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kendrahb

Keeping up with Social Media - Prominent Quote - 3 views

I think that this is great quote, especially for those of us that keep up with published authors and those who are in the education field who add to the academy of information that we read from in ...

started by kendrahb on 29 May 13 1 follow-up, last by kendrahb on 29 May 13
amyhutmacher

Interpreting Algebraic Expressions Day 2 | BetterLesson - 0 views

cc.betterlesson.com/...ng-algebraic-expressions-day-2

algebra multiple representations

shared by amyhutmacher on 18 Jan 14 - No Cached
  • amyhutmacher on 18 Jan 14
     
    Algebra activity connecting different forms of equations
amyhutmacher

A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom | Edutopia - 6 views

www.edutopia.org/...media-in-classroom-vicki-davis

shared by amyhutmacher on 04 Mar 14 - No Cached
  • get feedback for your students' online science fair projects
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 04 Mar 14
       
      Connect with scientists and get them to comment on your students' science fair projects through blog posts.
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 12 Mar 14
       
      We have been studying the Iditarod in 4th grade. I was actually 3 years old watching the mushers at the starting line in 1973 when the race began. My father was the communication specialist. We are going to skype with him later this week and compare on contrast the communication in 1973 and today.
  • Don't mistake social media for socializing. They're different -- just as kids talking as they work in groups or talking while hanging out are different.
    • Julie Maley
      Julie Maley on 05 Mar 14
       
      This is something that has changed for me during this class, my thinking that if students were using social media during class time they would just be social chatting. However, it allows for them to collaborate and work with others outside of their classroom, using a tool that they enjoy using and are comfortable using. Just like in group work, they communicate academically, social media can also be used to communicate for academic purposes. Jmaley
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      It'sf you're using engagement strategies, making learning meaningful, and powerful classroom management - all need to be in place
  • YouTube for your students to host a show or a podcas
    • Julie Maley
      Julie Maley on 05 Mar 14
       
      Many students love to create and watch youtube videos. As youtube becomes more popular students are able to have their videos viewed by millions, receiving comments, and critiques by others on how to improve their work. It may also unleash producers, and directors that may not know they had a passion for that art form. ( Jmaley)
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 12 Mar 14
       
      You nailed it. It could really get the creative juices flowing for those particular students who excel in these areas. (Darren Smith)
  • ...21 more annotations...
  • Social media is here
    • Julie Maley
      Julie Maley on 05 Mar 14
       
      Social media is here and it is not going anywhere, it is only going to get larger and more accessible. Students will learn at a younger age how to use it and it is best if they learn the proper way to use and not to use it and how to learn from it and gain as much knowledge from having information at their fingertips from a vast amount of people. It is also best for teachers new and old to learn, and continue to learn as the apps and websites change in order to better themselves as teachers. ( Jmaley)
    • Derek Hughes
      Derek Hughes on 08 Mar 14
       
      Social media is definitely here! I think the last sentence about it being a tool is incredibly important for people to know. It is not something to be feared or be anxious about. It is something that we can use to reach our students in another way; arguably, in a way they are more comfortable with. I think it is incredibly important for any educator to understand the power of social media as a collaborative tool for education
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 09 Mar 14
       
      Julie, I agree that social media is here for the long haul. As technology increases, social media will be more accessible for students and teachers. One thing that I have learned throughout this course is that teachers continue to learn about social media and not just the students. Matt Schill
    • Laura Acker
      Laura Acker on 06 Mar 14
       
      This is a great idea except that I would want to do a "real" tweet as an exit ticket.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      And use a hashtag (#) so that all of the tweets show up on a feed.
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 07 Mar 14
       
      YES! This is something my CT and I talk about almost daily. Our freshmen cannot compose a grammatically correct, respectful email query to save their lives and it's horrifying. In addition to internet safety, etiquette is something that should not be taken for granted as something students come equipped knowing - in many instances, kids email how they text and that technique doesn't recognize shifts in tone or audience. If I receive another "hey, wut is the hwk tonite?" email sent from a student, I may scream. I absolutely will be adding a "how to email" mini lesson before I'm done with student teaching in 4 weeks. :)
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 07 Mar 14
       
      Whoops - this is Sarah Caldwell.
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      That's a great idea, Sarah. Do they have a writing rubric to use as a guide for all writing? That might help as well....have the students help you create the rubric and post it in the room:).
  • Share your learning with the world. My students are creating an Encyclopedia of Learning Games (21) with Dr. Lee Graham's grad students at the University of Alaska Southeast. The educators are testing the games, and the students are testing them, too.
    • amyhutmacher
      amyhutmacher on 07 Mar 14
       
