Expert explains Google Apps for educators

On Board Online EXTRA • November 5, 2012

By Gayle Simidian

Google Apps – sweet! That was the general consensus from the education session, “Google Apps for Education: Free Tools for a Safer Web Experience,” at NYSSBA’s 93rd Annual Convention & Education Expo on Oct. 27.

The presenter was Carol LaRow, a teacher in the Niskayuna Central School District and Apple Distinguished Educator. She discussed online Google tools including Google Docs, Forms, Maps, and Presentations.

LaRow described how Google’s online educational tools allow secure collaboration in “real time.” According to LaRow, all you need is your web browser. There are no hidden costs.

Google Docs is a tool, somewhat like a wiki, that, in education, can be used to have students read and comment on their peers’ writing. Also, teachers can use it to review a paper, see where students are commenting on the paper and identify who is reviewing the paper and when it was reviewed. There is even a “Research Tool” inside Google Docs that allows users to access images, facts, and web search results for projects they are working on (with citations provided).

Google Forms is another tool which allows teachers to give quick surveys and quizzes to their classes and get the responses back immediately. The tool allows teachers to “customize” their replies to students.

To show how these tools can change how teachers teach, LaRow suggested a lesson on the poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” that uses Google Maps. Students can customize the format of a project by adding text, links, and pictures to an interactive map to enhance such a history project.

School board members and administrators can use Google apps too, LaRow said. Google Presentation is a tool similar to Microsoft’s PowerPoint that board members can use for board presentations.

Google apps for education are budget-friendly, “not platform dependent,” secure, and rather effortless to implement in the classroom, she said. And, most of all, students like using the online tools, so they’ll be motivated to learn and do well in school.