How does this work?

Google Things is a discovery learning program created to introduce staff to the palette of Google tools available in the Apps for EDU suite.
Each "Thing" contains resources and suggested activities to help introduce specific Google tools, provide practical examples of use in a classroom setting and increase competencies.  Staff who are already fluid with Google tools are encouraged to blog about other tech tools they are learning or using.

1. This program is self-directed. Document your participation by setting up and maintaining a professional learning blog using Blogger.

2. Once your blog is created and published, send the link to Meg at momainsky@pausd.org in order to complete your registration. All blogs will be linked from the main Google Things  blog. You can remain anonymous, and we encourage silliness and creativity. You may assume any pen name, but in order to be eligible for the iPad drawing in May, you must reveal your true persona to the moderators (Meg, Roni, or Rajeev).

3. At your own pace, work through each module, reading, watching and exploring the resource materials and practice activities. Come to the technology professional development group meetings if you want extra help.

4. At the end of each module, complete the short activities and document your experiences by writing a new blog post.

Swag!

One Gunn staff member will win an iPad at the end of May!
By May 30th, you should have at least 7 posts in order to be eligible for the iPad prize. If you have completed all seven posts, and you have registered by sending Meg your blog URL, your name will be entered into the final drawing. If you have ALSO completed the bonus Thing, Google+, your name is entered twice into the iPad drawing.


Who can Join?
This learning program is open to all Gunn clerical, certificated and administrative staff. You can join at any time during the year, but we will progress through one Google Thing per month from September through May at the beginning technology PD sessions. Latecomers can get caught up or proceed at their own pace.

What if I am already an advanced user of Google Tools?
If you are comfortable using Google apps, and you have a class website you actively use, you may complete this program by blogging about any other tech tools you are learning. For instance, you might make one post about screencasting and another about Prezi or Scratch, or you could complete the whole program focussing on iPad apps. This program is self-directed and should be guided by your interests and skill levels. If you have 7 blog posts by May 30th, you will be entered into the drawing.

See Meg, Roni or Rajeev with questions.

Thing # 1 Blogger

Welcome to Google Things 2.0! This module will
1. introduce you to the ways teachers are using Google Apps
2. get you started with a personal learning blog

Our district has migrated to Google Apps. So now what? We believe there is reason for great celebration amongst staff members, students and parents. Google tools are an efficient way to create, share and organize all types of information at various levels of access within our learning communities.
Explore the presentation: 32 Ways to Use Google Apps in Class.
Read 100 Ways Google Tools Can Make you a Better Educator
 In addition, the Google learning network is rich with resources for successfully integrating these tools into our practice. Read More.
Blogger
Google offers a free tool to easily create your own blog. Watch this demo from Blogger.

Blogger Help. "How to Create a Blog on Blogger." Youtube.  Mar 24, 2011. Accessed Oct 12, 2011.

Customizing Your Blog

Activities for Thing #1-
Step 1. Login with your PAUSD domain at Blogger.
Step 2. Create Your Blog
Step 3. Select a Template Design
Step 4. Compose your First Post

Here are some ideas for your first post: Introduce yourself. What are your experiences with Google apps? How have you used them with students? What tools are you most interested in learning and why? What do you hope to accomplish through this program? Please share any other thoughts about Google Apps.
Step 5. Publish your blog post and send Meg the link to your blog in order to complete your registration.
momainsky@pausd.org

Thing #2 Sites

In Thing #2, you will:
1. explore cool sites from Gunn teachers
2. create a simple, starter site that you can develop throughout this program OR add new elements to your basic site
3. see how Google sites and tools are being used to enhance learning experiences
Google Sites enables you to easily create and share a website for your classes, student clubs and even individual projects. Host all of your resources in one spot! Each site is easily customizable and able to support links, documents, discussions, videos, images, presentations, spreadsheets, blogs, calendars, announcements, Google gadgets and more.
Sample Teacher Sites:
Deggeller
Habib
Hogan
Weinmann
Ideas for Using Google Sites with Students
ePortfolios
Senior Projects
Online Learning Circles
Google Sites for Research

Google Sites Online Help
Sites for Teachers
Sites Forum


Start Creating
Watch these introductory videos from Google to get a quick overview of the construction process.