      I actually had a similar idea to this for the math classroom I'm student teaching in. I have several online (virtual) math manipulatives that are good resources for further understanding of different math concepts. However, I would like students to be able to try them out, comment on them, and find new ones. I would like to compile the results (by topic) in one area so students in other classes or future classes could be aware they exist, go directly to helpful virtual manipulatives, and not waste time on ones that don't improve their understanding of the subject matter. (AHutmacher)
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 11 Mar 14
       
      In my student teaching experience, I learned first-hand the importance of using manipulatives during math. However, I never realized that there were multiple virtual manipulatives. How effective are they? The advancement of technology is simply amazing. (Matt Schill)
    • amyhutmacher
      amyhutmacher on 13 Mar 14
       
      Hi Matt, I've used several manipulatives while tutoring...geogebra has many saved activities that let students explore the different ways graphs change when you change the values of the coefficients, for example. The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has a lot, as well as NCTM (Illuminations). I also like Interactivate (shodor.org).
  • Kids need to write letters and mail them.
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 08 Mar 14
       
      This is very important! It is becoming a lost art, everyone should know how to write a letter. While I understand that email is a faster way of communication there is still importance in knowing how to write a letter. How could mailing a letter be more dangerous than what you can come across on the internet? (SJVinskofski)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      I agree - both need to be taught and practiced:)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      I agree as well, even though there is internet ways to communicate, nothing beats a the human aspect that comes from a letter.  I have been guilty of relying too heavily on email and found that family members felt disconnected from me.  Just because I think email is a personable way to communicate, doesn't mean others do.  I now make it a point to communicate via cards and little notes to family that is further away from me to keep that human aspect there.  Students need to see the value in this as well.  This reminds me of the cursive hand writing discussion where some schools feel there is no need to teach it.  I can't imagine why not as there is no way to make it through life without being able to write, there just isn't... (Rich Bailey)
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 11 Mar 14
       
      I could not agree more. Call me old school, but when I see LOL, SMH, etc. I sometimes cringe. I understand they have their place in the world now and email is here to stay too but there is so much gained by learning how to write letters. Beyond the aspect of learning the format, it helps you gain a better grasp of the English language too. There is nothing wrong with having students write. The more they write (whatever format), the better they become. I always used to tall my students, practice makes perfect. (Darren Smith)
  • Let your students write for the world. Linda Yollis' students (9) reflect about learning and classroom happenings.
    • Liz Kelley
      Liz Kelley on 08 Mar 14
       
      Mrs. Yollis' 3rd grade students use Twitter to challenge other classes around the world to "mystery number" math problems. They tweet clues and their answers each week. She also did a great international vocab project using twitter and blogs. Show students how they can meaningfully connect with other students around the world. Gives social media a concrete and educational direction, rather than just socializing (the "social media myth"). A great tech-savy educator! (Liz Kelley)
    • amy rouchon
      amy rouchon on 10 Mar 14
       
      I think this is a terrific idea to really help students be global! We have the capability to reach out to other countries and students at a finger tip now, why not integrate a lesson where the students work collaboratively globally and practice using social media. (Amy Rouchon)
  • Communicate with other classrooms.
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 08 Mar 14
       
      This is something that has been fascinating me since we covered it a few weeks back in this class. I absolutely love the idea of working with other classes all across the country and the globe. Talk about a good way for you to familiarize your students with other cultures...especially if you are working with students who don't have much experience with what happens just outside their neighborhood. There are so many different projects you can exxplore by working with other students in different areas. (Darren Smith)
    • mmh0389
      mmh0389 on 08 Mar 14
       
      How fun would it be for students to be able to communicate with other classes? I love this idea because so many students have friends in other classes and it would be something to talk about during recess. It's also a great tool as educators to be able to share ideas across classrooms. (M. Hackett)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      Darren - this is easy to do - start blogging about a topic, unit, etc. make it global - connect with another class and have students comment on each others' blogs. You'd need a rubric that shows them how to comment meaningfully and also how to reflect and make connections....but imagine the learning that would take place! -Dr. Fritz
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 12 Mar 14
       
