Uses in school

[Steve J. Moore]

How have you used Google Tools in school? In class? Teacher or admin collaboration? Student-to-student editing? Share what you've done!

[David Warlick]

I am not currently working for a school or other educational institution, but I am hyped about the potentials of Google's Chart APIs. To take full advantage requires some HTML and probably some Java or PHP programming skills (not nearly as difficult as 25 things you're already doing every day), but there is much that can be done without any programming. Its just a matter of understanding how to build URLs that produce the graphs.

You simply point your browser to http://chart.apis.google.com/chart and add the specifics. For instance, go to:

http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=300x300&cht=bvs&chco...|50,60,100,40,20&chds=0,200

It looks complicated, but broken down, the process is really quite simple. You start with the base URL (http://chart.apis.google.com/chart) and then add the components, the first preceded by a question mark (?) and the following elements preceded with ampersands (&).

• chs=300x300 -- Means make the chart 300 pixels by 300 pixels in size
• cht=bvs -- Means make a (bvs) bar chart, vertically oriented, and stacked
• chco=4D89F9,C6D9FD -- Sets the colors for the two sets of data [Color Codes]
• chd=t:10,50,60,80,40|50,60,100,40,20 -- The two sets of data, items seperated with commas (,) and sets by pipe (|) symbols.
• chds=0,160 -- Sets the data scale

In the classroom, if a teacher uses these techniques for expressing information and demonstrates the process in from of class, then he or she is demonstrating that part of using and learning from information is working the information -- that graph is not necessarily a noun. Graph is a verb.

[Tom Shreve]

We use Google Docs to take class notes and to share them with each other. Just yesterday, our assistant principal sent out a survey using Google Forms (what a great tool for information gathering). I've kept our department budget on Google Spreadsheet. Several of us are collaborating with the sharing function as we investigate developing our own "readers" for our courses. I make sure all my students have a Google account the first week of school.

[Lorette]

I used it to form a collaborative environment for administrators of the universities and colleges of the United States. It is a great tool to gather best practices from those who are in the field. You can do it without coding :-)
Two thumbs up!!!!

[Anthony D.]

Currently I am using Google sites with my students to collaborate on web design projects such as explaining math theories or to inform people about global warming, earth day etc. The students enjoy working together

[Morgan Kolis]

We've used Google Forms this year for surveys for everything from Feedback on Professional Development days to "Constructively Criticizing" our principal. We've also used these forms to gain information from parents on the effectiveness of specific programs at our building.

Recently, we switched our email server to gmail and gained access to all of the Apps at school.

I also taught a Grant Writing class last week for the teachers in our district and teachers were using Google Docs to write their grant collaboratively while researching and gaining information individually.

My special education students in grade 2 with moderate to intensive special needs learned how to use Google Images and Google Maps this year.

I use Google Blogger as a professional blog. ;)

[Wendy Fisher]

I really like your idea of using Google forms to create a survey for  teachers to provide input and feedback on professional development. I might try that for our March inservice.  I wish I took your grant writing class! I don't even know where to start!

[Betty M. Jordan]

As a middle school librarian, I borrowed an idea and created a Google form to link from the library's catalog. The purpose is so students can recommend books for consideration to purchase for the library. I'm thinking that it would be easy to create a Google form to use as an exit slip with classes, as well..

[Wendy Fisher]

I am relatively new to collaborating with Google Tools, but recently I've used it to create spreadsheets for reading and math data from district and classroom assessments.  This allows the teachers and principal to review strenghts and weaknesses in skills assessed and allows content area teachers to access reading and math data to determine how they can help with improving skills. We then were able to compare semester exams with district assessments (aligned with the state, of course) to see areas that need to be addressed.

[Amanda G.S. Wooley]

I use Google Tools as both a grad student and as an educator -- high school Bus/Career Ed teacher.  I use Google docs--documents, spreadsheets, presentations-- with classmates in my master's program if we're in a CLG. I also use blogger, but am a novice. 

As a teacher, I have my students create gmail accounts and google docs so that I can edit or comment on work-related documents like resumes, cover letters, interview answers, etc.  I will be assigning like-minded students to research and present content using Google docs after spring break. Next fall, I will fully implement my class blog and have students respond to case studies, create forums, etc. as part of class participation.

[Leanna Crews]

I'm interested in learning how to use Google Tools to enhance my teaching next year.  Our principal sends out a Google Doc for every thing he wants our feedback on.  I would like to know how to better use things like Google Docs for middle school students- any suggestions on where to begin?

[Audrey McLaren McGoldrick]

Just posted at my own blog about this very thing! How my use of googledocs has evolved in just a few weeks

http://audrey-mcsquared.blogspot.com/2011/09/googledocs-will-you-ma...

Comments welcome, in fact, desperate for any feedback!