Create Your Site

Google Apps. "Create a Site with Google Sites." Youtube.  June 22, 2009. Accessed Oct 12, 2011.

Upload Documents

Google Apps. "Create a File Cabinet Page in Google Sites." Youtube. June 22, 2009.  Accessed Oct. 12, 2009.

Embed Content 

Google Apps. "Embed Content in Google Sites." Youtube. June 22, 2009. Accessed Oct 12, 2011.

If you have time, explore this webinar from Google Apps to get more specific examples about how teachers are using Google sites with students.

Google Sites Webinar

Activities
If you already have a basic site, explore some of the additional materials below and add something new to your site.  Write a blog post about your experiences.
If you are new to Google sites, Begin by reading the Google resource page to get started. Then, complete items 1-8 and write a blog post about your experiences. Explore the additional resources to learn about other Google tools you can use with your site.
1. login to your PAUSD Google domain
2. create a new site and select the blank template or use Jennifer Hogan's template by browsing the gallery for Gunn Hogan.
3. select your site layout
4. save your site
5. create a new file cabinet page and upload a class document such as your syllabus
(if you've already done this, explore other additions you can make to your site)
6. read about  Your Sharing and Access Settings
7. make your site public or private
(leave your site private until you are ready to share with students)
Write your blog post about your experiences or anything you might want to try or have tried from this blog, including the additional resources listed below.
Additional Resources 
Types of Pages
Manage Pages
Embed Docs, Videos, Calendars, Forms and Gadgets
Google Sites Cheat Sheet
Explore these online guides from Google Certified Teacher, Richard Byrne.  All the tools mentioned can be embedded in or linked to from your new Google site. (Click the arrows to view full screen)
Google for Teachers




Google for Teachers II

Byrne, Richard. "Google Tools for Teachers I and II: Guides from Free Technology for Teachers." http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/google-tools-tutorials.html

Thing #3 Calendar

Google Calendar can help you combine all of your class activities into one place and embed into your class website.
In this module you will explore:
1. Creating a calender for your classes
2. Embedding the calendar on your website
3. Incorporating Google Calendar into lesson plans

Create a Google Calendar

Google Apps. "Create a Calendar in Google Calendar." Youtube. June 19, 2009. Accessed Oct. 16, 2011.

Embed a calendar onto your site

If you have time, watch this archived webinar from Google Apps that takes you through the full creation and sharing process and introduces creative uses for Google Calendar within education.

Introduction to Google Calendar Webinar

Google Apps. "Introduction to Google Calendar Webinar." Youtube. Accessed Oct 16, 2011.

Before you begin, think of how you want your calendar used. Explore these examples of class calendars.

Also explore, how to link to Google Docs from within your calendar. Afterwards, explore this page detailing your sharing options.

In 2011, Calendar's web interface changed slightly.  Watch this short video to get updated on the new and improved look.

Google Apps. "New Look for Google Calendar." Oct 11, 2011. Youtube. Accessed Oct. 16, 2011.

Additional Resources

Calendar Mobile

Plan a Course Curriculum and Schedule

Offline Access

Calendar Labs

Activity:

1. Create a calendar for your class and embed into your Google site.

2. Write a blog post about your experiences using any resources found in this module. 

Thing # 4 Docs

The world of Google Docs has opened up new and exciting opportunities for increased collaboration and engagement.  Google Documents includes spreadsheets, presentations, forms, documents and even drawings. (Google Forms is covered in the next module) A vast library of templates is already available to make creating different types of documents even easier.

In this module, you will explore:
Creating and Sharing Docs
Embedding Docs into sites
Publishing Docs
Using Templates
Using Docs in the classroom
The Paperless Classroom

The New Look of Google Docs

Google.  "Introducing a New Google Docs."  April 9, 2010. Youtube.  Accessed Dec. 20, 2011

Presentations

Inserting Videos into Presentations
Spreadsheets
Using Documents in the Classroom
Google Docs creates opportunities for real time collaboration and discussions between students anywhere.