      Last year I observed 3 4th grade classes from around NY state video conferencing. Each class shared a presentation detailing the facts of the region of NY they lived in. The other two classes had to figure out the region they lived in by the clues they gave. Then they took turns asking questions about the length of the school day, recess schedule and how much snow they had. The students were all engaged and astonished that one school only had recess on Mondays.
  • Tweet or post status updates as a class. Teacher Karen Lirenman (7) lets students propose nuggets of learning that are posted for parents to read.
    • mmh0389
      mmh0389 on 08 Mar 14
       
      I think this is a great way for students to feel involved in the learning process! It helps for students to learn about using twitter in a safe environment while also communicating with parents, what a great idea.
    • mmh0389
      mmh0389 on 08 Mar 14
       
      (M. Hackett)
  • The myth about social media in the classroom is that if you use it, kids will be Tweeting, Facebooking and Snapchatting while you're trying to teach.
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 08 Mar 14
       
      Let's face it they probably are already doing this but they are way off topic. If we harness the power and social media and use it in the classroom we can guide these conversations toward a deeper level of understanding of the content or material. We have the opportunity and responsibilty to teach students to be responsible digital citizens. Ignoring social media will not make it go away and we as teachers can learn from our students as they teach us new ways to use social media.
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 09 Mar 14
       
      Samantha, my biggest fear is that students would be checking their Facebook and Twitter accounts if social media was used in the classroom. However, I have learned how to effectively use social media in the classroom to ensure that this does not happen! Plus, if social media is used appropriately, students will be engaged and focused on task. Matt Schill
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      Great point Samantha! When social media tools are being used everywhere it should be our job to recognize this and figure out how we can use it to our advantage.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      (Alanna Novosel)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      I can see where this could be a concern and as someone else stated, they are going to be doing it anyway.  I however think that Facebook and those mentioned apps are not the only form of social media and if you introduce them to something new and captivating that you do want them to use, this could deter them from straying off... I am not faced with this for my profession however when training clinicians and other medical faculty, it's sometimes like herding cats but I have found that if I constantly keep them guessing and reiterating the WIIFM (whats in it for me), it tends to keep them on focus.  Students sadly may not be too concerned with the WIIFM however they will be concerned if they possibly miss out on the coolest new social media tool... (Rich Bailey)
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 10 Mar 14
       
      I have been learning that there is more to social media than facebook and twitter. There are a lot of great tools out there but, I think it is important that we teach our students and children to use them responsibily and appropriately.
  • Social media is another tool that you can use to make your classroom more engaging, relevant and culturally diverse.
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 09 Mar 14
       
      If social media is used correctly, it can lead to creative thinking. Educators should be incorporating social media to keep students engaged as well as providing opportunities for students to connect with others. Matt Schill
  • Surely students will post thousands of status updates, pictures, and blogs in their lifetime.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      This brings up a great point. One that we have all discussed a great deal at this point. It is a given that in this day of social media and technology, that students will surely be posting to facebook or twitter, or some other social media tool. So, why not teach them how to use these and other tools responsibly? We've discussed many ways in which students can use social media tools in a responsible and appropriate manner. If these ideas are introduced early on, then maybe it will just become the norm, instead something that is discouraged.
  • Some teachers are even doing "tweets" on post-it notes (6) as exit tickets.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      What a fantastic idea. I don't know that students in lower elementary grades would be ready for this yet, but it wouldn't be too far off to expect students in 4th and 5th grade to be able to do this. I think this would also keep students on task and interested in the lesson.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      (Alanna Novosel)
    • amy rouchon
      amy rouchon on 10 Mar 14
       
      I think you bring up a great point Alanna! The student do it already, why not incorporate it in the classroom to something relevant?
  • If you're going to ignore social media in the classroom, then throw out the ISTE Standards for Students (24) and stop pretending that you're 21st century. Stop pretending that you're helping low-income children overcome the digital divide if you aren't going to teach them how to communicate online.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      Technology and social media interaction are happening and they are all around us. It's time we learn that we can't avoid using these tools any longer. In order to help ALL students we need to use these tools - especially in the classroom. In the classroom, it doesn't matter whether they are low-income or not. They should all be given the chance to use every resources possible.
    • Alanna Novosel
      Alanna Novosel on 09 Mar 14
       
