I am excited to work on creating a Google site this week. It looks a little daunting, but something I can see myself using in the future. I didn't even realize Google allowed you to create sites! I need to keep up with this stuff a little better!!!
Overall, technology has greatly changed how I teach. First of all, technology has given me many new tools to use to engage my students. It has also forced me to change because kids are so used to using technology in everything they do. I feel like in order to interest my students I need to reach them on their level.
I can see myself using Google Sites in a few ways. I would like to create our own classroom website. We do have a 6th grade webpage, but isn't very user friendly and it doesn't have very many options. I think it would also be nice for students to create their own website about a topic. For example, in my social studies class they could create a website about the Civil War including documents they have created and links to other informational websites. I am excited to play around with this Google feature this summer so I can teach it to my kids in the fall!!!
" For example, in my social studies class they could create a website about the Civil War including documents they have created and links to other informational websites."
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent way to use Google Sites. It really takes into account how you can integrate other features Google has to offer (BTW: I am not shilling for Google). I look forward to seeing how you do this. Please keep me posted.
Kristy, I agree with this "I feel like in order to interest my students I need to reach them on their level." When I was a student I always wonder why the teachers or my mom wasn't up to date with the new technology or what's going on "now". It seem like they were so stuck in the past. It's a little harder to understand and it gets boring when the teacher nor your parents are on the same level as you. I peronally think that's a great idea to get on your student's level. Great thought!!!
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ReplyDeleteSocial Studies is a perfect subject for creating content specific sites. In the past I've collaborated with the middle school SS teacher to do something similar where the students create their own websites about a topic they chose from a list. I didn't know about Google sites 3 years ago when we did this (did it even exist?) so we used MS FrontPage which was fine but we couldn't find a safe, easy way to publish the sites. We put them up on the projector when the students presented their sites to classmates but it just isn't the same. They made websites...and they weren't able to out them on the web. Disappointing. Now, with Google sites, we can not only seamlessly publish them to the web but students can easily edit them, put comments on their peer's sites, and send people the link for them to look at it because it's on the web!! Exciting stuff. Now I just have to figure out how to get the students Google accounts.
I would love to find a way to integrate using Google Sites into my classroom. I actually feel as though it was really straight-forward and I could definitely see how I could use this with my students, even being as young as they are. Again, the only issue is making sure parents are ok with them getting a Google account through school.
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