Ideas Using Excel/ Google Docs v. Microsoft Word

Ways to Use Excel in the Classroom

1.  1.  Countdown to an important date: Test, Field Trip, Project, Holiday

2.  2.   Guess how many of each color jellybean are in a jar, make predictions then chart the results to make comparisons.

3.  3.  Help students collaborate by rating the school lunch from 1(not good) to 3 (great).  Use excel to chart the results.

4.  4.  Students in a phys. ed. Class can use excel to collect data on their fitness level: number of repetitions per exercise, and chart their progress.

5. 5.  For students learning letters type the alphabet into the cells in excel, have students call out the names of animals that start with each letter and use clip art to place the picture next to the appropriate letter.

I believe a fun way to incorporate excel into the curriculum would be to use excel to countdown to an important date.  The countdown could be used to remind students of an upcoming test, project, holiday, or even a field trip.  Depending on the grade level and the level of the students it could be a student run activity, with supervision from the teacher, that would get the whole class involved in a collaborative process.  The second way to incorporate excel into the classroom could be an ice breaking activity at the beginning of the year in which the students guess how many jelly beans of a certain color, or all colors, are in a jar.  This would get students to critically think as well as come together as a group.  You could use excel to chart not only the predictions but also the actually number of jellybeans to see how the predictions compare to the actual number.  The next activity using excel that I believe could be a fun way to incorporate excel in the classroom would be to have students rate the school lunch on a scale from 1 (not good) to 3 (good).  This activity, as well as the previous one, I think would be best suited for younger students.  In the rating of the school lunches it could be useful to have other teachers do the same with their classes and compare the results in each class as well as school wide.  This would allow students to relate to one another as well as be able to critically think and organize data.  The fourth way in which I think it would be a both a fun and useful activity to incorporate excel into the curriculum would be to have students chart their progress in a physical education class.  For this activity students could keep track of the number of repetitions they are able to complete of a specific exercise, or multiple exercises, in a spreadsheet.  They could then use excels graphing feature to chart their data and see their progress.  A fifth, but certainly not final, way to incorporate excel into the classroom for younger students would be to enter all the letters of the alphabet into a spreadsheet leaving a few empty rows in between each letter.  The teacher could then have students come up with the names of animals that start with each letter and using clip art the teacher, or students, could use clip art to insert a picture of each animal the students come up with into the spreadsheet.  This could be a fun way for students to make the connections to letters and learn the alphabet.

Google Docs v. Microsoft Word

           

            Although google docs is a great tool to use in certain settings, I do not believe it would be worth switching to completely for all of a school districts word processing needs.  Google docs is a very useful collaboration tool, however, because of its limited capabilities I do not think it would benefit students to switch to it completely.  The only way I would suggest switching to google docs completely would be if google docs would be upgraded to include more of the features available in Microsoft Word.  I believe that we owe it to students to give them every possible advantage and tool necessary to help ensure they have a successful school career.  Allowing them to have all the benefits of a full feature version of Microsoft Word while on campus will help to give them this advantage.  This way, they will be exposed to one of the most common word processing programs in existence during their time in school, so that when they move beyond the school they will have both know how and experience working with this program.  Getting students the familiarity with the full feature program will only serve to help them have the experience working with this software that is so valuable to them for the rest of their lives.

            However, Google docs is not without its place.  I believe that because the service is available free of charge the school could utilize it along side of the full feature version of Microsoft word.  Allowing students to have experience using both platforms.  Having used both will serve them down the road so that no matter the situation they find themselves in, they will have the experience and he confidence to get the job done on either platform.  This will also be helpful in the event that the people at google decide to upgrade google docs to a more full feature version.  In this event, then I would suggest a possible switch to google docs.  If google docs were to be upgraded and the school district would switch to using only google docs the students will have no trouble making the transition as they would already be familiar with both systems. 

Thoughts on Social Bookmarking

According to the text 7 Things You Should Know About…Social Bookmarking, Social bookmarking is defined as “the practice of saving bookmarks to a public Web site and “tagging” them with keywords.”  I believe social bookmarking in its simplest form is the sharing of resources, or information, with others via the internet in one location such as a web page.  Social bookmarking can be a great tool, and I believe an asset, to both teachers and students.  This is evident for a couple of reasons.  One of the reasons I believe social bookmarking can be an asset to both teachers and students is the fact that we are, in fact, using social bookmarking as part of this class and to accomplish this assignment.

            There a few reasons I believe that social bookmarking can be an asset to teachers.  First, it enables one to create and store a database of sorts, full of teaching ideas, materials, and resources for students.  Being able to have this information readily accessible to yourself, and to your students, can be a great tool.  It would enable you to always have a starting point, or a place to go, for information that is relevant to the class.  This is helpful to you as a teacher because you are able to distribute information to your students and allow them to access the information any time they want, without having to worry about making copies or carrying an excess of books and materials around with you.  The second reason I believe social bookmarking can be an asset to teachers is the fact that it allows for collaboration.  Social bookmarking can allow teachers from the same school to collaborate about ideas for their classroom and share materials.  Or it could allow teachers from around the country, or even the world, to share ideas and resources.  This could be especially helpful in teaching students about the ideas of citizenship in the country or world.

            There are also a few reasons I believe social bookmarking can be helpful to students as well.  First, it can be helpful to any student who has to use outside resources for a class or one who wishes to use outside resources to supplement what he is learning in class.  Social bookmarking would be a good way to store and organize information that was helpful to the student.  Also, much in the same way it could help teachers collaborate it could allow students to do the same.  Students from the same class or across the country could share information they might need for a class or just something that they found helpful in understanding concepts that were presented in class.  It could also allow students to organize and even share information regarding a project or a paper that they are working on that other students may find helpful or just an interesting read.

