Why Google?
In 2007 the Google Teacher Academy was established to start bringing together teachers in the USA who had key roles in the integration of ICT in their districts or schools. The focus of this training was to look at how teachers could make use of Google tools in the classroom. It also developed a GTA community where graduates are regularly involved in developing new ideas and solving issues related to their use of ICT. GTA
Google provides many online applications that can be used in education. Google Apps allows your school community to share information and collaborate on various projects. All the tools are available to you and your students anytime - anywhere the internet is accessible. This engagement can be done in the classroom, the library or at home. Everyone can work together seamlessly and easily.
Andrew Mitchell - Google, Sydney - "Cloud computing" is like storing your money in the bank. Your information is kept secure and you can access it from any ATM with your password and account. If your bank burns down your money is safe. Current desktop software is like storing your money under a mattress. If you lose your computer there is a good chance you have lost your documents and information.
The aim of this workshop is to present a wide range of online applications and briefly look at how they can be used in the classroom. Think about how you might be able to adapt a Google App to suit an activity with your class. This presentations aims to make suggestions for you to expand on.
An example could be an e-portfolio using Google sites. This would allow learners to record, archive and share their work with others within their peer group, parent, class, subject, school, cluster of schools, state, country and the rest of the world.
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