Reflection on learning in Google Tools for Schools

I have really appreciated the time spent exploring many Google Tools and the time spent with gentle guidance from our instructors. Before this class, I was comfortable using Google Docs for some student work, particularly goal setting and reflections for their portfolios.  I was able to use Google Docs for sharing documents with my colleagues.  I knew how to use websites for instruction and was comfortable guiding student research using the Internet.  For most everything else, I had to go to the classroom next door or across the hall to ask for help.  One of the greatest things I gained from this class was becoming more comfortable with navigating using multiple tabs and multiple websites.  I was able to successfully copy and paste and create a website.  I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be literate in a digital world and what it means to be a teacher in the 21st century based on the thought provoking blogs provided by our instructors.  I have created goals for expanding my learning and use of technology for next year which include using Google Docs and blogs for reading journals and group responses to literature.  I will be using the PLN resource sheet to further explore personal learning networks and which medium is going to work for me.  I will also be learning to use my IPod in class and trying to make our website more useful to students and parents.

August 2012

I have thought and thought and thought about how I will use this blog.  I don't really have any answers yet.  My personal life has been so complicated this summer that I couldn't put any more creative thought into another project.  I will revisit using a blog as a part of our team website.

I am a fourth through sixth grade literacy teacher at St. Albans City School.  I am not very tech savvy.  I am hoping to learn more about Google Tools that can be used in my reading classes and to share what we are learning with our larger school community.  I also want to educate parents more about independent reading at home.