The+Google+Suite


 * __ Utilizing the Google Suite for Training and Teaching __**

toc =__Overview__= oogle Education offers teachers a place to store and share files, assess students, create a website, and share a class-based calendar. In this session participants will explore the different opportunities offered in the Google Suite, including Docs, Calendar, and Sites

=__Outcomes__=

At the end of this session, you will be able to:
 * Create and share various Google Docs items
 * Create and share a Google Calendar
 * Create and share a Google Site

=__The Major Components of the Google Suite__=

**Google Docs**
Google Docs is an online suite of tools similar to Microsoft Office. Like Office, Docs includes the creation of word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. In addition, Docs provides a survey tool called Forms and a drawing pad called Drawing. Also, Office documents, PDFs, video files, audio files, etc. can be uploaded, stored, and shared via Google Docs. These files can then be edited (if allowed) by multiple users at the same time, thus allowing for real-time collaboration. Many docs can also be embedded in other sites such as your school website or wiki.

**Google Calendars**
Google calendar is a fully featured calendaring app. You can share this calendar with stakeholders in a project so people all know what you are planning to do, and when things are due. Students and parents can see upcoming assignments and deadlines. Teachers can see upcoming professional development opportunities. With the appointments feature, individuals can schedule time with you when you know you will be available. You can setup a standard "Tech Hotline" time where teachers and students can come and ask you for help.

**Google Sites**
Sites allows you to create a website as a home for all the things you are doing. We'll spend a bit of time looking into how to setup a Site so that you can quickly and easily share your work from other apps. Within a few clicks, you can embed a presentation, calendar or document. There are a few non-trivial tips and techniques that we will look at in depth. There are some great features we will not explore, but you should have a good understanding of dealing with creating and manipulating pages. Sites is a great place to display information that you want teachers to have easy access to. It's easy to edit, and pages can be quickly changed to reflect upcoming events or important announcements.

=__Activity 1: Exploring Google__= In this activity you are going to be exploring various Google tools.
 * 1) Explore each of the examples with a partner.
 * 2) While exploring the example, discuss the following questions.
 * What do you like and dislike about the examples?
 * What would I change if I were to use something similar to this example?
 * 1) After looking through the examples for Calendars, Sites, and Forms, discuss the following questions with a partner
 * Which of the Google Suite tools do I feel could be relevant and helpful in my role as a teacher leader? How might I use that tool to assist me in this role?
 * Which of the Google Suite tools do I feel could be relevant and helpful for teachers to use in their instruction and administration of information? How might they use that tool?

Calendar

 * Example I: One good use of Google Calendars is to display school-wide events. This allows parents, teachers, and students to quickly and easily see what is coming up in the life of the school. Since you can collaborate on Calendars, the burden of posting school-wide events can be shared among various individuals. Groups can share their calendars separately, so members can get an idea of what is happening that only affects them.
 * Example II:This is the calendar I use with my Statistics I students to help them see what we did in class, what is required for the next class, and when upcoming quizzes and tests will occur. Click on an event to see more information.

Sites

 * Example site I: You can use a Google Site as a supplement to any course. This Site holds information that remains constant from course to course. There is no need to host this information on a Learning Management System (LMS) since it is constant and students will not be interacting with the materials here. It's easy to put a link to the content from an LMS, but any changes you need to make will only need to be made once. Teachers can add resources / fix mistakes and clear up any confusion without needing to go through different courses.
 * Example site II: Another good use for Google sites is to share content district-wide. Often, schools will establish a variety of different policies and forms that teachers are required to adhere to and fill out. Since Google Sites can easily be restricted to specific individuals, and individual pages on the sites can be restricted even further, different policies can be housed on the site at different stages of development.

Forms
Google Forms is an innovative method of data collection within the Google Docs Suite. Google forms can be used to create surveys and assessments. They are easy to use and share. Collected data is then placed into a spreadsheet for storage and analysis. Forms can easily be used to formatively and summatively assess students. Here are content-specific examples of how teachers have used forms.
 * Example I: This Form is used by one school to collect daily announcements. They no longer lose emails or papers, and all information is instantly updated when submitted.
 * Example IIComputer issues are bound to occur. Again, instead of handling paper requests or emails, once school decided to have teachers submit their request through a Form.
 * English
 * Mathematics
 * Social Studies
 * Science

=**__Activity 2: Creating with Google__**= Now it is time to allow you to explore and create!
 * 1) Determine what you would like to create. You can focus on an activity for teachers, an activity for students, administrative concepts with Calendars or Forms, etc. You could even begin to create a Site that you could use to house teacher training or to serve as your class webpage.
 * You may also take this time to create screencast tutorials for your teachers or students. These can be housed and shared using Google Docs. If you decide to create tutorials, review the Screencast page before beginning.
 * 1) Once you have your topic, examine the Google Suite to determine which tool will best meet your needs.
 * 2) Begin working on your topic. If you need help, check out the following pages that include tutorials.
 * **@Google Docs Tutorials**
 * **@Google Forms Tutorials**
 * **@Google Calendars Tutorials**
 * **@Google Sites Tutorials**
 * 1) Share what you created using the discussion forum below. Remember, you have to literally change the settings to make a file be shared in Google! If you forgot how to share your file, watch the how-to video in the tutorial.
 * 2) Once have completed your creation(s), take time to examine what other participants have created!

include component="comments" page="The Google Suite" limit="10"

=**__Reflection Questions__**=
 * How can you integrate the Google Suite into your support of teachers?
 * How does your work benefit from the inclusion of the Google Suite?
 * What are the limitations of the Google Suite? How might you overcome these limitations?
 * How might teachers incorporate the Google Suite into their teaching and administering of activities and information?