Google Groups

For Google Groups, we wrote a story as a group.  Each person wrote a paragraph that added onto what the previous person(s) wrote.  I think it was really cool because it leaves the story open to go in all different ways.  No one really knows what will happen or how it will end until the last person finishes writing.  For example, Tiffani left Billy  the elephant stuck in the bus door.  When Katherine started writing, she wrote in a friend that helped push Billy through the door; Billy's friend saved the day.  However, Tiffani had no idea that Katherine would make a way to push Billy through the doors of the bus.  It is exciting to finally go back and read the story as a whole.  To my surprise, the story followed really well.

In Google Groups, we also did a separate presentation using Google presentations.  My presentation was on the number theory.  Considering I want to be a mathematics teacher, this was a good activity for me to practice.  It gave me practice preparing a presentation that I would teach from in a real classroom.  Google presentation was fairly easy to use.  It was very similar to Microsoft power point.  It is definitely something I may consider using in my own classroom.  The best part about it is that it is FREE as long as one has access to the internet!

Using the technology provided through the internet and Google allows for the teacher to model digital-age work and learning.  The students are also prompted to design and develop digital-age learning experiences.  If the teacher uses these programs to create his or her presentations, it may strike an interest with the students.  Also, if the teacher assigns projects that involve these fairly new programs, the students may start to use the programs on their own when they complete other future assignments.

 

Google groups facilitates and inspires student learning and creativity because the students will be intrigued with the idea and want to create a story or presentation themselves.  If the teacher uses the technology, they have to design and develop their own presentation for the class; this is the second standard.  If the teacher presents their work to the class, they are modeling it, which is the third standard.  The teacher is evaluating and reflecting on the technology that is used frequently in the classroom, which falls under the fifth standard.