would personally choose to make different pages for homework, announcements, discussion page for students, and a discussion page for parents to communicate with me. I also think it is great that I can manage it how I want to. If I do not want my students to see the page where I talk with their parents, I can adjust the settings on my Google Site so they would not be able to view that page. Over-all, Google Sites will be beneficiary in my classroom.
Brittany make several very good points regarding the ease of using Google sites. I feel that this simplicity would allow the sites to be used in lower grade classrooms without much difficulty. With a little guidance, a second grade class could collaborate to make a site using their classroom computer. Google sites could be used as a great medium for communication in the classroom. Students would have hands on experience in creating projects that extend their imagination. The vast availability of tools on Google sites open the door for limitless creativity. I think Google sites would make an excellent addition to any elementary classroom.
ReplyDeleteQ1: What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
ReplyDeleteI think Rikki chose some great examples of why instructors and potential learners might use and share online content. Bonk mentions various reasons for instructors to share their content online such as standardizing content and content repetition. I am sure we have all been in a course with one professor while a friend has a different professor for the same course and we feel as if we are learning completely different information. To standardize the course content would make the learning experiences more equal for all. Content repetition is something I believe is very effective and will try to provide this for my future students. It is not easy to remember everything we do in class everyday so to have the information available for them to access whenever they forget would be beneficial to my students' learning and will make my job as a teacher easier because I will be able to move on to new ideas faster. Two of the most important reasons a potential learner would use the open online content would be to find a place to study and for life satisfaction. When a student knows what they would like to study, they will easily be able to access content from courses they will need to take and can compare content from different schools and with different professors. They can find the attitude and teaching style that best fits them. I feel that life satisfaction is a great reason to use online content because, for those of us who are eager to learn more and new things, we can go online and learn about virtually anything we are interested in without needing to take a course in it.
I think the best feature of Google Sites is the accessibility and simpleness of the format. Everything is incredible self-explanatory and easy to set up. I agree with Brittany that the site is user friendly and the second video shows how simple it is to use.
ReplyDeleteThe first video includes a segment that briefly shows how to use the application as a teacher and it poses some very good ideas. In my classroom I would definitely incorporate Google Sites by creating a virtual classroom that is easily accessible to teachers, parents/guardians, and students. Being able to post homework assignments, classroom activities, upcoming events, etc would be very convenient and helpful to all. Updating the site with photos and videos is an excellent idea to show guardians what we have been doing in school and the progress that their children have been making.
Q3 - Google Sites
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of great things about Google sites. Personally, I think the best is how simple it is. I never would have believed how easy it is to make a website or a group of websites. The first video (9.3) is a brief explanation of some of the tools available and ideas of how to use Google sites. I think Anna made a good point about how if a teacher makes a site or a network of sites, they still maintain control through the privacy and editing features. I agree with Iris that being able to update the site with pictures and videos that relate to classroom events. I think its a great way to actually show families what the child has been doing. I personally plan to create a virtual classroom in the future. My students will not only use it but help make decisions on what will be on the site. This could definitely make the students feel they have more control of some parts of their school life.
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ReplyDeleteEveryone is doing great! You are all saying wonderful things on how you will use google or how it can be used. Everyone is right that it is easy. Why do you think it is not more widely used in schools? I have not seen it used in any of the classroom I have been in. Also, I am looking forward to reading more about how we can incorporate google into classrooms.
ReplyDeleteGreat Response Rikki! You provided specific examples to show how online content is important for organizations and potential students. Educational resources could be extremely helpful for potential students to learn more about the courses they can take and what career they would like to pursue. I know that personally it helps me a lot when trying to plan out my semester courses I need to take. Has online content helped anyone else out with searching courses or career options?
ReplyDeleteQ2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of different ways for teachers to incorporate Google Apps into the classroom setting. Since Google Apps are user-friendly, teachers should be able to figure out how to use them quickly and easily. This is a plus for students as well. Also, Google Apps are reliable and secure, meaning students and teachers should feel comfortable when using them.
Teachers could use Google Apps to set up projects for students that require days or weeks. Using the Internet is a good resource because it allows students to see examples and follow directions exactly as the teacher wants. Another Google App I feel that teachers should use was brought up by Ashley-Google Group. This is a great Google App because it benefits both teachers and students. Teachers can learn from other teachers as well as from their students while students can learn from other students. All in all, this Google App would work well for most age groups. The last Google App that I believe teachers should use in their classroom is Gmail. Gmail could benefit the students if they forgot what their homework was or had a question about something that happened in class. Gmail would also give students a sense of responsibility.
Although I named three Google Apps I would use in the classroom, there are many more that could be used. Google Apps are up in coming in the classroom, meaning it is important to learn as much about them as possible.
Q3 - I like the different uses for google sites. It's amazing to see the things they can come up with on the Internet, to make a lot of things easier and accessible for many different people. Even children can access, for example, a classroom site or a club site. Google sites has many great features, it is very easy to use, it organizes things nicely, and the accessibility can either be very private or very open to the public. Also, the other feature with attaching e-mails to documents instead of vice versa is a safer way to share information. I never thought of it that way when I always attach documents to e-mails..but honestly it was a bit confusing (googledocs). Technology just keeps growing and there are many great features along with it.
