I am so excited about using Google Docs. I love the fact that I can bring my students to the computer lab and while they are logged on their individual computers writing their documents, I can periodically peek into any student's piece and give immediate feedback, or check for progress. I feel like this will bring conferencing to a whole new level. I also love the fact that it can be used as a way for group projects. Multiple students can work together on the same document instantly.
I was thinking about using Google Docs as I lay in bed last night and I was just wondering- Does every student in the class need their own gmail account in order to use it? I was wondering about the logistics of using it in the elementary classrooms. Does anyone know?
Rachel that is a great idea! I never thought to use it as a tool for conferencing. Thanks for sharing the idea!
ReplyDeleteYou can use Google Doc without a Gmail account, but unless your students are ready for it, you might want to explore other options. KidBlog might work. It would get your students writing some simple sentences and others could respond. You can access all the work in one place. Just a thought. Aviva Dunsiger (1st grade teacher) has used it with her students. In fact, follow her blog on Google Reader (you'll learn about that tonight) to find out more about how she uses tech with her students. She has one blog for her students and one that she uses as a teacher. She might not be using KidBlog this year, but you can contact her for suggestions. You will find her blogs on the list I had on the syllabus for finding blogs. Check homework on Class 2. We Skyped with her and her students in my other 584 course, and we learned a lot from her. Maybe, she will contact with you on email or through Skype. She is a phenomenal resource.
ReplyDelete