            I truly believe that social bookmarking can be a great tool.  Without a doubt I am going to start utilizing this tool much more in the future.  This not only will be helpful in organizing information that I need to have access to as a student but also when I start my teaching career.  I will definitely be looking for ways to incorporate social bookmarking in my future as a teacher.

Net Gen Perspective

The Net Generation clearly has a different view of technology than previous generations had.  Being part of the Net Generation myself I can see how my outlook and ideas about technology differ from those around me who are from previous generations.  I believe that Carie Windham has it right when she states that “In our eyes, our technological savvy makes us smarter, easily adaptable, and more likely to employ technology to solve the problems of past and present generations” in chapter five of Educating the Net Generation.  Carie also goes on to say in that same chapter that “We cannot succeed in this world, we reason, without an understanding and command of technological advances.”  In addition to these statements Robert Kvavik states in his introduction to chapter 7 that to the Net Gen “Doing is more important than knowing, and learning is accomplished through trial and error as opposed to a logical and rule-based approach.” 

Being part of the Net Gen myself, I am in agreement with both Carie’s and Robert’s statements.  I believe that Robert Kvavik is absolutely right about the Net Gen’s approach to learning through trial and error.  Being part of the Net Gen myself I can find evidence of this in the way in which I approach new pieces of technology around my house.  I can clearly remember growing up in a home with parents who are from a previous generation and the tension that would be created when a new piece of technology would be brought into the home.  They wanted to first unpack everything and dive right into the documentation that would accompany any piece of new technology.  This wasn’t the case for my brother and I.  We wanted to dive right in and figure it out by doing.  Learning by trial and error is definitely a trait I can see in myself and also in my younger brother who is a part of the Net Generation too.  This is the approach that I use regarding any piece of new technology.  Whether it is a new car, a new television, or a new computer I would much rather be hands on learning by trial and error than by taking the time to read the documentation that accompanies many new things.

This ties right into the ideas that Carie Windham puts forth in the 5^th Chapter of Educating the Net Generation.  Carie claims that many of the Net Generation believes that one cannot succeed in this world without and understanding and command of technology.  I believe that this statement is becoming increasingly more relevant with each passing day.  Technology is replacing the “old way” of doing things on an ever-increasing scale.  You can see this in just about everything you do.  Even at the grocery store one is surrounded by technology.  No longer do you have to wait at the check out counter for a store associate to assist you.  Now you can simply check yourself out after shopping utilizing one of the automated self-checkout stations present in almost every store.  In order to take advantage of this new technology one must have a certain level of understanding of how to use the new technology.  Or, be a member of the Net Generation and dive right in and learn by doing which is how many, including myself, learned to take advantage of this new technology in stores today.  This is in contrast to many of the older generation who I would venture to say still wait in line to have an associate check them out after shopping because they are not as comfortable diving right in and using the new technology that is available to them in the stores of today.

Thoughts on Google Docs

Using Google Docs for our lesson plan project I believe was a good and valuable lesson.  I believe that Google Docs is simple to use and could be used in a very wide variety of ways.  Using Google Docs is an instant way to communicate with students or instructors.  Sharing information via Google Docs seems like a no brainer for instances where multiple drafts or copies of a document would be required.  Using the internet to share drafts and copies seems like not only a more efficient way of doing things but also better for the environment.  By cutting down on the need for printing we are helping to save paper and all the resources that go into making paper.  Helping the environment and having a more efficient and easy way to share documents is a win, win situation.  I believe I will try to utilize Google Docs in the future.

Week 1: Net Gen

I believe that the Digital Natives and the Net Gen learner do in fact learn differently than the Digital Immigrants or those who have adopted new technology but were not raised using it.  Whether it is computers, video games, or cell phones, technology has always been a part of the Net Gen’s lives.  According to the text Educating the Net Generation the Net Gen consists of those who were born between 1982 and 1991.  This means that the Net Gen consists of those people who are currently in colleges and universities or have just entered the workforce.  That said, now is the time to take a serious look at how we are reaching and educating those of the Net Gen that are currently enrolled in school. 

            According to the text Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age technology is literally altering or rewiring our brains.  The tools or technology we use define and shape our thinking.  This is evident in almost everything the Net Gen does.  Take video games for instance.  Those who are not part of the Net Gen would most likely read any documentation that game with the game before trying to use or play the game.   Not the Net Gen, they are most likely to put the new game in and learn by doing.  Or take for example a new piece of software.  Those of the Net Gen are most likely to put the new software in and either rely on the software itself to provide instructions or just learn by doing.  According to the text Educating The Net Gen “this is how the Net Generation learns: by doing.” 

            This is why it may be time to re-think how we are educating the Net Generation.  Because the use of technology is literally altering the way we think, we must approach the way in which learn and teach.  According to Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age for the Net Gen know-how and know-what are being replaced with know-where, that is know where to find the knowledge needed.  This is why it may be time to turn away from lecture based classes and start utilizing new approaches to teaching in which the class is engaged and involved in the learning process.  The learn by doing method would be ideal for most of the Net Generation.  Problems and classes in which the students are engaged and must use the technology they have available to them to find solutions to problems that are presented.

            I believe that these ideas and concepts are not radical by any stretch of the imagination.  Being a part of the Net Generation myself these ideas seem to make sense.  I am much more likely to try to learn by doing.  In the event that I do not know how to do something I am very likely to use all the technology I have at my disposal to figure out the solution to a given problem.  Whether it be turning to the Internet to find help or sending a friend who I think may have the know-how an email for their assistance.  If I do not have the know-how I am very likely to start looking for assistance from any reliable source that I have available.  I believe, the know-where concept makes a lot of sense and holds true for instances in which I do not have the know-how or know-what.