Google is an amazing free platform that offers so many tools which teachers can use to help organize aspects of their classroom to be more efficient. I am a Kindergarten teacher. In my room we use Google docs to organize parties, volunteers for center, snack sign up, and for setting up conference times. It is simple, fast and easy for teachers and parents. The teacher can create any document and send the link to parents to have access. It is efficient in the
fact that it is real time. If a parent signs up to volunteer one day and another
parent access the Google doc they will instantly see that someone else has taken
that day. There are no delays so teachers don’t have to worry about double booking a parent. Google forms is another Google App that teachers can use in the classroom to receive instant feedback from parents. In the past I have created and sent surveys to parents with the click of a button. The layout is easy and there are so many tutorials and YouTube videos available if you get stuck and need assistance. Teachers can also create quizzes and have them graded too!
2. How could Google Apps enhance collaboration between you, parents, and students?
Google Sites is a great App that can enhance collaboration. Teachers can create a website to host information about the classroom.
Google is great because it allows not only the creator to edit the site, but also anyone who the creator gives permission to edit as well.
In my classroom I use this feature to allow my classroom coordinator to log on and relay information to parents on the volunteer tab of my website. It’s great because it’s one less thing I have to worry about. Google docs allows teachers to create and edit documents together. At my school we used this feature to create and edit our back to school information packet for parents. We are each able to contribute to the packet in real time. It saved on lots of emails and the chance of a teacher adding a section that another teacher already added.
3. Did you learn something about Google or yourself that you didn’t know before?
I’ve discovered Flubaroo! Flubaroo lets you easily grade assignments and do in-class assessments. Teachers can create a quiz by creating a form, and then they can be the first one to take the quiz submitting the correct answers. Flubaroo then grades all the answers to the quizzes it receives. It is a great tool for teachers because the feedback is instant and the teacher can adjust his or her teaching to the students needs!