Google Applications in all their myriad forms undoubtedly impacted the education system for the better. Students and teachers alike now enjoy the streamlined suites to bolster lessons and lectures with valuable visuals and tools that better underscore the subjects at hand. The internet juggernaut itself provides some fantastic tips, tricks, and lesson plans to inspire educators to take advantage of everything their services have to offer - however, the possibilities stretch far beyond the ones listed here and are limited only by imaginations and coding. Use them as a starting point to launch (and share!) other innovative strategies to apply Google Applications in the classroom.
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2. Use Google docs to teach the scientific method.
One teacher took advantage of the spreadsheet function available on Google docs to educate her students on the scientific method and subsequently test their knowledge retention.
3. Go global.
Connect with educators worldwide and set up collaborative projects that broaden students’ horizons and teach them how to cooperate with other cultures.
Teachers can use Google Docs to whip up quick surveys to get student opinions on any topic.
Anyone needing feedback on how well students are collaborating on projects would do well to download this template and customize it to suit their needs.
6. Use spreadsheets for grading.
Take advantage of the spreadsheet feature on Google Docs to set up quick and easy grading.
Create or download templates for students to use for book reviews, summaries, and ratings.
For large, involved projects requiring the compilation of data by student groups, Google Docs allows for an easy, painless way of keeping everything organized.
9. Organize year-long projects.
Students, usually seniors, who must work on an intensive project throughout the school year can take advantage of Google Docs to keep everything on track.
10. Check for missing assignments.
Set up a communal spreadsheet for administrators and teachers alike to check for which students have failed to turn in which assignments and look for any suspicious patterns.
11. Let students fill out their own grading rubrics.
Spreadsheets allow students to evaluate their own work as objectively as possible, and teachers may want to take advantage of this to help empower them to think critically.
12. Improve technology helpdesks.
Schools with computer labs can whip up quick, customized forms for students to evaluate what services and machines need a little more attention.
13. Use Google Books for research.
Educators and students alike who need access to public domain, rare, or out-of-print books for research purposes will greatly appreciate this application, which also holds the potential to inspire or strengthen lesson plans.
14. Track animal migration patterns in Google Earth.
Google itself points out how the Jane Goodall Institute itself takes advantage of its Earth application to watch over how chimpanzees move about, making it a great tool for biology teachers.
15. Write up geography assignments.
Teachers of all types can use Google Earth in order to formulate assignments, quizzes, and tests that help their students gain better handle on where people and places are in relation to one another.
16. Illustrate climate or ecological issues.
As with the aforementioned animal migration, Google Earth also assists educators in mapping out climate patterns and instances of creeping pollutants to illustrate topical environmental concerns.
17. Study geological and geographical formations.
Just because a tip is easy and obvious does not make it any less valuable to a classroom setting - Google Earth provides an amazing opportunity for science teachers to expose their students to specific geological and geographical phenomena without ever leaving the classroom.
Use Google Earth to provide students an in-depth peek into social issues across the globe and help them gain perspective on how location impacts culture. Their Outreach program spotlights how many nonprofits take advantage of the application’s features to support their causes.
19. Travel historical landmarks.
Google uses King Tutankhamen’s Tomb as an example, but educators can expose their students to any historical site they please with the Earth application.
Any educators working with film or media studies may want to punch up their lesson plans by using Google Earth to highlight the locations of certain sets.
Great works of literature root themselves firmly in the place and time that they were written while simultaneously working with universal themes, and Google Earth helps to underscore how elements of geography ties directly into writing.
22. There are 2 types of Google SketchUp
For those curious about incorporating Google SketchUp in the classroom, they need to be aware of the differences between the paid and the free versions.
23. Teach the basics of architecture.
Whether teaching a class on urban planning, physics, engineering, or - of course - architecture, Google’s SketchUp Pro offers up the potential for excellent visual aids and hands-on assignments.
24. Teach the basics of design.
Using Google SketchUp Pro, teachers may illustrate the fundamentals (and advanced techniques) of both commercial and residential design.
25. Introduce students to landscape architecture.
Blend geography, botany, and design lessons together into one neat little landscape architecture package by taking advantage of Google SketchUp’s features.
26. Formulate engineering lessons.
As one can probably assume, Google SketchUp also boasts numerous engineering design applications perfect for utilization in design or physics classes.
27. Teach lessons in construction.
Beyond the design and engineering work, teachers can even use Google SketchUp to discuss the ins and outs of the construction industry.
28. Introduce Students to 3D modeling.
Numerous industries benefit from hiring employees capable of rendering graphics in 3D, and some teachers may want to incorporate Google SketchUp into their lesson plans to give students valuable hands-on experience.
29. Use Google News to illustrate journalism bias.
Encourage students to use Google News to compare and contrast different articles and search for indicators that the writers lean in one direction or another.
30. Customize Google News for specific subjects.
By customizing their Google News to reflect stories relevant to their classes, educators catch a quick glimpse of possible lecture topics after logging in.
Younger students will enjoy exploring Google maps for simple news stories from around the world, and their teachers can print out photos and stories every day for a “The World This Week” bulletin board.
32. Whip up compare/contrast stories.
Have students select one specific current event and use Google News to find two or more periodicals with articles on the subject for a very effective compare and contrast assignment.
33. Translate foreign news sources.
Google itself recommends using its News application in foreign language classes, having students translate articles on current events and learning more about the respective culture in the process.
