Google is definitely more powerful than just a search engine. Google has a number of features that can be very useful to teachers as well as students alike. Google has iGoogle, Google maps, google translator, google earth, and google educator. Within google educator is google doc which is a very powerful tool for teachers. There is a section for classroom activities, classroom printable posters, spreadsheets and google documents that can be either viewed by some or everyone or edited by the owner or certain people. Allowing people to edit certain documents makes it easier to keep only an updated version of a document rather than constantly e-mailing changes and loosing track of which is the most updated version. Having attempted to use google doc with a power point presentation with a group of 3 other people allowed to edit was easier then I thought it would be. I created the power point on just a plain background but another person in my group changed the slide background to look like a chalkboard. Since he was able to make the changes and save the document there was no duplication of the power point to try and figure out which one to use the next time we wanted to add slides.
Google docs can be useful for teachers as they can have their students have access to the document and read anything the teacher feels is important. It may contain the homework assignment for that night, announcements of upcoming events or just general reminders. After using iGoogle and google docs I feel that I will use both in the classroom to help make sure that I stay connected to my students in the fashion that they feel more comfortable with. Since the students of today are technological savvy and are very comfortable using it, it seems the best approach to use.
The following link will give you an overall view as to how to use google docs in the classroom:
https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcdn7mjg_72nh25vq
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Characteristics of Good Technology
There are 9 rules to good technology according to Stephen Downes:
1) Good technology is always available - as the cost of technology and equipment goes down it will be available to more people;
2) Good technology is always on - if it is not on it can be turned on with a flip of a switch or a few key strokes;
3) Good technology is always connected - in more and more classrooms there are computers that are connected to the internet for the teachers use at any time (of course school districts may limit the use of certain sites they deem unsuitable for classroom use);
4) Good technology is standardized - with standardization everything will work on every type of system;
5) Good technology is simple - it should not require you to read a manual to get it started, a program should do just what you want it to;
6) Good technology does not require parts - programs which use complicated start-up commands are not as good as those which start with a single command;
7) Good technology is personalized - technology that lets you not have to fit into certain requirements is what is considered good technology;
8) Good technology is modular - technology that is made up of distinct parts which can be arranged into a different configurations without a lot of effort; and
9) Good technology does what you want it to - this will differ from person to person so it is very personalized.
This is just one persons opinion, (with some of my own comments thrown in) as to what good technology is. Each person may have their own thoughts on what they think good technology is based on thier own personal experiences and familiartiy with computers. A person that is a computer immigrant may not have the same perception as a computer native. Either way technology is an every changing field and will continue to grow and change and be ever present in all aspects of out lives.
Stephen Downes also has a video which describes his views on personal learning environments or PLE. His video states that we learn thru communities as we connect with other people and share information. Learning is not just learning facts but also how one feels and an immersion in the environment around you. I was not really following a lot of what he was saying in his video but if anyone wants to watch and learn what is PLE I have added the link http://www.downes.ca/presentation/245
1) Good technology is always available - as the cost of technology and equipment goes down it will be available to more people;
2) Good technology is always on - if it is not on it can be turned on with a flip of a switch or a few key strokes;
3) Good technology is always connected - in more and more classrooms there are computers that are connected to the internet for the teachers use at any time (of course school districts may limit the use of certain sites they deem unsuitable for classroom use);
4) Good technology is standardized - with standardization everything will work on every type of system;
5) Good technology is simple - it should not require you to read a manual to get it started, a program should do just what you want it to;
6) Good technology does not require parts - programs which use complicated start-up commands are not as good as those which start with a single command;
7) Good technology is personalized - technology that lets you not have to fit into certain requirements is what is considered good technology;
8) Good technology is modular - technology that is made up of distinct parts which can be arranged into a different configurations without a lot of effort; and
9) Good technology does what you want it to - this will differ from person to person so it is very personalized.
This is just one persons opinion, (with some of my own comments thrown in) as to what good technology is. Each person may have their own thoughts on what they think good technology is based on thier own personal experiences and familiartiy with computers. A person that is a computer immigrant may not have the same perception as a computer native. Either way technology is an every changing field and will continue to grow and change and be ever present in all aspects of out lives.
Stephen Downes also has a video which describes his views on personal learning environments or PLE. His video states that we learn thru communities as we connect with other people and share information. Learning is not just learning facts but also how one feels and an immersion in the environment around you. I was not really following a lot of what he was saying in his video but if anyone wants to watch and learn what is PLE I have added the link http://www.downes.ca/presentation/245
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