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Google Apps, Web 2.0, and More
Outside of Google Drive, there are endless amounts of Google Apps, Web 2.0 Tools and other websites that could be used with your students. Since this topic encompasses so many different resources, it is the most difficult narrow down. (Web 2.0 tools could take up an entire course alone!) For the purposes of this course, since we cannot cover everything, I'd like to expose you to the realm of resources available and guide you towards specific resources that may be useful.
Google Apps
What are Google Apps? Aside from the common Google Apps (Docs, Spreadsheets, Forms, etc), Google offers additional apps that can be installed on the Chromebook. Many of these apps a simply links that help students access web pages more quickly. A full list of Apps can be found by accessing the Chrome Web Store. Within this page, you can narrow the list of apps into Educational apps. When you click on an app, it will bring up a description along with reviews and demo videos. If you have ever used an iPad, you will notice that Chrome Web Store has many of the apps you may find in the iTunes store. As Chromebooks become more popular, Google is adding more and more apps every day. After you download an app on a Chromebook, it will appear in the Google Chrome App Launcher. Click this link to learn more about the App Launcher and how it works. The video below also describes the App launcher and how it can be used with any computer, not just a Chromebook.
Web 2.0
What is Web 2.0? Click this article to learn about Web 2.0. This CBS article identifies Web 2.0 as a way to share, create and collaborate on the Internet. While there are many Web 2.0 resources available on the web, I'd like to focus your attention to a few resources that will be appropriate for your classroom.
- This Wiki, or Website, is a collaborative site with a variety of Web 2.0 tools. The menu on the side of the page breaks the resources into various categories. Browse through several of the categories to get a feel for the resources available.
- Haiku Deck is an easy slideshow presentation website that is similar to Powerpoint or Google Slideshow.
- Little Bird Tales is a digital storytelling website where students can create stories with photos, drawings, text and annotate the story with their voice.
- Click here to see some Sample stories created with Little Bird Tales.
- The video below will give you a demonstration on how to use the Website.
More
Aside from the resources listed above, the Internet contains many more resources that can be used to enhance instruction.
- We Give Books contains hundreds of free, flippable children's books that can be used for guided reading groups or class read alouds.
- Infuse Learning is a student response systems which allows teachers to quickly assess students. Creating an account sets up a classroom for you. Students easily log into your classroom with a code. This resource engages the entire class by giving every student the opportunity to respond to your classroom questions and discussions.
- Watch the video below to see it in action.
- Kahn Academy is an excellent resource with thousands of videos that can be used to teach math concepts.
- Click here to learn more about Kahn Academy and how it works.
- You may wish to click here to learn more about the business.
- Symballoo is a bookmarking tool that helps students easily navigate to websites.
- See the video below for more information.
Logging In
Many of the sites above require students to log in with an email account. Since Chromebooks require a Google ID, students already have an email and password that they can use. However, there are a few great resources on the web that do not require students to have a log in. Click this link to learn about 14 Web Tools for Teaching Without Student Logins.
Since many sites do require logins, the Google Chrome store has an extension you can download called Last Pass which will safely remember passwords to all the sites you visit and will automatically log you in.
Watch this video to learn more about Last Pass.
Resources
Cbsnews.com. (2007). What Is Web 2.0?. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-web-20/ [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
Deck, H. (2013). Meet Haiku Deck. [online] Retrieved from: http://vimeo.com/71132866 [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
Slome, T. (2013). 14 Web Tools For Teaching Without Student Logins - Edudemic. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.edudemic.com/web-tools-for-teaching-without-student-logins/ [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
YouTube. (2013). Chrome App Launcher! Awesome Release by Google. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M_mx3Nr49M [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
YouTube. (2012). InfuseLearning - iPad/Tablet Learner Response Solution. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-skvqjepU1Q [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
YouTube. (2013). Little Bird Tales. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emivbgSgMXs [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
YouTube. (2012). This Is Symbaloo. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOA4xx-1s9s [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
YouTube. (1921). Why Use LastPass?. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM0fzHxMASQ [Accessed: 6 Apr 2014].
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