      (Alanna Novosel)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      Alanna, I agree!  I am currently taking another class with Drexel (Adult Learning Theory and Practice) and we were talking about higher education being online and how some argue it's not available to people without means of owning a computer.  I disputed this as one much not own a computer to use one (libraries).  Would owning one be more convenient, yes, but convenience isn't always an option when trying to get ahead in life.  My point here is if we don't teach students about technology they may not access right not at home, doesn't mean they don't deserve to learn about it and doesn't mean they aren't empowered to make themselves get out of their low-income status and be successful in the future.  If we limit students to an education based on the economics of their family and community, we are limiting them to living in that same economical state as an adult, which is a severe injustice for them to have those limitations placed on them. (Rich Bailey)
  • Are we opening up a whole dangerous world to our students once they are writing online and posting comments to each other?
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      Yes, but are we causing more harm to our students by NOT teaching them how to use this social media? Granted, using social media can be dangerous, but I still think we need to teach our students how to use the media. However, in teaching them how to use the media, we MUST teach them how to be safe.  We need to teach our kids what they should and should not be posting on social media. I say teach them the media, but teach them how to use it safely. 
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 11 Mar 14
       
      Excellent point. We are opening up some dangerous ground but this kind of communication is here to stay. There is no way to keep them off social media so it is very important to teach them the responsible way to do it. We can only hope that they realize how serious it is and they pay attention to what we are saying. You know how many kids will say "That can never happen to me". (Darren Smith)
  • It's just another resource and doesn't have to be a distraction from learning objectives
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      If all teachers could realize this, the classroom would be a much different place. It still amazes me how some teachers view social media as a distraction in the classroom. If the media is used correctly, it is not a distraction in the classroom. 
    • Darren Smith
      Darren Smith on 12 Mar 14
       
      Agreed with most of what you said. However, I think Social Media CAN be a distraction but it is up to the teacher to figure out how to harness it's power and teach the student how to use it wisely. I think the key is to be consistent with what is proper and what is not. I am sure teachers will find some students that will push the envelope on acceptable use. (Darren Smith)
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This entire check list is very important. I think that as teachers we need to make sure our students understand this. As adults who grew up without social media we too need to be aware that it is monitored. Those of us looking to become teachers should be very aware of what we share and like on our pages
  • The Social Media Answer
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This entire check list is very important. I think that as teachers we need to make sure our students understand this. As adults who grew up without social media we too need to be aware that it is monitored. Those of us looking to become teachers should be very aware of what we share and like on our pages
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This line to me is the epitimy of what this semester is about. So many teachers are terrified of allowing students to be online. While I observe I see the faces of teachers who have been doing their job a long time, I think they believe that the computer is their competition. In reality the computer can be their biggest ally. I think most instructors know that having a child use a computer at home is great for research or paper writing. But many are not aware that we can use social media to enhance our teaching and benefit the understanding that the student take from our class. Social media is not the enemy or our competition if we use it correctly.
  • You can use mainstream social media, too.
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 10 Mar 14
       
      This line to me is the epitimy of what this semester is about. So many teachers are terrified of allowing students to be online. While I observe I see the faces of teachers who have been doing their job a long time, I think they believe that the computer is their competition. In reality the computer can be their biggest ally. I think most instructors know that having a child use a computer at home is great for research or paper writing. But many are not aware that we can use social media to enhance our teaching and benefit the understanding that the student take from our class. Social media is not the enemy or our competition if we use it correctly.
    • matt schill
      matt schill on 11 Mar 14
       
      Before this course, I would have been scared to let students use social media during class. You made a really good point that teachers should be utilizing the computer/technology/social media to enhance the learning process. I now understand how to utilize different social media apps and tools to engage students. (Matt Schill)
  • blogs
  • One form of writing is that powerful. If you guessed social media, you're right.
    • amy rouchon
      amy rouchon on 10 Mar 14
       
      Traditional writing it important in the classroom - paper and pencil. Students also learn the different types of writing (essays, research, letters) but with this generation, social media is a powerful and important writing tool. The students are familiar and use social media on a daily basis. Why not provide a secure environment where students can work on social media writing - learning abou the ettiquette, dos and don'ts as well as a supplemental tool to their writing portfolio.
  • amyhutmacher on 07 Mar 14
     
    I thought I shared my highlight and sticky note to our EDUC 775 page but I don't see it.... (AHutmacher)
Kimberly Kaseman

Sync.in - 0 views

sync.in

shared by Kimberly Kaseman on 10 Nov 13 - Cached
  • Kimberly Kaseman on 10 Nov 13
     
    Sync.in is a web based word processor for people to collaborate in real-time. When multiple people edit the same document simultaneously, any changes are instantly reflected on everyone's screen. The result is a new and productive way to collaborate with text documents, useful for meeting notes, brainstorming, project planning, training, and more.
mkm420fritz

