Google Docs
in the classroom....
Passing notes around the classroom has taken on a whole new dimension! Once upon a time, only those with the best designed paper planes could get their message to other side of the room. Now, Google docs is the technologically advanced way of communicating with others in a teacher approved way! Even the teachers can join in the fun!
We have all used large sheets of paper spread out on desks, with brightly coloured textas to entice students to add to brain storms and the like. This takes it one step further and in a very sophisticated way.
The fact that students can work in real time and collaboratively with others can be quite an asset. Children can all be working on separate parts of the one project or learning task, but pooling their ideas at the same time.
The ability to comment on the document and chat - in a virtual way- outside of the document, allows for it to become more interactive and inclusive. It is also accessible to all collaborators from their own devices, so geographical isolation outside of school poses no issue and children are not so dependent on ensuring work is saved on external drives to make them portable.
Teacher feed back would also be made easier through this medium.
For distance education, the implications are enormous and would have to yield substantial benefits.
Classrooms could become so much quieter with no one talking and shouting out loud in order to be heard. The closest you get are PEOPLE SHOUTING IN CAPITALS!!!! That, however is actually my fear. While it is a powerful medium for collaborative work and sharing ideas, so too, is learning to interact physically with others. When children are engaged in physical talking, they must learn to stop and listen and to take turns in the conversation. These are vital skills that cannot be overlooked as we move into 'work station' dominated schooling and work environments. As with everything, there needs to be a balance.
The portability and ease of access to google docs does certainly make it an asset. I frequently find myself working on mobile devices outside of school. I then save these documents on my iPad and email them to myself in order to continue working on them at home. With google docs now available for mobile devices, that is no longer an issue.
It's a great tool. But a tool never the less.
I totally agree with your comments about the portability and ease of access with Google docs. It is so refreshing to have a tool that allows teachers and students to access documents from any device at any time. Google docs is certainly a more inclusive method of group work and ensures that every student can contribute to the document.
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