Google. "Discussions in Google Docs." March 15, 2011. Youtube. Accessed Dec. 20, 2011.

Presentations
Spreadsheets
Digital Science Notebooks
Setting up Docs for Each Student

Managing Google Docs in the Classroom Webinar

GoogleApps.  "Managing Google Docs in the Classroom Webinar." Youtube. Feb 16, 2011.

Sharing Documents
Multiple Editors


Activities
1. Make a new type of document and embed into your Google site.
2. Write a blog post about your experiences

Thing #5 Forms

Aaah, the beautiful land that is Google Forms. Forms are friends!
Forms are quite simple to make, completely customizable, and give you feedback and data instantly.  Be excited.


In this module you will:
1. be immersed in the ways teachers use forms
2. create a form for your class
3. embed the form into your website or add a link
4. make a self-grading quiz using a free tool called Flubaroo
5. write a blog post about your experience

Watch this introductory webinar from Google Apps.

Introduction to Forms in Google Docs Webinar

Google Apps. "Introduction to Forms in Google Docs Webinar." Jan 24, 2011. Youtube. Accessed Oct. 15, 2011

Create a Quiz in 5 and Flubaroo, too!

Watch the video and slideshow to learn about creating simple quizzes and publishing them on your site.  Then, watch the next video to learn about self-grading quizzes using Flubaroo.

Special thanks to Richard Byrne for use of his presentation from Free Technology 4 Teachers

Create Self-Grading Quizzes using Flubaroo

Flubaroo100. "Flubaroo- Grading Made Easy." Youtube.  March 29, 2011.  Accessed on Oct 13, 2011.

Also explore~  All about Templates- 80+ Google Forms for the Classroom from Tom Barrett.

Completing a Google Form on a Mobile Device

Additional Resources

Advanced Forms in Google Docs Webinar

Google Apps. "Advanced Forms in Google Docs Webinar." Feb 2, 2011. Youtube. Accessed Oct 15, 2011.

Activity

1. Make a quiz or survey for your class using Google forms or Flubaroo.

2. Embed the form into your Google site

3. Write a blog post about your experiences.

Thing #6 Google Video, Images and TV

Google Video for Education provides a safe space to store and share videos within the Google Apps domain.  In this module you will learn about:
Accessing on the domain
Upload and Sharing videos
Searching and Sorting videos
For more info, explore the Google Video FAQs. and the help center articles.

Picasa is the Google tool for storing and sharing images.  Create slideshows and embed into other Google tools such as a site, presentation, or blog.  Get started by visiting the help center.

Google. "How to share photos. " Dec. 9, 2010. Youtube. Accessed Dec. 20, 2011.

Google TV
Google TV Discussion Forum

Google. "Introducing Google TV." May 18, 2010. Youtube. Accessed Dec. 20, 2011.

Activity:
Explore these tools and think about ways to utilize them within your classes.

Thing #7 Talk and Moderator

Google Talk enables teachers and students to call or send instant messages to their contacts for free. This tool opens up possibilities for people collaborating on projects from different locations.


Get Started.
How do we use this tool with students?
Explore this link to see how teachers are using Google Talk in class.
Check out the Google Talk Youtube channel for inspiring talks from great thinkers.


Google Moderator can be used to poll ideas from your students.  It allows you to create a series about anything that you are interested in discussing and open it up for people to submit questions, ideas, or suggestions.  Watch this video to learn more.

Get Started with Moderator
Embedding Moderator on your Google site
Activity- Explore Google Talk or Moderator.  Write a blog post about how you might want to use this tool with your students.

Bonus Thing Google+

Welcome to Google+ Things!  In this module, you will:
1. explore ways teachers can use Google+
2. signup for Google+

What is Google+?

Learn more about Google+
Explore 26 Interesting Ways Teachers Can Use Google+
Activity.  Signup for Google+ and write a post about  your thoughts.