Google Apps for Education

Last month, I introduced my students to Google Apps. They have experienced Google Docs earlier in the school year through forms, drawings created by me and shared graphic organizers. A couple of weeks ago, they were very exited to publish and share their work in a Google presentation. After they published their work, they used the commenting feature to give each other effective descriptive feedback. It is amazing how well they can comment on each other's work. We are now working on reading the feedback and using it to grow and develop as writers. It is quite a challenge to get them to go back and make changes to their work. I'm hoping that with time, this process will become easier.




Below are a few prompts that students use to comment on each other's work:

Favourite Educational Links

Here it is!!! A Google Map and Google Earth certificates.  Both are incredible and provide so many options to explore and lean about geography, history and people on our planet.  I do, however, feel much more comfortable with Google Maps.  I can see students in early elementary grades using maps in a meaningful and purposeful manners.  Google Earth is fun, it is amazing but it is far more sophisticated and I need time trying it out in the classroom.  For now, I'm the lucky holder of two certificates and I can't wait to use Maps in the classroom.  Coming up - a curriculum idea that integrates social studies, math, language and ICT.  Stay tuned!

New Google Forms - UPDATED - Forms even newer!

79 interesting ways_to_use_google_forms_in_the from GrahamAttwell

New Google forms allow multiple users to collaborate on the same form in real time.  One of the most exciting features of the new forms is the ability to insert images and page breaks into Google forms. 

Here are a couple of examples using new Google Forms:

Forms with Images - Analyzing Graphs
Forms with Page Breaks - Learning Skills Assessment


Additional Resources:

Follow Molly

Add-ons to Use with Google Forms

Hello! I love Google Forms

Creating a Rubric with Google Forms

80+ Forms for the Classroom

Beginner's Guide to Google Forms

Innovative Ideas for Using Google Forms

79 Ways to Use Google Forms in the Classroom

Mapping with Google

Google Teacher Academy didn't work out for me this year, will have to try again.  In the meanwhile, I've been working on a Google mapping course and earned my first certificate.  

Mapping with Maps Engine Lite

Last week, I started a self-directed course "Mapping with Google" and was able to learn about and explore Maps Engine Lite.  As I was learning about the features of Google Map Engine, I came up with a number of ideas for using Google Maps and Google Earth in the classroom with my grade 2/3 class next year.  What an amazing tool to teach mapping skills and to help students gain knowledge of their local community and communities around the world.  In the next few weeks, I will be planning my social studies lessons with Google maps and sharing ideas on the blog.  In the meanwhile, check out the map I created in preparation for  my trip to Bonaire this summer.

Scribble Press in Kindergarten

Our kindergarten students have been reading books by Todd Parr. They have visited his website and learned about his favourite animals, foods and colours. During our author study, we talked about the beautiful colours, sentences and notes found in each book. Students created additional pages for a book called "It's Okay to Be Different". They made story boards and then created pages for their very first books that will be published with Scribble Press.