Web 2.0 Tools

This course and the IEASC program has introduced me to numerous web 2.0 tools.  There are so many of them that I have used in my classroom, however, the tool that has made the biggest impact on my classroom is Google drive.  I learned how to create Google docs and upload files from my computer.  I organized my drive into folders for the courses I teach, the courses I take, and all the documents, assessments, portfolio tasks, and classroom management plans for the courses in my department.  My department folders are divided into subfolders by course, and I share documents with the respective teachers. I have just conducted a Google drive tutorial with the other department chairs in the school, now they use Google drive for all their department documents and we all share them with the principal, so he has access to all our unit plans and assessments.

I am in the process of teaching members of my department to utilize Google more often, but am finding it is difficult to get the all of adults to change.  On the other hand, many of my students are embracing Google and all it has to offer. My forensics class just submitted lab reports for a lab they did on blood spatter, some of them used google drive and then shared their document with me.  I was then able to make comments and send them a graded rubric.  There were even students who made corrections, which I was more than happy to give them credit for.  I am sure I could get even more students to use Google if the school had more technology available for all students to use in their classes.  Unfortunately we are limited to one computer lab for 900 students.  So the best I can do is model the uses of Google and hope that the students will be able to use it at home.  They tease me sometimes, telling me I should get commission from Google for my sales pitches.  I am just happy to be teaching them to use the free tools.  I recently purchased a Google chromebook.  My plan is to become great at using it, so that I can persuade the district and the principal to purchase Chromebooks for the school.

Remind101 is another web 2.0 tool that I feel has dramatically changed my classroom.  The school has a new three day rotating schedule this year.   Classes meet two out of three days.  With weekends, holidays and snow days, that can create big instructional gaps.  With Remind101 I am able to contact my students and remind them of what and when assignments are due.  While I don't have any data yet, I feel it has made a tremendous difference in the percentage of homework and other assignments completed.  Best of all, the student response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Finally, I really like Blogger.  I would like to have my students begin blogging, just like I have.  I think it will be an experience and a skill that they can take with them to college.  My plan is to try it this year with my Advanced Forensics class.  They will be reading a book after vacation.  I am going require them to use a blog for their reading reflections.  I am hoping their experiences will be as positive as mine.  Using Google drive to create collaborative documents and presentations and Blogger to reflect on their reading and provide comments on the blogs of their classmates.  The use of these web 2.0 tools meets the NETS-S standard 1, Creativity and Innovation, Standard 2, Communication and Collaboration, and Standard 6, Technology Operations and Concepts.