Google Drive

I started this journey of my masters degree excited to find new ways to use technology in the classroom. During one of my classes, I learned about using Google Drive in the classroom. There are many parts of Google Drive such as: Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, and Google Forms. There are many ways to use these resources in classrooms today and get students engaged in their work. There are also ways for teachers to use them to make life easier. Below are some exciting ways to use Google Drive in the classroom.

Google Docs: Google docs can be used in the classroom to have students work on collaborative projects. Students will not all have to be gathered around one computer but can all be doing something on their own computer. Students who have access to the internet at home could also work on assignments outside of school. Teachers can collect assignments without having to print anything out.  Students would be able to use this to peer edit each other’s papers. There is also a translate feature where you can translate your document into another language. This would be very helpful to keep your ELL parents informed.

Google Slides: Using Google Slides students can share presentations easily. Students can also collaborate on presentations. Students will not need to be at the same place to work on a group project. There is a built in chat feature that allows students to share ideas about the presentation.

Google Sheets: With Google Sheets you can create a seating chart for your class, record grades, keep track of attendance and behavior, as well as make a class schedule.

Google Forms: Using Google Forms you can make quizzes, and create feedback forms for group work. You can also create mailing addresses which would be helpful at the beginning of the year when you send things out.

I have created a collaborative project for the end of the year. It is a zoo research project and I am so excited to get my students using Google Docs independently. My students will need some guidance using it at first since they are 6 and 7 years old but they love being on the computer and tablets so I know they will love it.

There are many benefits to using Google Drive in the classroom. First, Google Drive is free and it won’t cost you anything to start implementing it into your teaching. Second, it is a great tool for students to work collaboratively on projects because members of the group can work on the same document at the same time. Lastly, Google Drive saves work automatically so the students won’t have to worry about losing their work. This is a tool that even in a first grade classroom I can see my students using for their projects. Is this something that you could use in your classroom?

Google Drive 1

Google Drive 2

Google Drive 3

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Resources:

T. (n.d.). 5 Ways to Use Google Drive in the Classroom. Retrieved February 13, 2016, from https://tusd.haikulearning.com/gkerr/tusdconnect/cms_page/view/8863501

Gonzalez, J. (2015, September 25). What's so great about about Google Drive? And why should my students be using it? Retrieved February 13, 2016, from http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/google-drive-for-students/

38 Ideas to Use Google Drive in Class. (2014, August 11). Retrieved February 13, 2016, from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/08/38-ideas-to-use-google-drive-in-class.html

Mohr, S. (2013, August 14). Let Google Drive your Classroom. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from https://youtu.be/8WWu8kN51Gw

This block I have been researching the blended learning emerging trend. Teaching first grade I thought to myself, “How can I use blended learning in my classroom of 6 and 7 year olds?” Blended learning does not mean you completely toss out the face to face interaction you have with your students. There are many ways to implement blended learning into your classroom. Some of these ways are flipped classroom, stations, flex time, and a workshop model. Your students should have some control over their learning through blended learning.

The stations model has the students working through stations teacher led, student inquiry and using a technology program that would adapt to the student’s needs. Students spend about 35 minutes of the 120 minute Reading block rotating through their stations. My students love working on their adaptive learning program iReady during center time.

The flipped classroom model has students complete the instruction at home by watching a video of the lesson. This provides for time during the school day for small group instruction, centers, and group work.

The flex time model is for high school students. During this model teachers would designate one or two days throughout the week where blended learning would take place. Students would be given the opportunity to choose where they would like to learn during this time in their own library or the classroom where teachers would be present to support student’s individual learning.  

The last model that I learned about is the workshop model. During the workshop model, there is a mini lesson taught by the teacher. After the mini lesson, the teacher models that skill that was taught using a tablet explaining what the students will do. The students then work with a partner on the skill. This continues throughout the week and gives the students the time to practice the skill and the teacher time to conference with small groups or individuals on the progress of the skill that week.

Would you be willing to try one of these models of blended learning in your classroom? Do you see any complications with using these in your classroom? 

Blended Learning 1 

Blended Learning 2  

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References:

Blended Learning: Making it Work in Your Classroom. (2014, September 11). Retrieved February 6, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/practice/blended-learning-making-it-work-your-classroom

D'Orio, W., & Wojciechowski, M. (n.d.). The Right Blend. Retrieved February 6, 2016, from http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3758413 

T. (2015, February 18). What Blended Learning Looks Like in the Classroom. Retrieved February 7, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvreKWaKjY 

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