Google+in+the+Classroom+A

= = = Google Tools for Collaboration and Communication Across the Curriculum =

//Professional Development Series - 2014//
//** Objectives: **//
 * Learn what Google has to offer for use in your classroom.
 * Generate ideas how Google apps can be used in your classroom.
 * Get hands-on experience with some of the tools.


 * Pre-Session Activity - Please Do! **
 * 1) Go to @https://accounts.google.com.
 * 2) If you already have an account, go ahead and log in. (Note: if you have associated your District email address with your Google account, you will want to disassociate it now.)
 * 3) If you don't have a Google account, click on //Sign in with a different account// and then //Add an Account// and then //Create an Account//. (Note: Please do not use your District email address to create your account. Use another personal email address; preferably not an AOL email address.)


 * Google Apps for Education vs. Google Personal/Consumer **
 * [|Beginner's Guide to Google in the Classroom]
 * What is the difference?
 * What do we currently have in the District?
 * Where are we going?

Google Drive

 * **What is it?**// ***Video:** Teachers & Principals Talk About Google Docs //
 * Google Drive is a collection of free online apps, including Docs (word processor), Sheets: (spreadsheets), and Presentation: (slide shows); Forms (forms); Draw (drawing program) that allows you to create, store, share, and collaborate on documents with others.
 * Within Google Drive there is also the ability to //add-on apps// that facilitate many of the everyday tasks that we do:
 * Merge by MailChimp
 * EasyBib
 * HelloFax
 * Kaizena (leave voice comments on student documents)
 * About Google Drive Storage Space
 * The Step-by-Step iPad Paperless Workflow for Teachers Using Google Drive
 * 25 Tips and Tools to Make Google Drive Even Better


 * **Why use it?**
 * How Could You Use Google Docs in Your Classroom?
 * Track changes in collaborative documents
 * Research and document information within your document
 * Reviewing Documents - Giving Feedback
 * Use Flubaroo to Create a Self-Grading Quiz // *Video:How to Use Flubaroo //
 * Let's See How it Works!


 * **Instructional Ideas:**
 * Teaching the Collaborative Writing Process
 * Create Online Quiz/Test (Sample Student Information Form)
 * More Ideas for Using Forms by Tom Barrett
 * 50 Little-Known Ways Google Docs Can Help in Education
 * 5 Ways to Use Google Docs in the Classroom
 * Use Google Drive to Create a Student Portfolio from an iPad
 * 12 Effective Ways to Use Google Drive in Education
 * Increasing Student Participation with Google Drive

Activity One

 * Team 1
 * Team 2
 * Team 3
 * Team 4

Google Groups

 * **What is it?**
 * Google Groups is a free, online service that helps groups of people easily share information and communicate effectively through mailing lists and forum discussions.
 * Learn More


 * **Why use it?**
 * **Google for Educators Discussion Group**
 * Communication with parents
 * Communication with students
 * [|Join discussion groups]


 * **Instructional Ideas:**
 * Set up a parent-child book club
 * Create an online study group
 * Hold online discussion to enhance class time

Google Sites

 * **What is it?** // ***Video**: Introduction to Google Sites //
 * Google Sites is a tool that allows students and teachers to create custom web pages, adding content, attachments, and embedded media from many other services, including Picasa Web Albums, YouTube video and Google Docs.


 * **Why use it?** // ***Video:** Google Sites Tour //
 * Students can use Google Sites to:
 * Manage a to do list for their assignments and activities.
 * Create a personal portfolio of their work.
 * Collaborate and share ideas with other students for group work and peer tutoring.
 * Teachers can use Google Sites to:
 * Create a class web page, including handouts and tutorial videos.
 * Collaborate with other teachers on department or school-wide projects.
 * Manage a international project that connects teachers and students around the world. Ask students to create pages about subjects they are interested in.


 * **Instructional Ideas:**
 * Example: Mrs. Richau's English Class
 * Example: School Ski Club
 * Politics Civics Literacy
 * Create a public website for posting announcements, a calendar of events, reading and spelling lists, weekly themes, fun stuff and more.
 * Create a private site to share information with parents, like curriculum resources.
 * Even More Ideas
 * //Note: Students must be 13 or older to have a Google Account to add content to Google Sites or to view private sites.//

Google +

 * **What is it?** //***Video:**// // Google + A Quick Look //
 * Google+ makes connecting on the web more like connecting in the real world, providing new ways for students and faculty to find, share and connect online -- both inside and outside the classroom. It's a social network.
 * Using Google+ in Education
 * Google+ Help
 * Google+ Cheat Sheet


 * **Why Use it?** // ***Video:** What is Google + and Do I Really Need it? //
 * Circles: make it easy to organize your work and social content by allowing you to share relevant content with the right people. Choose education experts to follow:
 * Google in Education
 * Edudemic
 * Edutopia
 * Educational Technology and Mobile Learning
 * NASA
 * And many more!
 * Pages: create pages for student clubs, sports or classes and share important updates with membership
 * Communities: 4 options
 * Join an educational community to share and get suggestions and answers.
 * Create a private community for your class(es)
 * Hangouts: group video chat that you can use with up to 9 others at the same time when you are not able to physically meet together
 * Integration of Google Apps in one place: search, calendar, photos, events
 * Mobile app


 * **Instructional Ideas:**
 * Create a Google+ community for each class where you can post homework assignments, hold discussions, etc.
 * Create Google+ Pages for classes to share homework updates, the latest news on the course topic, or interesting ideas and articles; news for your after school clubs or sports teams, etc.
 * Use Hangouts to hold virtual office hours, or collaborate on a project or a lesson plan;
 * Use Hangouts to bring in speakers from around the world to your class;
 * Post discussion items and assignments in the Stream;
 * Encourage students to comment on content you have shared to foster class engagement on topics of interest;
 * Search for current information on a topic;
 * 10 Ways to Use Google+ in the Classroom
 * Google Plus for Educators

Activity Two

 * Click on this link to fill out a form that will generate an invitation for you to join the Google+ SDP Google Training Community.
 * An invitation will be sent to your email account. Please access your email account and click on the link to accept the invitation to join the community.
 * The rest of this activity is posted on the community page.

Additional Resources
Google for Education Google Educator Resources Google for Education Training More Google Products