Google Apps for Education is a powerful toolbox that opens up exciting possibilities in the classroom for students and teachers. Here are some concrete, practical and innovative ideas for using them. (Public domain image via Pixabay)
Google Apps for Education has made new ideas and activities possible in classrooms all over the world. They’ve allowed for creation and collaboration in ways that weren’t possible in the past.
One of the best parts about the entire Google Apps suite is that teachers and students can use these versatile tools to create their own custom-made learning experiences. The power grows when they share with others, letting them try the same concept or change it to meet their own needs.
When the #DitchBook community on Twitter started talking Google Apps for Education, great classroom ideas flew around for the entire hour. The chat, which has been meeting at 10 p.m. Eastern / 9 p.m. Central / 8 p.m. Mountain / 7 p.m. Pacific on Thursdays, examines different ways to “Ditch That Textbook” in the classroom.
To see the entire chat, check out the Storify of the evening by clicking here.
Here are 20 ideas that stood out to me that could be implemented in classrooms immediately:
1. Hyperdocs (@KarlyMoura and @LHighfill) — Google Docs that link to various experiences within Google Apps and beyond (see the webinar in the embedded tweet below for details):
Did you miss the #HyperDoc Webinar today? View it here for free http://t.co/W43Hvj55uM Think about how this could transform instruction!
— Lisa Highfill (@lhighfill) July 31, 2015
2. Gallery walk (@mrcoachjuarez) — Get students up and moving by posting QR codes around the room that link to activities on a Google Site.
#ditchbook I used Google Sites to create websites linked to QR Codes for students to do a gallery walk. Each site had a list of tasks — Mr. Juarez (@mrcoachjuarez) August 28, 2015
3. Augmenting literature (@KarinHogen) — Take a selection of literature and then add opinions, comments, images and more in a shared Google Document.
A1: 1of my favs was Ss paraphrasing summarizing and adding images to a Hamlet soliloquy as a whole class in 1 doc #ditchbook
— Karin Hogen (@KarinHogen) August 28, 2015
4. Online buddies (@JYoung1219) — Connect to classes all over the world by sharing Google Docs/Slides/etc. Students can see and comment on each other’s work.
I’ve done online buddies w class from VA (I’m in CA) & Ss are online editors for each other. #ditchbook https://t.co/Jkj3uVH2cF — Joe Young (@Jyoung1219) August 28, 2015
5. Tables of contents (@jmattmiller) — Use a table of contents to direct students to their own personal part of a document OR to make it more navigable.
A1: Make long, large GDocs manageable with TABLES OF CONTENTS. Example: https://t.co/UfnGGJ4oci #DitchBook
— Matt Miller (@jmattmiller) August 28, 2015
6. Published doc with embedded videos (@KarinHogen) — Using DocentEDU (a great tool that Karin co-authored), teachers can add videos and make it interactive with questions and discussion boards.
A1: I [email protected] a published doc into an engaging lesson with embedded vids and interactives. #ditchbook https://t.co/7P3nm6Rzqt
— Karin Hogen (@KarinHogen) August 28, 2015
7. Google Classroom with kindergarteners (@LWMrsParker) — Yes, it’s possible! Mrs. Parker gave us some examples in this blog post.
Here’s my blog post w/Ss samples. http://t.co/atOPqAv6ip #DitchBook https://t.co/pDsNAlaTmh
— Mrs. Parker (@LWMrsParker) August 28, 2015
8. Use research tool to find famous quotes (@Ajarn_Adam) — Use the research tool in Google Docs and Slides to get great quotes without leaving Google Apps.
Use the research tool in Google Docs & Slides to find famous quotes: http://t.co/KBF8cRcm83 #ditchbook
— Adam Bodley (@Ajarn_Adam) August 28, 2015
9. All about me project (@SeanJFahey) — Want students to learn the ropes of Google Apps early in the year? Assign a project on a topic where they’re experts — themselves!
