I found that the use of online collaboration with Google Docs and Poll Everywhere, very engaging. I believe that emerging technology into the classroom encourage educators to rethink elements of traditional classroom teaching. According to a recent study teachers who use technology frequently in their classrooms perceive greater benefits to student learning--particularly learning 21st century skills--than teachers who are less frequent users (thejournal.com). Online collaboration allows students the opportunity to share thoughts, and interact with peers. For example, Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables students to create, store and share instantly while collaborating online in real time. The benefit of Google Docs enables multiple people in different locations to collaborate simultaneously on the same doc from any computer with Internet access. For example, students working on a project together, can write a document, keep track of their work in a spreadsheet, create a presentation and a drawing to share with other people involved in the project. Students are also able to make changes to the document, spreadsheet, or drawing in real time where the others students can see them.
In text, messaging has become a primary communication tool among many students. With the poll everywhere, site educators now have the availability to include online quizzes and surveys through text messaging.
As long as they actually use words when they are collaborating and not the short text letters they use on they phones in Goggle Docs. I would not be able to understand all the abbreviated words that the kids use these days. The Polleverywhere could be very useful to take polls at school or at work to find out about various things, like who wants to have their work day shorter or what the children want to study next. Educators could use this tool to find out what is more interesting to students to learn about in a history class or science class.
ReplyDeleteWith a little creativity you can use these programs to enage your students and teach them more then just facts and figures. They will learn skills about cooperation, working with partners and communication. As a teacher being able to use these prgrams from home, you can set up certain days and times that you will be able to help your students with their assignments they may be struggling with. I remember many a nights when I was struggling and wished that I could remember how the teacher said this or how to do that.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very valid point, by bringing technologies such as Google Docs into the classroom we can teach students in a new way. Often times teachers become comfortable in their old ways and are not open to change, Google Docs is a fantastic ways for teachers like that to spice up their teaching methods. Not only is Google Docs a way to introduce new technologies to students it is also a way to introduce new technology to teachers as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are right we educators will have to rethink how we teach when we bring technology into the classroom. The traditional classroom is slowly becoming obsolete like so many things in our technology filled lives. Google Docs has given us many tools to work with.
ReplyDeleteYou have made a good point on the usage of Google applications. However, I have the same thoughts as Tammie, hoping the children are typing (texting) proper words and terminology and not the slang and text words they use on their friends. I also hope that they are simply texting to participate in the classroom activities and not to their friends during learning hours.
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