Google Apps

I definitely could have used Google Apps while in college. Although we used blackboard a lot, it would have been nice to have used a system that worked in "real-time." I think many groups projects I had to complete would have been a lot easier if I had a program like Google Apps - especially because on campus everyone is so busy and involved in different things that you can just send things out at the same time and await responses without having to meet with other students.

As far as using it in my own classroom, I'm not so sure yet. However, I think I've started doing something similar with the e-chalk program we have to take care of now. I don't have it completely set up but we do have to participate in it and our students will be able to write to us and see posted assignments. I don't know that it has the extensive calendar sharing that the Google Apps has and I don't think it's in "real-time."

I like their definitions in the video when stating that it's a package of applications that enhances google things you already use - sometimes I'm afraid of new things but when I heard this, I was at ease. I think I'd definitely try this with my co-workers. Many times we need to meet about stuff in our department but we're rarely able to get together at the same time. This all reminds me of the charter school my brother and sister are enrolled in - it's awesome! They have live video chats with classmates and teacher - it's like a virtual classroom!

In reference to the lesson plans, I tried the area of language arts since I didn't see foreign language and figured this was the closest thing. I truly liked a lesson plan for writing that I found which encouraged students to write newsletters in a Google newsletter template. I think it's cool that students can act as editors for newsletters - especially in an ELA classroom.

I also decided to look under the "fine arts" category since we teach a lot of culture in foreign language. I found something that had to do with photography which I haven't really taught but I thought it was very interesting. Students will use a program called Google Earth (which I am actually somewhat familiar with) and they will create a Google Earth tour based on a photograph they have chosen (which I didn't know you could do!) The idea of this project is to get students thinking about the importance of American photography, while allowing them to appreciate the geography and location that were captured in the photograph.