ReplyDeleteQ2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Myriah in saying that google apps are fantastic tools to incorporate into any classroom because they are teacher and student friendly. Google apps have no cost to the user and can be added to any classroom website, such as a wikispace. An example of this would be using the google calendar app or the weather and news app. One specific google application I would use in my classroom is Gmail. Gmail would benefit students who are absent, it would keep students organized because it uses a log of communications and it would also make communication inside and outside the classroom easy.
Also, a google app we currently use in our class in Blogger, and if it were not for this application, we would not be able to complete this assignment so easily. Classrooms can use blogger to complete assignments or share and communicate like we do as part of our class. Students can also use google spreadsheets to stay organized with tasks, responsibilities, or the lunch schedule in the classroom.
There are also many other apps in addition to the ones I have mentioned, but I know that in my future classrooms I will definitely use the gmail, blogger, calendar, and spreadsheet google applications. These applications will benefit myself, my students and their families.
Great response Danielle! I like how you read other responses and gave specific examples of how you would use google aps in your classroom. You gave the example of how we use Blogger in our class, it is a good tool to use to be able to still do homework, but keep learning from our peers when we read their responses.
ReplyDeleteBecca i agree with you completely it amazes me as well with what people come up with on the internet. Everything is available with just the touch of a click, its amazing how time changes everything. Google sites is a great website to use. Would you suggest this website to future teachers or recommend it to your peers?
ReplyDeleteJen- I have not seen Google Apps used in my observation either but also I think that many teachers may not be aware that this teaching tool is offered. As teachers, we are constantly being introduced to new and valuable teaching tools and there is a chance that some teachers have just not been introduced to this idea. Another possibility to why Google Apps may not be incorporated into the classroom is because teachers maybe intimidated to try it. Sometimes people become stuck in certain comfort areas and are weary to try something new, especially if it is foreign topic to them. For example, the idea of learning about and incorporating technology into their classroom curriculum can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating because of the simple fact there is so much offered to a teacher in the technology world. Although, being a lifelong learner is part of being a teacher and this is a theory we should try to abide by. These are just a few suggestions to why we may have not been exposed to Google Apps within the classrooms of the schools we are observing.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think Becca! It is amazing what you can do with the internet these days. It has become very helpful in the last ten years and new technology is being invented more and more everyday. The technology world has been changing so rapidly, I couldn't even imagine what it will be like in the next 20 years. Even though you found it difficult and confusing, do you think you will start attaching your e-mails to your documents to make it safer or still remain doing it the other way?
ReplyDeleteKristen-you made a very good point when you said that the best thing about Google sites is how easy it is! It is easy for teachers to use, but also it is easy enough to teach your students to use it too. I like how you said that you plan on having a virtual classroom in the future, there are great things that you can do with Google sites!
ReplyDeleteAnna- I think you made sold points with your answer. It's very important as teachers to be able to use all the resources available to benefit our students. As a future teacher would use to the google apps in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteI really like everyone's post! I think you all have brought up a lot of great points and have shared your opinions too. Personally, I'm alittle nervous with all the new technology coming out. As a future teacher I want to be able to provide my students with every opportunity possible. What are some ways in which teachers can keep up with this changing technology scene?
ReplyDeleteQ1: What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rikki. I think it is very important for teachers and learners to take advantage of online content. Bonk mentions that posting lessons/information online would give them a chance to receive feedback on what they are teaching. As future teachers, I think that we should all take advantage of this. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I am very nervous about planning and teaching lessons in my future classroom. I think if I post my content online and receive feedback from other teachers, I would feel more confident with my lesson. I also believe that posting information online is important for students as well. Students all learn in different ways, so providing information electronically might be helpful to those who don't learn well by lecture. Online content is also important because it provides information quickly and easily. Teachers and students can study, explore, and learn new things by taking advantage of online sites. I agree with Erin when she says that students can learn things without taking an entire course. As a future teacher, I am sure I will use online sources to provide information to my students. As a student, I think it is very convenient to have information available to me online whenever I may need it.
Liz, I agree with you. Im so nervous about planning and teaching lesson, I always think what if they aren't as successful as I planned, then what do I do? If we were able to post everything online and get feedback from others it would boost confidence levels among most of us. If we were able to use the internet to get feedback from teachers all over the world, I feel that we would be more knowledgeable of things that happen in other classrooms as well as how to fix these problems that take place. I feel that it is important to use the internet as a reference both inside and outside the classroom as both a teacher and as a student.
ReplyDeleteQ 2: I think google apps are great because they can be used in such a wide variety of ways. The videos helped show uses that I hadn't thought of before. I agree with many of you when saying they are great tools because they are student and teacher friendly. By using Google Apps, as a teacher you can open up an online classroom.
ReplyDeleteI would use Gmail in my classroom so that I could more easily communicate with my students. This would help get information to parents and students that are absent. This makes communication much faster and easier than using notes or calls home.
