Google Apps

    I evaluated Google Document.  This is a very user-friendly application, and one that I have used in many different settings on many different occasions.  I have used this application to create a word document that I am trying to take/edit from home to work.  I have used it as a document that I have shared and edited with colleagues, so that we can each edit the document at our own given times.  I have also used it with students, so that they can save their document in a place that they can come back to on any computer at any place.
    In order to use this application in an educational setting, a student would need to know basic typing and spelling skills.  It would make the process easier if the student has used a word editing application before, in order to know basic functions and button uses (such as tab, enter for new paragraph, different size font, bold, italic, underline...).  It is a very simple application once a student has learned the basics of the program.  It is much more basic than applications such as Microsoft Word, or Open Office.  It is a simple word editing application that has fewer buttons for editing the document and adding extensive material.  However, if the editor wants to edit using these more advanced features, the editor needs to know what each of the features does/how to get to them, instead of simply how to push the button.  Having less buttons to push means needing to know more about what needs to be done in order to get your task fulfilled.
    In order to share Google Document, the creator simply needs to create a new document, copy the web link that they created, and send it to the people they wish to share it with.  Or, they could create a link button in their Wiki, Webpage, or Blog.  This application can be used to teach anything in education that a teacher would normally type up to print off for students.  It could also be used to allow students to type assignments or reports.  Instead of printing, teachers and students could simply share the link to their file that they have created.  This application would make collaboration much easier for teachers and students because it is readily available on the web.  Once the link is shared, anyone who knows the address can access the document at anytime.
    The teacher does have to take into consideration that extra students could see the document and share their input.  It would make cheating easier, but students must be held accountable for their honesty just as they always have been.  Teachers also need to make sure that if they assign homework using Google Document, they need to take into consideration those students who don’t have Internet access to collaborate. However, perhaps these students could go to another team member’s house to collaborate, as they would in a traditional setting.

Wiki Wiki Wiki

Obviously the name is too fun to handle.  This week I was able to play with Wikipedia for the first time.  I use Wikipedia as a resource all the time, but I've never edited it.  I added my school to the schools already on Wikipedia from my district.  Very Exciting!


I also created my own Wiki!  http://www.wikispaces.com/user/my/jchomic  I'm working on making it more exciting, so please, give any ideas or comments you have!  Thanks!

Instructional Strategies

I believe that using a constructivist approach to learning would be a good way to use blogs in the classroom.  This would allow the students to easily update the teacher (who could be a follower and contributor to the posts) on how their projects are going, and what they have learned so far.  It would be an easy thing to do.  Instead of turning in paper work, the student would easily be able to move from one browser or tab to another and quickly write a post in their blog updating on what is going on that day or week in their project.  This would work very well especially in WebQuests and online research projects.

The instructional strategies I believe wouldn't work well with blogs would be traditional approaches in learning.  Teachers who are using traditional methods to teach with paper and pencil, and chalkboards, whiteboards, and even SMARTBoards.  These ways are not necessarily wrong, or worse for learning, they are just different.  It seems that it would be unnessesary for the students to stop writing their assignments on paper or working in a traditional lecture model, and take time to blog.  This just seems that it would be breaking the flow of the learning style and not needed.  It seems that it would just be added to say that technology was being used.  Technology wouldn't be being used in the best way possible.

In my classroom, I have students who are often upset and can't communicate for hours at a time because they can't control their emotions.  I could use blogs to allow me to talk with my students, and allow them to get their feelings out and to have someone to talk to, without needing them to look at me.  Sometimes it makes it harder for students to get over their anger when they are seeing someone's face.  Writing in a blog and leaving it for me to respond to would make the process much easier for some of my students.  They usually don't like to write, but working on the computer motivates them.  This would be a great way to work on their emotions and behavior when we can't work face-to-face.

Thinking outside the box: Blogs are also good communication.  Teachers are already emailing and phoning with students to help with math, reading, and all other homework.  Why not put it on a blog?  Then all other students can see what the teacher is helping one child with, and doesn't have to send out the same email/phone call to 15 other students!

Computer-Based Instructional Objects

When creating computer-based instructional objects for students to use independently, additional considerations need to be made.  These considerations need to include what websites should be accessible for the students.  Considering the age group, the students probably shouldn't be doing intense reading, and the website shouldn't be over-whelming as to distract the students from the information they should be trying to find.  The educator should also consider where the website or links on the StAIR project leads the students.  Do they lead the students somewhere that the students shouldn't be?  Does it lead the students somewhere that is off-task and distracting for the students?

A good WebQuest that I found having to do with a content area I taught last year (I don't teach specific curriculum this year) has to do with the moon affecting the pull of the tides.  The website is http://www.internet4classrooms.com/tide.htm .  I thought this was a really good WebQuest because it actually has the students researching in a way that doesn't feel like research.  It has them acting as if they are trying to solve a mystery.  It keeps them well on-track and gives them specific questions to answer in order to be able to solve the overall question.  Please go here and check it out!