Okay, I know some of you that know me will laugh when you see the title of my post here but I just came up with this amazing idea that I can't wait to try! It's nothing new to the tech world but new to us here in Shakopee, I think.
So my 7th grade students all have science (with a class set of iPads) and have set up gmail accounts through the schools google account (@shakopeeschools.org). First, I want their emails in TIES so we can send mass emails to them just like we do with parents. It would be nice if they could use those accounts to sign in to Schoolview as well.
I embed a google calendar on my website with due dates and test dates. Using those gmail accounts, we can have students add due dates and such to their google calendar by going to their teacher's website and simply clicking on any events that they need to know.
The biggest test is... will 7th graders actually use those gmail accounts?
All that being said, if you have any ideas that you'd love to share in this thread, go for it!
That is a great idea! It would be especially helpful to send out reminders about tests, quizzes, and homework. What a good way to communicate with the students.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea!! I can't wait for the day when we all have iPads and the kids are really using them in all subjects.
ReplyDeleteWill 7th graders actually use gmail accounts? Who knows... especially at home when not everyone has access to a computer. But at school you can make it mandatory! In my class (3rd grade) we all fill out our planners together at the end of the day and they are required to bring them home and show their parents. Does the homework always get done? No. Even though it was in the planner????? No. At least they are practicing how to keep track of things and hopefully getting better at being responsible for themselves.
I think the gmail account is awesome, especially for those older grades that you can send reminders to and have the due dates automatically posted in their calendars. My guess is that the kids will love it and actually use it. They love anything that involves technology!!
If we could have a system where they can have their OWN iPads and take them home--then they will have more ownership to the technology--and will use it more fully. As a classroom tool that they work on in the classroom, I would advise to give time in class to do what you want them to do, and have them pair, or team up to check that each other did, at least at first, then as it becomes part of the routine, less checking will need to be involved. If it is something that benefits them, that is. If it doesn't benefit them, then re-evaluate it with THEIR input and ask them why they aren't using it--and tweak the process!! Thanks for taking a lead with teching!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know that this kind of thing is happening at younger and younger ages. A few teachers have dabbled with the Google accounts up here at the high school. Since I'm teaching physics half-time this year, I have the good fortune of working with Casey Rutherford who is one of our administrators for the shakopeeschools.org Google accounts. Casey also acts as..uh..I don't know his new title...Educational Technology Integration Dude? So, he rotates through the buildings helping teachers effectively implement technology in their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteLong story short, he's set up accounts for his students in the past and used Google Drive to share documents authored by both himself and the students. I set up one this year too. At this age (mostly seniors), students are pretty good at logging on to check for class emails, updates, etc, but I can only imagine how great they'll be at it in a few years - especially if you keep exposing them at the JH.
The calendars are great. I showed mine to parents at curriculum night and reminded them they could click the + to add the course calendar as a direct feed to their own calendars. BAM! no more checking the school webpage for assignments. Plus, it's way faster for me to add to the Google calendar than the rSchool one.
Last, I have students sign up for retakes using a form I created and shared with them on Google. They log in and answer a few questions. I check a spreadsheet to see when they'll retest, what they've done to get ready, etc. It's pretty slick.
Google rocks a lot of things. Hope some of you made it to Casey & Doug's first Tech Tuesday last night on Google Docs... Many of you are using a gmail address from our school domain. You can talk with Casey or Doug (yes, Tech Intg Dudes) about the possibilities and logistics. I can also give you an account if you want to play with it...
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