Google Tools For Educators
Conference Handout
Carol LaRow
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Contact: (518) 377-8332 tech33@nycap.rr.com | ||||||||
See the power of Google, with the features it has to offer for teaching and learning. Google has put together a package of innovative technologies that increase productivity, allow for collaboration, help develop technology skills, and empower and motivate students. Use the links on this page to discover the Google Tools demonstrated in the presentation, including others that we did not have time to cover. The links are provided to give you quick access to the tools so you don't have to search for them. Use the Documents to Supplement Tools section for how to's, tips, and integration ideas.
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Evaluating Sites on the WEB: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
accuracy Does the site list the author and institution that published the page? Is there a way to contact the author? credibility Is the information from a news organization, television station, news magazine, trusted publication? validity Do different sources report or list the same information? objectivity Is the main objective of the page to provide information? Is advertising limited? Are author’s opinions evident? current Is the page current and updated regularly? Do the links work? purpose purpose of the document is clear; ? information is useful | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Google Tools: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
News: Search and browse 4,500 news sources updated continuously. Quickly browse top news stories, search for a specific topic, get "news alerts," search archives, create timelines, and personalize your newspage. Groups: Collaborate with members you select - teachers & students, students & peers, classroom to classroom! Share information, work together online, post ideas, exchange files, conduct discussions. Docs: Blogger: Start a class blog with this tool. Blogs are simple WEB pages of frequently updated posts. Use it to have students post ideas, thoughts, reactions to units you are studying. They can discuss novels, political events, and have ongoing discussions about class assignments. You can even post pictures. Start generating feedback in minutes! Sites: Create and publish WEB pages.. No need to know html. See how your page will look as you type right in the browser window. No need to download software, and Google hosts your page on its server. You can add text, links, images, videos, gadgets, calendars, and more. Book Search: Search the full text of books. Google will find content that contains a match for your search terms. You will be able to see everything from a few short excerpts to the entire book. The books come from two sources: publishers and libraries. Once you find a book, you browse online, search within the book, buy the book, or find it in a library. Scholar: This allows you to search for scholarly literature from across many disciplines. Examples include peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles from academic publishers, professional societies, universities and other scholarly organizations. Sketch Up: A modeling software that allows you to create 3D designs. Students can construct models of buildings, trees, cars, etc. It can be used as a stand alone tool or with Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse. Translate: Translate WEB pages or pieces of text. Copy and paste the text into the browser window or add a url for an entire page. Choose the language, and click the "translate" button. You can even add a browser button that translates with a single click. Maps: Google provides dynamic, interactive maps that are draggable. You can choose between "map view" and "satellite view," which uses satellite imagery. No need to click and wait for graphics to reload. View maps and get driving directions. Search "within" areas, even neighboorhoods; locate a business, or type in a generic word like "pizza" and get a listing of pizza places in that area. Picasa: Post photos and videos online that you can share with your students, other educators, and other classes. Create albums and upload photos that others can view and download. You can edit, organize, and even add captions and comments to photos. Use with Google's Picasa software. (Currently for PC's, not Mac's; PC's should be running Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher; 6.0 is better) New Features:
Mac Users:
Google Earth: Uses satellite imagery to zoom to any place on Earth. Explore every country, see famous landmarks and locations, "fly" over the Grand Canyon, create your own virtual tours or use ones created on interesting educational topics. Choose to show boundaries, bodies of water, roads, geographic features, etc. Features:
Featured Content:
Special Feature! Teach literature using Google Earth. This site offers a variety of novels which are presented in a concrete way, so students can
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View how Carol LaRow integrates an historical novel for language arts classes, as students study the American Revolution in social studies. Carol's "Lit Trip" lists each chapter, with teacher and student-written discussion questions, links to resources on the WEB, links to primary source documents in the Library of Congress, pictures typical of the time period, and suggested technology activities for students. Other schools are invited to join the project or download the materials. Link to WEB Page on Google Lit Trips Download My Brother Sam is Dead KMZ Podcast Overview (Need Quick Time Player) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See how Jerome Burg uses Google Earth to create an experiment in teaching literature. Jerome recreates characters' journeys in some of the great novels high school students study. Pop up windows broaden the reader's experience with links, pictures, and text. Link to WEB Page on Google Lit Trips Grapes of Wrath KMZ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Google Sky: Allows users to explore the sky, constellations, and planets. Click the "star" button in Google Earth (click the "star" button in the menu bar). The sky above the current location of Google Earth will appear. Navigate through the heavens; use navigate controls to rotate, pan, and zoom. The "Layers" feature contains additional content to display. Look at constellations, learn about galaxies, see images from the Hubble Telescope, and read about the objects you are looking at. You can even animate the orbits of the planets. Other tools will be added . . . . | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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