Tool #6—Google Docs (Cheryl Hallowell)

Tool #6—Google Docs

Cheryl Hallowell

    

Google Docs (www.google.com/docs) is a web-based application that can be accessed by anyone with a Google account and be accessed on multiple devices. It is a word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tool compatible with many others programs (like Microsoft Office products). Our school is a GAFE school, and each student has an email address assigned by the district. I have not incorporated Goggle Docs in my classroom…yet. I never considered it before this class, but now I think that I will try. Students will be using the application in third grade. If I introduce it, I think the third grade teachers might want to send me chocolate for thanks, since introducing this application will relieve them of some of the heavy work next year (and I love chocolate!).

Features:

·      Easy to use after the initial training.

·      Free!

·      Students can work on projects from home and school.

·      Created documents can be shared.

·      Students with more capabilities or extra support can learn to do more and more with the many features.

Classroom Application:

·      Students can share their work digitally.

·      Students can get feedback from the teachers and, when appropriate, from others that the work is shared with.

·      Students can improve writing by editing their work easily and resubmitting, thus really hitting the PBE premise.

·      Students can have increased pride in work.

·      Students can collaborate with peers (even from other rooms/schools) on projects.

Ranking:

·      Safety—4 The teacher is in charge of what student data is available.

·      Student Enjoyability—3/4 Students will enjoy this program depending on what the assignment is and the level of rigor they put in. The potential is certainly a 4.

·      Accessibility—4 Google Docs can be used on many devices and is free.

·      Feedback—4 There is potential for meaningful feedback from teachers and others who have shared the documents.

·      Higher Level Thinking—4 The level of taxonomy is dependent upon the project that the students are working on.

Team 2 Early Elementary Rubric Applied to Goggle Docs

	Does Not Meet the Expectations 1	Partially Meets the Expectations 2	Meets the Expectations 3	Exceeds the Expectations 4
Safety	*Student data can be readily accessed by anyone. *Students can receive or send messages to while using the tool. *Tool has ads or pop-ups.	*Student data cannot be easily accessed by others. *Students can send or receive message to others in the district while using tool. *Tool has ads or pop-ups.	*Student data is not accessible to outside individuals. *Students cannot receive or send messages while using the tool. *Tool has no ads or pop-ups.	*Student data (beyond first name and grade level) is not needed to use the tool. *Student data can only be accessed by invited individuals. *Tool has no ads or pop-ups.
Student Enjoyability	*Students are not motivated and engaged by this technology tool. *Poor graphics, poor entertainment value and the tool is not user friendly	*Students are motivated and engaged by parts of this technology tool. *O.K. graphics, some parts are entertaining and some parts are user friendly	*Students will be motivated and engaged to use this technology tool. *Great graphics, entertaining and user friendly	*Students will be highly motivated and engaged to use this technology tool. *Above and beyond graphics, entertaining and extremely user friendly
Accessibility	*Tool is likely to crash or close without warning. *Students are unable to find the tool without assistance. *Tool costs money to use.	*Students need assistance accessing tool (user name/password long or confusing). *Students need assistance following the directions for using the tool. *Tool is low cost or free.	*After appropriate instruction, students can access the tool independently. *Students can use the tool with little to no adult assistance. *Tool is free or low cost.	*Students can use the tool (app, site, or program) on different devices both at home and at school. *Tool is free or low cost.
Feedback (When Applicable)	*No feedback given. *No ability for teachers or peers to leave feedback.	*Irrelevant feedback given. *Limited ability for teachers or peers to leave feedback.	*Meaningful feedback available. *Ability for teachers and peers to leave feedback.	*Meaningful feedback available along with links to lessons/exercises to practice weak areas. *Ability for teachers and peers feedback.
Higher Level Thinking	*Communication tool has no clear goal that encourages students to use any of Bloom's skills beyond the first level (remember).	*Communication tool has a goal that encourages students to use at least one of Bloom's skills (remember and understand).	*Communication tool has specific goal and one or more supporting objectives that encourage students to use many of Bloom's skills, including evaluate and analyze).	*Communication tool has clearly defined goals and several supporting objectives that encourage students to use many of Bloom's skills, including create.