Google Documents
Google accounts are a keen way to share information with people. I have had a google account for a year or so to manage my home page (horoscopes, itunes and you Tube, news stories- all for entertainment basically) but never used it to it’s potential-like most of things I am learning. Once I scratched the tip of the ice berg, I found there is so much more to it! This was not as easy to manurer through, so I got frustrated right away. I didn’t give it much of a chance to sink in because I wanted to work on the thing I knew how to use- Google maps.
I have to admit, I will need lots more practice to be a fluent googleologist- my comfort zone is stretching from the last three things, but I can see so many practical applications for using google documents and sharing internet space- not clogging up and creating cyber garbage that needs to be managed- One place for mutually working together and recycling and reusing information. I will need to play with it some more and add to this “thing” when I am feeling more comfortable with it. I will do a better reflection on Google docs soon.
Reflection: I did try to create a table to collect my friends email addresses. I created it and saved it, but had a hard time working with it and finding it after I saved it. I am sure the more you use it, the easier it gets. I just need time and practice. I think since I have had a Yahoo account forever, I am to comfortable using it for my emails. One would think taht YAHOO would have a document sharing application too. Maybe they do. I will need to do some surfing.
Google Maps and Google Earth
I had our tech guys install Google Earth to my classroom CPU a few years ago. I used it in a Language arts/social studies lesson. The kids ate it up! I have to admit it is cool to zoom in on your own house. They do need to do an update though- we owned a barge (yes, a barge) and it sat in front of the house in the early 2000’s- still visibleon my google picture. I can see lots of applications, besides entertainment for this app. Environmental management, such as crop distribution, city planning… but, it is kinda creepy too- Big Brotherish.
Reflection: I did some plannig for a trip I will be taking soon to an area I am not familiar with. I found Google Maps 10x easier to wrok with then Map Quest. I found the directions, telephone numbers and I LOVED the panaramic views. When Ihave time, I will take a virtual tour of some more exotic places… how fun!
One Comment
Once you get all of the cool tech “stuff” installed in your classroom, you might want to have your students create a custom Google map of the neighborhood and show it on the big screen. You could also check out Google Lit Trips and show them Make Way for Ducklings or one of the other early elem books that have been put into Google Earth. A friend of mine created a Lit Trip using Google Maps that he then put into Google Earth (very easy to do) for Big Anthony.