May 2013
This edition of the ASD Tech Tips is focusing on Google Apps For Education (GAFE). Over the last few months, we have been introducing and using GAFE with your students and promoting its uses professionally. Included in this month's newsletter will be many GAFE resources/ideas for use in your classroom, quotes from staff members who use GAFE, and information about how ASD Tech Integration can help with GAFE.
This edition of the ASD Tech Tips is focusing on Google Apps For Education (GAFE). Over the last few months, we have been introducing and using GAFE with your students and promoting its uses professionally. Included in this month's newsletter will be many GAFE resources/ideas for use in your classroom, quotes from staff members who use GAFE, and information about how ASD Tech Integration can help with GAFE.
Why GAFE?
Google Apps for Education has many benefits for use at ASD. Below is a list of reasons why you should start or continue using GAFE!
- All files are tied to your web-based account. Meaning you can access your Google Drive from any internet enabled device.
- Google allows for "live" collaboration and sharing. You no longer have to worry about saving to a jump drive, or "saving as" and working off of multiple copies of the same file.
- There is no save button. Google automatically saves every edit and it allows you to revert back to previous versions.
- You can give other GAFE users editing, viewing, or commenting rights to your files. You could have a paperless classroom.
- Students can use their GAFE account to sign into other web 2.0 tools. They also can use the associated Gmail account to use tools that need email verification.
- Students/staff groups can collaborate and work on their files from any web enabled devices. Group collaboration can happen without the group being in the same location.
- Users can upload non-Google files as well. All files can be shared and accessed from any web enabled device.
- GAFE is FREE!
"As a grade level BLT rep, I set up a Google doc each week for our weekly grade level meeting. As first grade staff we are able to collaborate on agenda items and meeting minutes. This makes the meetings run very smoothly and efficiently, as well as having a record of items discussed." |
Help...I can't log in!
To access your Google Apps For Education account, follow the steps below:
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GAFE Resources52 Tips and Tricks for Google Docs in the Classroom
-TeachThought 10 Great Free Google Forms Every Teacher Should Be Using -Educational Technology and Mobile Learning Making the Most of Google Docs -Blended Learning and Technology in the Classroom The Google Chromebook in the Classroom -Kathy Schrock Teachers Manual on The Use of Google Docs in Education -Educational Technology and Mobile Learning YouTube Video: Google Drive, Teachers and Students Collaborating " I use Google to streamline classwork turn in and to be flexible with due dates. I make each student use a folder on Google Drive as a portfolio to store and share all of there class work with me." |
"As a professional I save my lesson plans and anything else I’d like to work on at home to Google, so I don’t have to worry about double saving. We are also using it as a 3rd grade team to keep track of the students' Hot Pencil test levels." "The FCS department uses Google forms as a survey to collaborate on topics, it cuts down on our meeting time and we have more accurate information already typed up. We are currently adapting and implementing a Life Issues project to incorporate Google Presentation. Now every junior will at one point have to use their Google account!" "I’m using Google docs to record data – guided reading books, math and alphabet assessment. It organizes the information into a table that is used as a quick reference for determining future instruction or reporting out on progress reports." "The 8th grade ELA team recently used Google Docs in a drama unit. The students wrote their own plays, and each group member was required to write a character. Google docs allowed the students to work on the same document at the same time. It also allowed me to see who was working, and I could monitor and give feedback in real-time." |
So What's Next?One of the cool things about Google is that it is completely Web based, which allows Google to update GAFE continuosly. It amazes me how often features and improvements are added to the different apps. Google also has many other projects that they are working on; many of them don't have a lot of relevance to school...but are really cool! Linked below are some of the current projects. To the right is a Saturday Night Live skit that poked some fun at the "easiness" of Google Glass. Google Driverless Car Google Glass Google Smart Shoes Google Wallet |
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Google in Your Classroom?
If you want to get started with or need help using Google Apps for Education in your classrooom or professionally, please contact an ASD Technology Integration Team Member (Matt, Jamie, Nadine, Deb, Corey, Dawn). We would love to help! In the coming weeks you should be receiving information about summer professional development, we hope to offer multiple sections on using GAFE. As noted in the quotes above, we have many teachers from different content/grade levels that are using GAFE and the number seems to grow daily.
Remember to check the ASD Tech Tips home page for our Twitter feed, help pages, and our growing digital instructional video library.
Jamie Averbeck (Tech Integration Coach)
[email protected]
Jamie Averbeck (Tech Integration Coach)
[email protected]