Implementing+Google+Apps

To implement Google Apps in schools, some teachers may need to attend training on Google Apps. Google Apps for Education has several archived webinars that discuss how these tools can be used in classrooms. Teachers can view these webinars individually to specifically meet their classroom needs. Schools may also consider playing these webinars for the entire staff on an inservice day to introduce the information.

Google also provides online training modules for several Google Apps. Here are the links to the online training modules for Google Docs and Google Sites. These detailed modules explain how to get started with Docs and Sites and highlights the key features of each tool. These modules also include screenshots with the directions. In addition, Google Education has a forum where people can post questions or search previous discussions to learn more about various Google Apps. The Google Education forum offers topics for administrators looking to implement Google Apps in their schools, teachers looking for ways to incorporate Google Apps successfully into their classrooms, and technical staff in charge of infrastructure of technology.

Schools can also look internally as staff members could have some experience using Google Apps in the classroom. Schools could designate some in-service time or days with early dismissals for Google App demonstrations presented by these staff members. These teachers could also share best practices and other ideas of how to implement Google Apps into the classroom.

According to the Partnership for 21st Century learning (2011), a 21st Century learning includes content knowledge, literacy, and development of skills. The skills that are necessary for a 21st Century learner include communication, collaboration, and creativity. One instructional method to developing these skills is Problem Based Learning (PBL). PBL is an inquiry-based approach in which students are presented with an authentic and relevant complex problem, and they must work collaboratively to develop a solution. During the PBL process, students define the problem, conduct research, discuss potential solutions, and develop and present a solution. Students demonstrate critical thinking and construct knowledge throughout the problem solving process as well as practice skills in communication, collaboration, and creativity as they work together to develop a solution (Torp & Sage, 2002). PBL is an instructional method that addresses content and skills, which meet the goals of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning.
 * Google Apps and 21st Century Learning**

The resources provided by Google Apps could be implemented for a PBL unit. First, students could use Google Search to conduct research on their topic. For published articles, students could search Google Scholar, Google Books, or Google News for the most updated information. Searches could also be filtered through Google's advanced search features in order to narrow down the results.

If students needed to conduct a survey, they could create one through Google Forms and send the survey out electronically. As surveys are completed, the results would be organized into Google Spreadsheet, and students could view Google's automated summary of the survey results through graphs as seen in the image to the left.

Google Docs could also be used as students collaborate on a report or create a document or flyer that needs to be distributed. In addition, students could create a Google Presentation for articulating their solution. Solutions could also be creatively presented through a Google Site. On their site, students could display their research, embed their survey results or other relevant documents, include photos and videos, and present their solution to the problem. All in all, Google Apps provide a variety of features that would help students complete a problem solving activity and build their skills in communication, collaboration, and creativity.


 * Other Ideas**
 * Students could use Google Books to find a book and analyze the writing styles.
 * Students could create a Google Site to create an electronic portfolio of their learning or summary of their school year
 * Google Docs can be used to create a report, flyer, brochure, or any other document
 * Students could also use Google Docs for peer editing of papers
 * Google Spreadsheet could be used to organize data and then create charts
 * Students could create a lesson through Google Presentation

Mark Callagher, a history, math, and web design teacher, who is currently the e-learning director of Wellington College in New Zealand, has experience with using Google Docs in a high school setting. With his history classes, he has had students use Google Docs for note-taking. Students would keep a record of their own notes using Google Docs and share the document with Callagher, who would review the notes and make sure that students are getting the main ideas. He has also had students use Google Docs for student essays. Again, the students would share the document with Callagher, and he would provide feedback throughout the writing process. In addition, he has had student give presentations on topics in class, and students would use Google Presentation to prepare their discussion (Callagher, n.d.). Callagher has also used Google Forms for survey purposes. With his students, he has created Forms to gather students' preferences for group members and topics. He has used Forms for pre-test and post-test purposes as well as students would reveal what they know prior to instruction and review what they liked best after instruction. With other faculty members, he noted that Google Forms has been useful for gathering teacher feedback on professional development. On his blog, he has provided links to several ex amples of successful student work using Google Docs (Callagher, n.d.). As seen by the chart to the right, Callagher found that after introducing students to Google Docs, 75 percent of the students access Docs while 34 percent of the students surveyed use Docs often (Callager, 2010).


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