Using Google Notebook & Google Reader (Week 6)

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Teacher from the Trenches
If you make use of these tools could you please share with us how and why you use them.

TECS 390 Students
After exploring these tools and reading what the The Teachers from the Trenches have to say, what do you think and how do you see yourself using these tools?

[Christine Southard]

I use Google Reader for myself to keep on top of topics that are unique to me as a tech savvy special educator. I haven't used these programs with my students yet. Although, Google Notebook has great potential for a variety of cooperative projects between students. My biggest concern is that I teach elementary students. To access these programs, you usually need an e-mail address and our district doesn't provide them for students. We ask our students to get e-mail addresses with the help of their parents at home, but we have a new crop of students starting with us this week. I'll keep you posted.

[Ginger Lewman]

Just this year, I've begun having the students learn Google Reader. Very few of my 5-8 graders had even heard of a news feed, reader, or RSS/XML. We're beginning the day looking at news topics relating to the work we're doing in our projects that week (or so). I'm also using it to highlight various topics we WILL be learning about this year, where students are getting a smattering of news articles regarding the middle east.

So far, they think this is pretty cool!

As for Google Notebook, do you mean documents/spreadsheets or have I missed a new app?
We're using Google Docs/Spreadsheets to do shared research. We've also used it in math to talk about measurements, charts, graphs, ratios, and proportions. Currently, since our district has blocked nearly all blogs (and, get this--the ones they haven't blocked, I can't deem as safe!) we're also writing our blog posts in Google Docs and so far they're only sharing them with me. However, I plan for us to copy/paste them soon into a suitable blog or network format. They've even blocked wikispaces for us, even tho we created a totally protected space! :(

So we LOVE the Google Apps. We also have a shared school calendar that we access, and the students have taught their parents how to access it, so everyone has a fully-updated calendar at all times. I've also put my personal meetings on there (but they show up to everyone only as "busy" or "free" so that if a parent wants to meet with me, they can access my calendar and already have in mind a time we can meet even before they call/email me! Yippee! OH, and students also have a personal calendar where they post their day's homework and parents can access it from home/work as the child is updating the homework calendar. The last benefit is that my colleagues and I also share a portion of the calendar where we can create times to meet for discussions! yay!

[Ginger Lewman]

OH, Google Notebook! I see it now! http://tinyurl.com/273k68

Gosh, this is one way we've been using Google Docs, but this may be a great way to work too. We'll check it out this week or next and will check back in later!

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Google Notebook is a new application. Wesley Fryer does a three part presentation. Here is the information on it.
Using Google Notebook, Google Reader, and Firefox by Wesley Fryer

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/01/21/using-google-notebook-g...

Google Notebook
You can access your Google Notebooks from any computer by using your Google Accounts login. Publish your notebook. You can share your Google Notebook with ...
www.google.com/notebook

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

Well that is pretty darn interesting. Homework reminders using RSS on cell phones. Maybe I should try that at this level.

[jeni henningson]

I really liked the google notebook. I can't count how many times I have had to move to a word doc or something to takes notes or copy information from the web. This way I can do it on the spot. I think I will utilize this a lot and see many opportunities in the classroom as well with Internet research. It was very user friendly--at least for me. I find it interesting how some things that other find easy I am really frustrated with (AIM--I still haven't got the hang of it), and other things I have no trouble with. As for Google Reader, I think it is a very useful tool but I don't know how much I will get out of it. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who does not keep up with the outside world very well. I know it's a lousy excuse, but I have a hard time finding the time. I will definitely tell my sister about this though--she is the web queen when it comes to surfing for current events and entertainment. As a teacher, I think this would be great way to bring in current events. Who knows--with tools like this maybe I can find the time.

[Delaini Farris]

I really like the Google Reader. I don't know that I would use this with K-3rd grade, but this is a great tool for teachers to use to keep up with news and a great way for older children to do use it as research or to keep on top of current events. The google notebook will be handy. Instead of going back and forth through documents, I can put all my info. in one, convenient spot!

[Marci Edgington]

I thought that the Google Reader and the Google Notebook were both useful tools. I don't know that I would get much use out of the Google Reader at this point because I do not have the time to keep up on all the latest things. I have a hard enough time just having time enough to read all my homework. The Notebook will help when taking notes form information I look up on the web.

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

I didn't think I would find it useful either, but now I track all the blogs, etc uss Reader. Kinda like subscribing to a Podcast through iTunes. Really have saved me a ton of time.

[Ann]

I have only used Google Notebooks once. The Teachers Teaching Teachers group was working collaboratively on subscription databases at some point in August. It was a good tool to collaborate.

I really like Google Reader. I use it to consolidate all my RSS feeds: blog subscriptions, ning forums, and local news. I can hide all subscriptions that do not have new content.

I don't use either of these tools with students. I did have the opportunity to recommend Google Docs to a student today. Her computer crashed, and she couldn't reload Office. It will give her a simple word processor and spreadsheet for science lab reports until the family can get to a store to purchase a new copy.

[Cyndi Danner-Kuhn]

I think schools could save themselves a ton of money by using these free tools instead of invest in all the money in Microsoft Office.

[Ann]

The student was so happy this morning. She came in and told me how EASY it was to create her science lab report. Her parents did buy Office, but she was so enthusiastic to show me how she figured out adding a table to the document.