More #5 Google Docs

Have realized 2 other great uses for Google docs.
Firstly, to collect student contact and other details. I run the Duke of Edinburgh Award at my school and there is a lot of messing around trying to get kids emails locked down at the start of the year, as well as finding out what they are doing for their awards.
Secondly, for my science students to collaborate on group experiments. At the moment, group experiments that the students design themselves are rarely done as they are a nightmare to coordinate and regulate. With Google docs, groups could be assigned or select their own aim or hypothesis at the start of a topic. They could chip away at it online during the duration of the topic (perhaps as homework) with my comments acting as a guide. Once their method is ironed out, each student can carry out the prac on their own and it can act as one of several trials, to be averaged in with their peers. Thanks Google docs!

#5 Google Docs

If we we are still going down the path of 1-2-1 laptops (hello Canberra??), the removal of emails to and from yourself with Google docs is less of an advantage. It would however still be useful for collaborative assignments. My understanding is that there are a few issues with school servers, so check with your teckies before your plan to do one.

As an experiment, I posted the following on facebook
Hi guys
I am learning about google docs (online documents that can be edited by many) and decided to have some fun with it. I am starting a game of online Mr Squiggle. Here are the rules:
1. You can only add one shape/squiggle/edit etc a day
2. Keep it (reasonably) clean. This may be tough for some of you! As a general rule, if you must, innuendo/suggestiveness is OK, filth is not.

https://docs.google.com/drawings/edit?id=1Fedn6z54MxaAV5Rh-7ccxdyNmppony6Uar-5dXxfvho&hl=en&authkey=CL2Pv6wE

I look forward to seeing what our collective inner Picasso comes up with.
Cheers

#4 What is this Web 2.0 business?

Interesting to note that one of the biggest, if not the biggest change b/w Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 is the decentralization of the data and design/ structure. The web has changed from a structured "library", organized according to someones plan, into an organic network (very like the human brain). Areas most used are reinforced and developed while stagnant areas die off. Complex links are now what provide the power behind the most used applications/platforms like Google - exactly like complex links b/w neuron's is what makes our brains so powerful.

One question. If the web has grown organically to become structured like a brain; what is it the brain of?

On Blogs

As a science teacher I am not convinced that blogging is the way I would go with my classes, considering most are setting up external sites (such as mooodle) to distribute work and monitor student activity. I think it would be more useful in subjects where you want students to respond to stimulus material (humanities). I had a personal blog when we traveled in Europe a few years ago. I would recommend blogs for this.

29/7/10

Had a gander at some of the other blogs and how they present. Some are hard to read due to text type or colour, while others look inviting. Inspired me to edit and improve my layout somewhat. Stumbled upon how to insert large pix onto blog. A group photo would be a good way to customize it to each class (if you have a separate blog for each)

Test

You have crossed over....... and stepped into.......... Mahony's head