I was surprised to find out recently that the powerful web search mogul Google was also a huge supporter of bringing literacy digital literacy into the classroom.
The website offers a large extent of free tools (including this blogspot website) that can be used to transform literacy instruction into a powerful instrument for exploring understanding. In this particular blog entry I will explore the various tools offered and highlight the best aspects of each. Essential the goal is to create a how to guide about how to access the best digital literacy tools offered on the World Wide Web
I first became aware of Google’s extensive collection of classroom tools when I was exploring my own discussion I would be leading on “Copyright in the Classroom”. I was directed from a generic website to the Google teacher academy portal where I was able to access all sorts of different tools and resources for staying safe and in the ethical white zone while online. While previewing the information available I found it to be high quality and accurate. In addition many of the suggestions given and activities shared were effective and easy to use methods of bringing digital resources ethically into the classroom.
GOOGLE DOCS – This tool is an all new way of effectively communicating with peers, and tackling group projects. Instead of everyone sitting around someone’s kitchen table and making notes on a piece of paper Google docs allows for multiple users to virtually use the same word document at the same time. I recall going through school and emailing my completed work to one person so that they could bring it all together, now each person in the group can take responsibility for their aspect of understanding right up until the final product.
GOOGLE EARTH – Image having the whole world at the click of a button. Google earth is not only effective for mapping modern geography and events, teachers can use it to bring history to life. Google earth in combination with a basic internet search will be able to help students identify the exact location of past historical events. One particular suggestion of lessons created by the Google team was to use the power of Google earth to outline historic trading routes of early explorers and the division of land territories monitoring how they changed over time.
PICASA – This is a powerful picture organizing and editing software. Using a photo editing tool like picasa is a strong form of literacy. Students would be taking either an original or acquired image and transforming it or creating it to fulfill a specific purpose. Picasa can also be used for creating mash-ups, the software can be utilized to combine image files from different sources and bring them together to create a whole new source.
BLOGGER – This entire website is an example of a blogger. Teachers can use this format to post information for their students to access, or have students create and maintain their own blogs. Having a blog is an excellent literacy tool. It is proven that one of the most effective tools for ensuring knowledge has been acquired is the convention of teaching the information to others. Having students keep a blog and compile a list of ideas from the lessons or questions for future study is a an excellent multi-modal skill for ensuring the acquisition of knowledge.
NEWS – Up to date information about all sort of current events. Locations can be changed to receive new feeds from different locations and perspectives. This tool is excellent for teachers working on media literacy units or just asking students to consider current affairs. Teachers can ask students to search any variety of topics and then compare and contrast the information as it appears from different new outlets. Google news is an excellent tool for teaching voice in writing, bias, and general language arts skills.
IGOOGLE - Google was made just for me. Now when I log onto my home page I am greeted by my own specific preferences and ideas. I have all my up to date news from local agencies, the weather for the Markham area as well as my favourite comics and virtual hamster great me each morning. I am also able to make changes as my interest change. Using this tool in the classroom is a significant literacy tool. Students can learn how to interact with knowledge and streamline the process in order to achieve the desired results. The more I learn about literacy, the more I understand that literacy is this idea of learning to communicate and process ideas and concepts that make up our world and be able to respond to them in order to achieve a goal.
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