Google Tools

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Teachers from the Trenches:

Can you share with us how you are using the Google Tools for Educators?

[Ginger Lewman]

I LOVE Google tools beyond the basic metasearch engine! They're free and that seems to be one of my first determining factor of usability in this Web 2.0 world!

We have used the shared Google Docs in order to bring together individual work into group collaborations. We used this as an assignment when we were all in the same room, but the kids were able to ask for immediate help and next time, it will be easier to use the tool across vast distances, since we're already experienced.

We also use Picassa, the photo storage/sharing tool. Pics were taking up HUGE memory space and we needed to dump them elsewhere.

Some, once they got their gmail accounts, also started using Google Desktop to make their Google homepages theirs.

We started the year with Blogger, but I didn't know it was a google tool back then! Students had their own blogs and were using them to log their work on their independent learning time. I like that I was able to get in, learn some basic HTML, and modify their blogs to delete the ability for them to surf to the next blog, which sometimes held *SURPRISES* on the next click! eek! I do think this is now blocked at school. :( As is Google Video.

Some students who are a bit more adventerous have used the Web Accelerator at home.

But by far, our most successful tool we've used is Google Sketchup. While the district about had a COW when 3 of us downloaded it during the middle of the day (my first lesson on bandwidth courtesy), we use it for really getting to know the architecture of various cultures/civilizations in time. Students have replecated Maya/Inca/Khymer Rouge/Mali/Aztec temples and street scapes, homes of various native american groups, and even their own dream homes, which they then constructed to scale in real time and place. They also then placed their ancient buildings/street scapes onto Google Earth, thereby getting a more intimate investigation of the "hardware" of the times then simply staring at pictures. The kids also love that they can download cars and trees and all sorts of other pieces from the online library.
I've even seen classrooms re-created with inserted hotlinks and the sketches placed on websites in order to make a tour of the classroom more interactive. Click on the teacher's desk and get a copy of your child's grades. Click on the math drawer on the file cabinet and see the assignments for the week. Click on the hamster cage and get care/feeding tips for hamsters. Google Sketchup is an exciting tool that we'll continue to use for a LONG time!

Other tools? I can't wait to begin using Google Notebook. I think it may be like Trailfire, but maybe it won't be blocked!

Finally, some students (and I do too), use Google Alerts to keep tabs on various topics we're researching at the time. I also use it for my own name and recommend that my students' parents use it for their kids' names -- various screen names AND real-life names -- in order to see what's being posted out there either by them or about them. It helps to keep us all a little safer.

[Kim Pfeifer]

Our journalism class (Chatter newspaper) started a blog with Blogger just days before school was out, so the word hasn't gotten around yet. It's called the Jot Spot and here is what they posted:

We at the Chatter have decided to create a place where you can leave your comments or questions and we'll write back. Some comments will be posted in the Chatter as well.

It's very basic right now, but it's a start! Here's the link: http://www.ringneckchatter.blogspot.com/

I am planning some British Lit lessons around Google Earth tours to Hadrian's Wall, the Sutton Hoo burial, Cadbury, maybe even one following the trek to Canterbury from London. :)

Next project- I will be exploring Google Sketchup and working that in. Very, very cool!

Thanks to all of you for all the wonderful ideas!