6 Ways Google Docs Supports Collaboration In The Writing Process - 2 views

www.teachthought.com/...oration-in-the-writing-process

shared by mkm420fritz on 05 Mar 14 - No Cached
    • Chris Andrianos
      Chris Andrianos on 05 Mar 14
       
      The freedom to connect and contribute while on the go allows the learner to be engaged all the time. Just this past week we all have used this tool and I will agree that I was eager to revisit my notes and others to observe and participate in the conversation.
    • Chris Andrianos
      Chris Andrianos on 05 Mar 14
       
      Thanks Chris Andrianos
  • Track contributions made by collaborators or identify the source of changes made to the content of a document. It’s easy to see what each individual student contributes to a document because Google Docs assigns every contributor a unique color.
    • Chris Andrianos
      Chris Andrianos on 05 Mar 14
       
      Our group project used the same approach by assigning a color to each persons comments so that the dialog could be followed clearly. I find the auto save feature within Google docs, common for todays technology but very helpful because it is one less worry when writing and you have the trust of Google cloud. Thanks Chris Andrianos
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 05 Mar 14
       
      Good point Chris, if I had a dime for every time I made edits to our group Wiki and forgot to save, I'd have a nice little paycheck.  Wiki's seem to be the more basic of the tools available to us but effective nonetheless.
  • ...23 more annotations...
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 05 Mar 14
       
      This quote really sums up what technology's affect on teaching has been.  Although it is great for students and for teachers alike, there is still an adaptation that has to occur for it to be successful.
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 05 Mar 14
       
      "The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century."- Rich Bailey
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 10 Mar 14
       
      While I find this statement to bevery true it reminds me of cursive writing or handwriting. I have heard that it will soon no long be part of schools curriculums. How much so we change and leave in the past?
  • The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century.”
  • The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century.”
  • The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century.”
  • The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century.”
  • The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century.”
  • While students are writing drafts, teachers take advantage of opportunities to work with small instructional groups to focus on specific job-related writing tasks to prepare students to put their new skills to work and contribute to the peer editing process. Here is an overview of some of the integrated writing supports available in Google Docs to include in small group instruction to that will empower students and help redefine the writing process.
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 05 Mar 14
       
      Hmm well this is something I don't think I've ever used for school.  I have used Google Docs to post documents that I needed others to add information to (i.e. grocery lists, etc.) however in terms of peer editing, it never crossed my mind.  This article comes at a great time where I am in the midst of two group final projects, and being a student mentor for three capstone students, sharing some documents in Google Docs would make my proof reading duties much easier... Also, this highlight and sticky note tool is awesome for editing- it reminds me of Track Changes in Word but without having to fight with Word ;)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 05 Mar 14
       
      (not sure if I need to include my name for the previous post as it looks like it posts my name, but just in case.) Rich Bailey
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 07 Mar 14
       
      I definitely can see the merits of Google Docs for peer editing. I had a brief experience with this while doing a long-term sub in 8th grade literacy and the teacher had students posting comments to shared documents. Of course, this is easier said than done with large groups of students, but I did find it to be effective and a huge time-saver. It was nice not to have 29 hard copies to sort through with people forgetting to put their names on their comments. When you're logged into the Google drive, you are held accountable for your work automatically so it makes grading and keeping students on task quite easy! (Sarah Caldwell)
    • Brielle Hart
      Brielle Hart on 12 Mar 14
       
      My final project group has been using Google Docs extensively. We are collaborating with eachother on a lesson plan document while also editing eachothers additional documents such as the AUP. It has really worked out well and I too enjoy editing on Google docs much more than fighting with Word Rich! -Brielle
  • they are more likely to revisit their work if they know someone else will be commenting on it
    • Laura Acker
      Laura Acker on 06 Mar 14
       
      This reminds me of an article I read for another class which talked about students involved in writing outside the classroom in an online affinity space. They would review each other's writings and the students couldn't wait to get out of school so they could go home and write online where others would see it.
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 07 Mar 14
       
      I was going to highlight this line then saw that you did too. What a neat tool this is! (sorry had to get that out there). but I have to agree, students love to see other people commenting/remarking/suggesting etc. on their work. I think social media really brought this into light. It provides the immediate feedback they crave. I also like that they can work from home or school. Some students work better in the classroom while others work better from home. Some remember something important to add to their doc on the way home or when they are not in class. What is nice is that they can add to the doc without having to wait to go back to class. Another upside is that the student can work on the doc at school even if they 'forgot' their homework. No more excuses for them. Although they might find this as a downside!
    • Michelle Macheras
      Michelle Macheras on 07 Mar 14
       
