I doubt any teacher exists who does not use Google. Whether basic searching, using Google Docs, Google Earth, or any of their many other tools, Google definitely helps us in education.
So now Google released Google | Search Education. Here you can access a variety of lesson plans, all tied to the new Common Core standards. They divided the lessons up between primary and intermediate and also by topic. Of course the field, or some may say art, of searching, is a large topic, so really Google did well to just focus on this. For example, in Intermediate 1: Picking the right search terms, you will see how you can help students apply specific and unique terms. Definitely a good lesson for students to narrow down the massive amounts of returns from a search, say on researching the death penalty or abortion, some of the favorite search terms in my district. For instance, looking for maps and diagrams tied to a search term.
Google also released a series of webinars or trainings on similar topics, and also other Google topics including Maps, Google Scholar, and Creative Commons. Hopefully this is just the beginning of these. I would really like to see a wide variety of videos, including ones on Android and using that mobile OS in the classroom.
Just a small little beginning, but hopefully Google will continue to release more content for educators. I cannot find anyone who does not use Google Docs for Education, or Earth, or Maps these days, so the audience is definitely present. Lets hope Google realizes this and continues to supplement this new resource.
While lots of reference exists online for technology tools, including those Google produces, sometimes we need ones specific for teachers. Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers (freetech4teachers.com) recognizes this and produced Google Drive and Docs for Teachers, a pdf document for you:
Awhile back (December 2011 actually), I started discussing my feelings of the fad-of-the-moment in instructional technology, the flipped classroom. You know, you record yourself teaching a lesson, post it to YouTube, students watch at home (*chuckle*) and then in class they work through examples. Yeah, in some cases, that may work, but as I said then:
isn’t this another form of direct instruction? Yes, I can watch an instructional video, but that is probably my learning style. If we continue to preach to teach higher level thinking, is lecture style, even on YouTube, worthy?
So an educator I follow and respect, who shares lots of ideas and resources, James Byrne from the Northeast (and the awesome Free Technology for Teachers Blog) has sort of come out with the same level headed thinking. He as well does not think it does not have merit, but we are currently seeing it deployed everywhere without good planning first. Also the attention to detail and circumstances, like he mentions here:
Furthermore, if you flip the classroom and students come to class having not watched the video lessons, how do you spend your classroom time the next day? Do you let students watch the videos in class? Do you reteach the lesson that they should have watched for homework?
We obviously got the buy in from administrations. I cannot tell you how many Superintendents I talk with who ask about Khan and ask if we do similar things. But we really need to slow down, look through this, and go forward. We may have some buy-in and interest we usually do not possess. Let’s not waste it!
In case you do not follow technology (ok, so why are you here?), Oracle, the company that bought Sun Microsystems, wants Google to pay for each instance they use Java. Originally, when Android was developed (and no, Google did not invent Android, they bought it years back) they went to Sun to use Java. Now years later, Oracle owning Java now, wants to try and capitalize on the success of Android. Or more closely, Larry Ellison, CEO, wants to capitalize. Google contents they received permission from Sun at the time and Larry on trial even said he does not know if Java is free.
This case, which we expect the jury decision soon, could drastically change the landscape. If Oracle wins, they will most likely seek damages and money from Google. How much? I guess the jury or judge will decide, but it could change Android for the worse. This could then also become a precedent in other open source/freeware/shareware cases, not to the advantage of the average consumer. If Google wins, Android will continue to be the dominant mobile platform and just get stronger.
This will effect education now as well. More and more schools continue to seek out cheaper and/or more open solutions to Apple’s iOS line of devices. In my district, you all know we go for Samsung Galaxy devices. In an Oracle win, would the licensing on an Android device skyrocket and remove one of our main reasons we use Google? Would we, dare to say it, switch to Apple? The forbidden fruit in my district? Maybe…
Love this video that originally showed up on Geeks Are Sexy. Sometimes you just need to get in tune with your children or maybe students…try this on a field trip, perhaps?
