During our class with Michael Wacker last week, I was surprised and yet not really surprised at how many options there are with google docs. Week after week, I log into Blackboard to join our online class #eci831 and discover something new in technology that I am not using! Yikes!!
My understanding and awareness of technology is in overdrive. My confidence is building slightly and yet, when I read everyone’s blogs, projects, tweets, etc. I have the same thoughts I seem to have each week. That I have a long way to go! I wish I was more self-motivated, but I am not. My brother can figure out how to utilize technology without a worry and he thinks nothing of it. Anyway, I wish I had his technology brain:( Needless to say, when it comes to learning something new, (on my own) I am a BIG procrastinator. If I have someone to work on a project with, then it is not a problem and I’m in!
As far as google docs, I think I have an understanding of what they are and how they can be used, but I am not sure where to even start!?! With grade 4 students, it would have to be a simple beginning activity and then I could go from there. I watched an introductory video (posted by Barbara Dewitt)
that I found very easy to follow and it made sense. I definitely learn by doing so over the next few weeks I hope to give google docs a try!
Does anybody have a simple activity to start with a grade 4 class?
Jennifer Huber's Blog 
I’m excited to say that I knew most of what the tutorial that Barb posted! I did clarify a couple of things so thanks for posting! I am new to grade 2 and would also love some activities for the elementary grades.
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Hopefully, we will get some ideas!
Thanks for commenting!
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Jennifer – Make sure you are embedding the video instead of just posting the URL (putting it onto its own line should do the trick). Also, work on adding links to your posts – you want your readers to be able to “choose their own adventure” in a sense by following different tangents.
Do you have lots of devices in your classroom? I wonder about having students collaborate on writing a story in a Google doc as an intro activity.
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Hi Katia,
Yes, I will change that. I really struggle with this class because I feel like everything is over my head. I don’t really know what embedding a video is? I didn’t know what to respond about for this blog entry because the presentation by Michael Wacker was a lot and I struggled to follow along with what he was doing. That’s why the introduction video was helpful.
What do you mean by devices? I’m in a team teaching classroom (basically two classes) with 6 laptops and 2 ipads. I have an intern right now, so I am actually not teaching much right now. By the end of this week, my intern will be doing most of the teaching. I will have more time to look into what you are suggesting though.
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Hi Jennifer – No need to feel bad. This class isn’t about being an expert – it’s about challenging yourself and showing growth and development.
So embedding the video means that it will actually show up on your blog. If you paste a youtube link into a post it shows up right there – actually, it looks like you’ve changed it since the video now in showing up on your screen!
Michael’s session was definitely intense. Maybe just pick one thing that you can try out, and focus on that. Or even think about how you can use the tools he talked about for teacher collaboration, instead of with students. For instance, you might collaborate via a Google doc. By devices I just meant laptops, iPads, etc. Sounds like you have a few, so you could get students to work in groups using them.
Don’t get frustrated! Just focus on learning one new thing at a time. If you want to meet in person sometime to talk through some of these tools, I am always happy to meet.
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Thanks for getting back to me and offering to meet. I will let you know if I need to set up a time to meet:)
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