      I was also going to highlight this idea. I actually had a student come up to me the other day and ask if I could provide more opportunities for students to come to the board and solve difficult problems. For her, the pressure (for lack of a better word) that is applied when she has to perform in front of other people as opposed to working by herself or even in groups leads her to learn the material quicker. I think this is similar to the idea of students revisiting their work when they know that others will be regularly viewing and commenting on it. Students will be curious to see what others have to say about what they have created, but they will also have additional motivation to present their best work since they know it will be available for their peers to view. The 24/7 availability also means that the students can take the time to work on the assignment whenever they want as instead of being limited to assigned working times during class.
    • lindsaywarburton
      lindsaywarburton on 08 Mar 14
       
      I was going to highlight this quote, but saw that several of you already did! I like that students can revisit their work and revise it in order to prepare for classmates or teachers to see and comment on it. Something I have been trying to work on with my first graders is accountability; when they are writing during writing workshop, I remind them that their work is going to be shared. I think doing so encourages them to write a little bit more, reread more often, and check for mistakes. 
    • E.J. Sexton
      E.J. Sexton on 08 Mar 14
       
      The use of portfolios are always emphasized as a great tool for both learning and assessment. Revisiting your work over and over again to identify areas that could be improved is one of the benefits of a portfolio. In this regard, Google Docs could be used for Online Portfolios, but I'm sure that's obvious.
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 10 Mar 14
       
      As someone with limited classroom experience with Google Docs, I can champion how great it is that there is "nowhere to hide" with this technology. You've either logged in and done the assignment or you haven't so it makes grading super easy! (Sarah Caldwell)
    • Rich Bailey
      Rich Bailey on 10 Mar 14
       
      I really couldn't agree more and I am quite guilty of it.  I think that's why when I have a class with a discussion board or VoiceThread that I like to post early to give others time to comment on my work.  This to me is because I love learning of others perspectives and experiences.  I think the same goes for work that is posted for others to view, it inherently holds you more accountable for your work, which to me seems would yield a better quality of work... (Rich Bailey)
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 10 Mar 14
       
      I think that we have all been gulity of this. When we know our work will be graded, judged, or share with others we tend to put more effort into it. So I think this rings true.
  • A context-sensitive grammar checker can distinguish between words like “too” and “to” in a sentence and make appropriate suggestions for corrections. While Word uses color coding to make distinctions between spelling and grammar errors, Google sticks with one color, but the suggestion box offers smart and appropriate suggestions.
    • Sara Jugan Vinskofski
      Sara Jugan Vinskofski on 08 Mar 14
       
      While I think this is a great tool I don't think we should let this replace our children's ability to spell and having knowledge of proper English (SJVinskofski)
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 09 Mar 14
       
      I don't agree with spell check b/c often it replaces a word with the wrong word.....Nothing beats old fashioned reading/editing/revising!
    • lindsaywarburton
      lindsaywarburton on 09 Mar 14
       
      I agree Sara. I feel that revising and editing is one of the most important parts of the writing process. While it certainly can be challenging to teach younger children (I am student teaching in first grade) how to reread and make corrections, I absolutely see the value in learning how to revise one's work to make it even better! I am currently in the stages of teaching how to revise personal narratives during writing workshop; for some students, it can be a challenge, but I also see that all of the students do benefit.
  • Perhaps the most impressive Google Docs writing support to date is an integrated research tool that’s available right on the page. A basic search yields results relevant to the document and displays a variety of types of information beyond text  Useful content-specific buttons allow users to insert links, images,  maps, and citations into a document with the click of a button. Users can narrow a search to find only images, scholarly information and quotations. This powerful research tool provides students with convenient access to information in manageable chunks that are ready for use.
    • Derek Hughes
      Derek Hughes on 08 Mar 14
       
      I have used Google Docs before to collaborate on work, but I never realized how easy it was to do a search and incorporate that information into the document. I think this would be a great way to have students do a group research assignment. They wouldn't have to be together to discuss research and its so easy to do the research along with the document. This, coupled with the real-time editing and feedback mentioned above, would be an amazing collaborative experience for students.
    • awharris0528
      awharris0528 on 09 Mar 14
       
