Blog for Saturday, September 17
So, we are to begin using Google Docs. I suppose this week I will blog about Google and how teachers can use it.
First of all, if I were in the classroom, I would have all of my students have a Gmail account as a way for the class to be connected. In fact, I have helped some of my "resource" students and their EAs set up Gmail accounts so that we can communicate. Using the email helps keep us all aware of what is happening: upcoming field trips, activities, and even what meals are being served by the cafeteria.
We have also discussed using Google calendar and syncing all of our devices to that calendar (iPods, cell phones, iPhones) so that we know when there are scheduled days off, etc. My wife and I both use Google calendar with our separate accounts and have shared our calendars with each other. I am a resource teachers and she is an SLP in our school division, and this has helped keep our lives somewhat sane. This year she is on maternity leave, and appreciates knowing where where I am going to be and when. A class would function really well if the class shared a Google calendar with all assignments and important dates on it. No more need for agendas, and parents would have the opportunity to access the calendar, too.
You might also like a service called You Can Book Me. It allows people to schedule appointments right in my Gmail calendar. Try it at http://ggatin.youcanbook.me
ReplyDeleteI can set the calendar so that it only accepts appointments during certain times as you will see.