I would also use google sites to open an online classroom. This could be a great way to parents at home and help increase having home support. Homework and classroom events could be posted and changed. As well as resources linked that students could use as other resources. It is a great way to bring everything in the classroom together online. This could also be a great way to display students work.
I agree with all of you that said you have not seen these application used in your practicum classrooms. I would like to see them applied to a real situation to see more specifically how they could be useful. This helps show how as teachers we should continually educate ourselves on the technology available to us.
Q1: What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
ReplyDeleteI liked the examples that Rikki, Erin, and Liz chose for why instructors and potential learners might use and share online content. I agree with Rikki and feel that expert feedback support is important so that instructors can receive feedback and see if the content they are posting is accurate or not and to see what other people think of the information they are displaying. In addition, Bonk mentioned the ease of access. I support this reason because by placing content materials online, it enables students to have easy access to the material in case they lose a copy of it and they can access that material whenever necessary. I also feel that pedagogical idea sharing is beneficial as is allows instructors to share their ideas and receive feedback on it. By doing this, instructors are able to learn from others and come up with new ideas they might not have thought of before.
In agreement with Erin, I think the most important reason a potential learner would use the open online content is for life satisfaction because we can use the internet to look up anything it is we are interested in or want to learn more about to make us more knowledgeable.
Q2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
ReplyDeleteI think that Google Apps are a great thing to use in the classroom. I was not very familiar with Google Apps until after reading and watching YouTube clips about it. I think that I would definitely use the Calendar App. I like that it can be viewed and shared with others. That way I could have all events planned out for my students to easily see and access at all times. The Gmail is great too. You can search through your emails a lot easier, and you can open attachments right in the email box with Google docs and spreadsheets. That is convenient for people who use different operating systems and struggle to open attachments. This is great for group work! The students can edit right on the email and send it to the other group members. I love that I am learning about all of these great things that technology has to offer in education, and I will try to use as much of it as I can when I am a teacher. All of these things make the class much more organized and efficient.
Q3: The YouTube videos listed for week 9 all discuss the features of Google Sites and how to use Google Sites in general. What do you think is the the best feature of Google Sites and how would you incorporate Google Sites into your classroom? (Readings 9.3-9.7)
ReplyDeleteBrittany and Nick got this right on. Google sites is very user friendly and could really make a good addition to a learning experience. It would be an easy thing for teachers to teach and as Nick said it could be fun and easy for students even in the lower grades to use. In my observation I have observed the 1st grade class in the computer lab and the kids love working on the computers and they seem to be very knowledgeable with it as well. I would incorporate google sites mainly with hands on at home. It'd be nice for students to have a place to go check and make sure they didn't miss any homework or readings. I Could even put web pages that could help them with upcoming projects. One thing that would be neat as well is to have students research a topic and make a web-site of their own displaying information they have found. I have found that students love computers and know just as much as I do. I think google sites would be an excellent addition to any classroom.
Q 1. What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why instructors and course designers may share online content. By sharing content the teachers are able to access sources that can help students who learn in different ways comprehend the necessary information. Also, to answer Roberta’s question the teachers can stay up with new technology by sharing online content. By seeing how other teachers use technology a teacher who is not as good with computers can get ideas from their peers.
Q2: In what ways can you incorporate Google Apps into your classroom? (Reading 9.2)
ReplyDeleteGoogle Apps are very user friendly and a great technological tool for teachers to incorporate into their classrooms. I feel that the Gmail App is a great App that both teachers, students, and parents can use for communication. This way students have the option available to them to check and see what assignments are due, or what happened in class, or for parents to keep updated on what is going on in the classroom and what homework their children have due. Another app that I would incorporate into the classroom is the Blogger that we currently use. This is another form of communication that students, parents, and teachers can use to communicate with one another. I also feel that the teachers could make a Blogger specifically for themselves to communicate with each other on where the class is at, and what they will be teaching next. This would benefit the students because teachers could try to link lessons from other classes with theirs (like math with science) if the teachers had an easy site that they could use to talk to each other on.
There are so many different types of Google apps and many different ways to use each app that the possibilities are endless. With all this technology available and having it be free for the public to use why would we not want to find as many ways as possible to incorporate Google apps into our classrooms!
Q1: What are some reasons that instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions might share online content? What are some reasons that potential learners might use online content as well? (Reading 9.1)
ReplyDeleteI feel that sharing online content is a great way for instructors and course designers within organizations and institutions to advertise what they have to offer. Because the internet is so widely used, they can reach millions of people simply by sharing online content. I think that some of the reasons for potential learners to use online content is because it is easily accessible and convenient for them. Looking up information is only a click away and they can do it at anytime, anywhere. Often many may feel that they don’t have the time to set aside to look something up or are overwhelmed by the idea of deciding which classes to take because it can be a long drawn out process; however by institutions sharing online content, potential learners have access to this information from their own computer. I also feel that Erin makes a great point when she states that, “you can go online to learn virtually anything we are interested in”. Sometime we may just want to know a little about something and the sharing of online content makes this possible.