      The "Research" feature is something that is new to me. How amazing is it that I can keep everything pertaining to my Google Doc organized and right in front of me? This would also very very useful to students, who sometimes have a harder time keeping themselves organized. I can see this tool also being useful because it would mean that students using the Google Doc page to collaborate can ensure that they are looking at the same research to gather information. (Audra Harris) 
    • lindsaywarburton
      lindsaywarburton on 09 Mar 14
       
      I am still pretty new to using Google Docs. I had no idea of the extensive capabilities! I think it is really helpful to be able to use the research tool, and likewise to insert links, images, citations, etc. I find that most Google-related things are user-friendly, and Google Docs fits right in. Additionally as Audra noted, the "research" feature helps both teachers and students to stay organized.
    • Stephanie Mann Harvard
      Stephanie Mann Harvard on 11 Mar 14
       
      I think that in this digital age it is essential that students be able to navigate through the massive amount of information that 21st Century technology gives them access to. Further the American Library Association (ALA) defines information literacy as the skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze and use information. The Google Docs research tool helps students develop those skills. Students don't have to waste time searching through useless data from questionable or unreliable sources but are instead able to access relevant data effectively and efficiently. As a social media tool this allows students to collaborate more effectively. They have access to research & information that is available and organized in a way that helps develop understanding as well as helps them construct documents, projects, etc. so that others can learn with and from them. - Stephanie Mann Harvard
  • Since Docs are stored online, students can work at school and at home from any computer with an Internet connection
    • lindsaywarburton
      lindsaywarburton on 08 Mar 14
       
      I really like that Google Docs are so accessible to students. One of the most important factors in successful collaboration is that all members of a collaborative group have equal access and resources to share, in my opinion. Therefore, the ability to access Google Docs allows both students and teachers to access a writing sample or assignment at any time. Some students may not have internet access or a computer at home, but being able to access their work in school or at the library(or any other computer with internet) can be pretty helpful. My group and I used Google Docs to work on our project; I really liked being able to work at the same time with the other members, see what they were commenting on my work, and also being able to give immediate feedback. Google Docs has been an essential collaboration tool for our group! Lindsay Warburton
    • awharris0528
      awharris0528 on 09 Mar 14
       
      This brings up a point that I had not considered for students (which is silly really). In the lesson plan I am working on for my group project, I am having the students collaborate on Google Docs, but I had intended them to work on it at school. While it is very obvious that students can access Google Docs 24/7, it was just something I hadn't thought of. I would also like to touch on the highlight immediately following this one, which states, "they are more likely to revisit their work if they know someone else will be commenting on it." This is so true, and very important to note, especially because the students peers will be viewing the work. Students don't always care that their teacher will be viewing their work (especially in middle school, which is the age group my group is targeting) but if your assignment includes showing that work to their peers, suddenly the importance of the assignment goes to a whole new level. I truly believe that Google Docs can help excite and entice students to perform well and to use innovation and imagination with their assignments.  (Audra Harris)
    • Stephanie Mann Harvard
      Stephanie Mann Harvard on 12 Mar 14
       
      I must admit that I was initially slow to get excited about Google Docs primarily because I found myself comparing the functionality to that of Microsoft Office applications. Once I realized that the Google Docs construct was not to create another suite of applications to support productivity, and began to appreciate it as a set of tools for collaborative learning I became excited. As a result this quote emphasizes Google Docs use as a social media tool for teaching and learning. In addition to students being able to access their work from school or home, it also provides a vehicle for instructor feedback, peer edits and reviews and collaboration. Another benefit to Google Docs is that documents can be in multiple formats such as presentations, spreadsheets, etc. - Stephanie Mann Harvard
  • A built in smart spell-checking system that uses the Google Search helps students to easily identify spelling and simple grammar errors as they type.
    • E.J. Sexton
      E.J. Sexton on 08 Mar 14
       
      This would be beneficial for English as a Second Language (ESL) students. One of the strategies we learned for aiding ESL students in their writing is the use of technology that will correct mistakes as they are made instead of after the fact, as is often the case in hand-written assignments.
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 10 Mar 14
       
      That's a great point about ESL/ELL students - I have several in my integrated classes this quarter and writing is a real challenge for them so any tool to alleviate that stress would be welcome/beneficial. (Sarah Caldwell)
  • Provide students with a starting point for digital writing and take advantage of a virtual copy machine by creating templates.
    • E.J. Sexton
      E.J. Sexton on 08 Mar 14
       
