I have decided to do this post on the use of Google Docs in education. I have chosen this topic because this is the platform my school has chosen to collaborate and share work with staff and students. I have not done much with it as I have been taking online classes.
My thoughts are that it would be a great way to connect with students outside of class time. They would have access to class work, notes, and other online materials all in one place.
Because of its conversion option no matter what program the kids have at home we as teachers can still open their work to review.
“The trick is in the File/Save As menu; you can save documents as RTF, PDF, HTML Word, or Open Office after you open said documents inside Google Docs. We’ve blogged about document conversion before here at Lifehacker, and this is definitely a nice addition.” — Wendy Boswell
Want to Convert Email Messages or Word Documents to PDF Online using Google Docs?
Learn more here:
usinggoogledocsineducation-090325091200-phpapp01
Cliffs Notes on Education and technology A slide show of tips
Teachers and Students talk about googledocs
This is not a subject that I am really familiar with. I do however know that the Internet has so much information that we can’t help but use it. I think we should all take time to look at our history and what we all can “learn” from it.
To create visuals of historic events Use tools like:
Photostory
Mixbook
Timelines
Timetoast
Visit Museums
National Museum of American History
National Civil War Museum
Videos-This is very good. Worth a watch.
jksalesinc.com
As I continue with the integration of technology in education my next installment is about art. Unlike Phys. Ed. I have found that a lot of art teachers have embraced technology in thier field. A tool that I think should be part of every art classroom is the PC tablet. A colleague went to a photoshop workshop last week and the speaker compared drawing with a computer and mouse to a peice of paper and a potato. He had a good point. Using the stylis as a tool could really change the direction of an art class.
Tablet PC Blog
Forbes article on ways to integrate the use of the tablet
Art Education 2.0 Using New Technology in Art classrooms
Very Cool Check this out!
Well, it has been a long time since I posted to this blog. Through a large loss in my family to me gettting the flu it has been a long couple of weeks. Needless to say instead of a weekly blog. You will get a daily dose of integration of technology in the curriculum.
Physical Education:
When you think of phys. ed we all say how do we integrate technology into this? It is supposed to be physical and not about sitting in front of a computer to make the integration happen.
Simple ways could be to take a look at the sport in play. Take a picture take a video and compare to how it should look.
Below is a video of how to throw a pitch with a baseball. Students could self critique and motivate themselves to do better.
The Physics of Baseball – Flight of the Ball
From the Science Channel.
Quote from site below
“More PE technology Our school corporation used a PEP Grant to purchase heart rate monitors, but we also bought the TriFIT system from POLAR. It allows you to collect data on students’ flexibility, muscular endurance, muscular strength, BMI, and more. We use that to measure the improvement that our students make when they are PE class.”
A note to all. Remember to Dance. That counts as physical movement too. A lot of schools are adding dance to thier curriculums so being in Phys. Ed. doesn’t mean you have to play baseball or floor hockey.
As I begin this Blog I want to first put my own input about technology across the curriculum. I believe it can be done in all areas the problem is the creativity and the access to a wide range of materials including computers, cameras, digital devices depending on the class. Then….sometimes the willingness of the faculty as (from administration on down) to make a commitment to the process as a whole.
Here are a few sites and their approach to technology. Most say it should be an enhancement of the learning that is already going on.
You be the Judge……………………
http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/IT/
Okay this is my first attempt at blogging. Hopefully we can progress into a full discussion on a variety of topics.
The goal of this blog is to promote technology across the curriculum.
By doing the following:
Discuss the changing role of the teacher
What 21st Century learners need and want
Obstacles
Ideas for the Classroom