A1 right now Ss are doing an “All About Me” doc activity for It provides instruction to help my Ss learn the ins & outs of docs #ditchbook
— Sean Fahey (@SEANJFAHEY) August 28, 2015
10. Intro to blogging with Google Slides (@KarlyMoura) — Give each student a slide and let them write/create. Classmates add comments to their peers’ writing. It’s an instant blog!
A3 Can’t wait to use Slides as an intro to blogging! Here is a template we will use as a #STEM reflection https://t.co/q1IO1M6Z0D #Ditchbook
— Karly Moura (@KarlyMoura) August 28, 2015
11. Google Slides Choose Your Own Adventure Story (@KarlyMoura @EricCurts) In this webinar, Eric Curts explains how you can link slides in a presentation to create, among other things, a cool Choose Your Own Adventure story.
Webinar recording now available “Google Slides for Interactive Stories, Quizzes, and Games” http://t.co/hV41vOCZ6t #gafechat #ohedchat
— Eric Curts (@ericcurts) February 6, 2015
12. Microscope smartphone pictures (@Ajarn_Adam) — Give examples of what you saw in a microscope with a smartphone picture. Gather them in a Google Slides presentation.
A3 Have Ss take photos down microscopes using smartphones & then paste photos in a shared class Google Slides #Ditchbook
— Adam Bodley (@Ajarn_Adam) August 28, 2015
13. Vocabulary slides (@MossmanJessica) — Vocabulary is easier to remember if it’s linked to various senses. Jessica suggests ways to add some pizzazz to boring vocabulary lessons.
I’ve seen slides used for vocab adding more words, pic, definitions for each unit #Ditchbook
— Jessica Mossman (@MossmanJessica) August 28, 2015
14. Current events memes with Google Drawings (@KarinHogen) — Google Drawings lets students create easy memes with text boxes and a Creative Commons image search.
A4: I had Ss make memes based off current events articles to summarize learning then share with class and comment on everyone’s #ditchbook
— Karin Hogen (@KarinHogen) August 28, 2015
15. Google Drawings interactive posters (@jmattmiller) — Add text, images, links and more to Google Drawings and they become interactive posters with no glue, magazines or posterboard.
A4: Google Drawings posters beat posterboard hands down! Interactive w/tons of Creative Commons pics available! #DitchBook
— Matt Miller (@jmattmiller) August 28, 2015
16. Simple shape drawings (@LWMrsParker) — Students can create a LOT with the simple shapes in Google Drawings. Mrs. Parker shows examples from her kindergarteners.
Possibilities are endless. Ss loved it. I could leave a Draw project for a sub to have them do w/out help. #ditchbook pic.twitter.com/t5JUQTOMkE
— Mrs. Parker (@LWMrsParker) August 28, 2015
17. Virtual manipulatives with Google Drawings (@KarinHogen) — Instead of cutting out papers for students to move around, create them digitally in a Google Drawing.
A4: I’ve also used it for manipulatives. Have Ss make words with with parts for example. They copy your drawing then work #ditchbook
— Karin Hogen (@KarinHogen) August 28, 2015
18. Add pins, info to Google Maps (@SeanJFahey) — MyMaps lets users add pins with information to locations on maps. It’s a great geography assignment!
A5 MAPS! Just made a map of major cities, rivers, lakes of IN. Provided links to sites for students to explore. Ss loving it. #DitchBook
— Sean Fahey (@SEANJFAHEY) August 28, 2015
19. MyMaps with geography research (@kfitch831) — That same tool, MyMaps, provides students a place to add research — the data on the pins they add to a map!
Using my maps after intro of geo themes. Ss pick and research location and then write about it on map. #DitchBook
— Kelly Fitchpatrick (@kfitch831) August 28, 2015
20. Digital portfolio folder with QR code links (@KarlyMoura) — Use Google Drive to gather student work. Make it more accessible with QR codes. Karly gives examples!
A6 Gdraw example: How to create QR Code links to Google Drive folders for your Ss. http://t.co/oBUDaV5jCq#Ditchbook
— Karly Moura (@KarlyMoura) August 28, 2015
[reminder]How are you innovating with Google Apps? How have you seen others innovate with them?[/reminder]
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