      I think that teachers probably underestimate the value of templates. For example, think of research papers that use APA or MLA style. Templates would be a great resource to show students what the document needs to look like, as well as give them clues on how to format the document on their own. (Plus, it saves time!)
    • lindsaywarburton
      lindsaywarburton on 09 Mar 14
       
      I feel that modeling is a really important part of every lesson. If we expect students' work to look a certain way, we should show them exactly what we expect. Templates are definitely a great resource, specifically for helping teachers model what they want a student's work to look like and for giving students a starting point.
    • caldwell14
      caldwell14 on 10 Mar 14
       
      Agreed. I realized quickly that my freshmen had never written a compare/contrast essay before so I literally had to take two class days and break down expectations for them. It was time consuming but worthwhile. If something like Google docs or a similar program were to have built-in essay templates in the future, I would jump at the chance to use them! (Sarah Caldwell)
  • Use the revision history to review, compare, or revert to a prior version of the document at any time.
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 08 Mar 14
       
      The ability to go back and review old versions of a document is a great tool. I have often made revision, changed my mind and decided that I liked what I wrote earlier much better than the new version. This ability to look back and see the revisions you have made gives you time to critically think about your writing and think about the changes you have made. S. Carrabba
    • lindsaywarburton
      lindsaywarburton on 09 Mar 14
       
      I can think of plenty of times when I needed the revision history tool! As you said, I have often made changes to something I was working on, but then later realized that my first draft was better. Unfortunately, Word and other programs do not save our revision history! The Google Docs capability to go back and review a prior version of my work will definitely come in handy!
  • In addition, Docs provide support for collaboration in real time so students and teachers can have a virtual mini-conference about the work in front of them from any location if the timing is right.
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      I am having my students create an Erosion presentation this week in my classroom. The students are allowed to use laptop computers provided by the school in my classroom. However, I am not allowing my students to move around the classroom into their groups. I am making my students use the chat function in Google to communicate to each other as they complete their presentation. I am very interested to see how well it works!
    • Januari Evans
      Januari Evans on 12 Mar 14
       
      this sounds very interesting. Please let us know how that works out. I am sure they love using the chat function. It is like texting in class! Great use of technology in the classroom. They are learning science and computer at the same time!
  • Google’s online spell-checking service is more comprehensive than a typical dictionary because the Googlebot constantly crawls the web for new and popular definitions.
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      This is a great resource. One of the things that I have noticed with my students is that they struggle with spelling. Since Google has an excellent spell checker, I have noticed very few mistakes on documents that my students create on Google.  
    • Samantha Carrabba
      Samantha Carrabba on 12 Mar 14
       
      My daughter would love this feature as she struggles with spelling. I would hope that she doesn't rely on it too much and that she practices and improves her spelling skills. I think it is a good feature but students still need to practice editing their own spelling mistakes so that they can learn from them.
  • Continuous autosave to the “Google Cloud” virtually eliminates saving issues
    • Aaron Bilby
      Aaron Bilby on 09 Mar 14
       
      Another lifesaver in the classroom. How many times do students create projects on a computer and then go to the teacher and say "my project never saved"? With auto-saving, there are no worries that a project won't save and students can't use the excuse anymore that their project did not save either! 
  • students feel a sense of accomplishment as they work their way through the suggestions of their peers
    • Brielle Hart
      Brielle Hart on 12 Mar 14
       
      This sense of accomplishment is so important for student writing! Particularly in the elementary classrooms where writing can at times be very tedious and frustrating for students since they are still learning basic skills. In my classroom students are almost done with their big informational writing piece in which they researched a President and wrote a 2 paragraph informational report. These 2 paragraphs have taken us almost a month to complete and we are finally in the typing stage. I have noticed the students ADORE editing their work on the computer and the biggest smiles fill their faces when they can finally print their work!
    • Erika Brooks
      Erika Brooks on 13 Mar 14
       
      This is the greatest thing ever! I tend to work on my projects/ assignments really late at night and by the time I finsih, I close it without saving and then the horrible feeling comes over you. I cant tell you how many times I was in tears because I didnt save something that was over 3 pages. Im happy that my students dont have to go through the same pain we went through growing up in the old days.  Erika Brooks
  • ates saving issue
  • Continuous autosave to the “Google Cloud” virtually eliminates saving issues
    • mkm420fritz
      mkm420fritz on 17 Mar 14
       
      test
  • Chris Andrianos on 10 Mar 14
     
    I know that the Google online spell checker is more developed than a word spell check but I believe the best check is done by the writer. I also love the auto save to the cloud lowering the chance to have lost your work.
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