Engage students in the field trip planning process by allowing them to see for themselves what opportunities are available in the area with Google Maps.
Teachers who have set up a pen pal program in their classrooms may want to use Google Maps to help their students learn about the geographic regions where their correspondents reside.
36. Embed documents into maps.
Give students a broad but thorough look at the topics at hand by creating digital worksheets blending different media together. Google suggests embedding historical documents into the corresponding regions on a map, but the possibilities stretch much further than that.
37. Map the school, neighborhood, etc.
Google recommends introducing elementary-age children to cartography by having them use the maps application to accurately diagram the school and surrounding community for new families.
38. Share field trip findings.
Teachers who elect to include their students in planning field trips might enjoy showing them how to share what they learned along the way using Google Maps as well.
39. Consider a disaster preparedness project.
Challenge high schoolers to formulate a workable disaster preparedness plan with Google Maps, teaching them valuable skills using real-life applications along the way.
40. Make slideshows of student work.
Art teachers especially benefit from using Picasa as a free resource to store and show off student work, though that function alone holds a number of excellent benefits - especially for open houses or conferences.
41. Help journalism students organize their photos.
Encourage those studying journalism to take advantage of Picasa to store and organize the photos they need for various articles throughout the school year.
42. Create “historical” photos.
Many students may enjoy learning about different eras of human history by donning the appropriate dress and using Picasa to edit any resulting photos to appear old and worn.
43. Whip up compare and contrast assignments with photos.
Google’s example revolves around teachers organizing photos in Picasa to illustrate taxonomic differences between species, but others can easily juxtapose elements of numerous subjects for a valuable multimedia compare and contrast assignment.
44. Start the “Stock Market Game.”
High school economics and math educators popularly assign their kids a stock market game to teach them the fundamentals of investments, and Google Docs provides them with numerous ways to organize and follow their ever-changing data.
45. Compile writing portfolios.
Journalism, creative writing, and other classes requiring a hefty amount of typing up documents benefit from the Google Docs feature that allows them to compile all their work in one place and share it with friends, family, and fellow students. This especially comes in handy when grading and critique time rolls around.
46. Include parents in Google Groups.
Teachers who wish to utilize Google Groups to facilitate and streamline communication in their classes may want to consider allowing parents to join as well, keeping them updated on current projects and assignments and allowing them to download the accompanying notes and worksheets.
Allow parents to participate in online reading groups revolving around books appropriate for their children, opening up some great discussions and broad perspectives.
Group students together as “study buddies” and encourage (or require) them to share notes with one another using the private online communities.
49. Ask students to join public groups.
With parental permission, give students an assignment involving some degree of participation in public groups related to fields of academic or professional interest and relay back what they have learned.
Take advantage of the forum features available on Google Groups to facilitate in-depth debates on topical issues, grading students on their ability to dissect and relay arguments clearly, concisely, and with valid evidence.
51. Create a custom search engine.
Google allows Co-op platform users the ability to compile a viable search engine of their very own, making it an awesome source for teachers who want to condense or narrow their students’ access down to specific websites.
52. Consider a collaborative search engine.
More adventurous educators may want to flick on the collaborative portion of the customized search engine to allow students to share websites they find particular useful for research.
53. Post assignments and lecture notes on Blogger.
Instead of uploading or copying and pasting notes and assignments to Google Groups, teachers may want to consider using Blogger instead - especially since keeping it public establishes transparency with parents and maybe inspire other educators.
54. Encourage learning at home.
Blogger provides teachers with a useful means of nurturing knowledge outside the classroom if they elect to post up supplementary materials relevant to their lessons.
Ask students to blog their book reports in lieu of printing them out or turning them in via e-mail. Doing so also better facilitates allowing peers to comment and critique the different assignments.
Assign kids the task of researching and photographing local history and sharing it with one another and the community through Blogger’s easy-to-use publishing interface.
57. Launch a grassroots campaign.
Incorporate real-world situations into political science classes by mobilizing students to support nonpartisan issues at the grassroots level and open up the information to the surrounding community.
In lieu of a blog, some educators may want to set up a class website using Google Sites with useful links, assignments, supplementary materials, multimedia, and anything else imaginable.
59. Ask students to set up their own websites.
One potential long-term assignment that teachers may want to consider involves asking students to set up their own websites circling around class topics or academic or professional subjects that interest them. However, Google only allows those age 13 or older to set up an account.
Coordinate Google Sites with Google Docs by setting up forms using the spreadsheet function and embedding it on a webpage for a quick poll. Results go straight to the main document for tabulation.
61. Sign up for library and computer time.
Use the Google Calendar features to schedule classes and keep track of time for computer, library, or other special circumstances.
62. Take advantage of “gadgets” for websites.
Among the many features Google offers for its Sites application include a dictionary tool, encyclopedias, and sticky notes that teachers may want to use in the digital service of their students.
63. Create an online textbook.
Creative educators can easily find ways to merge Google Docs and Google Sites together - even allowing student in on the process - to cobble together customized textbooks full of excellent educational media.
It is possible to place restrictions on Google Talk, so teachers can set up the instant messaging tool to only allow chatting with faculty, staff, and other students at the school. This helps facilitate discussion in a safer environment without sacrificing quality and convenience.
65. Allow students to compile their own Knols.
Google refers to any particular chunk of information and its related elaborations a “Knol,” and teachers may enjoy the idea of encouraging their kids to compile information on and write about a given subject.
66. Involve the community in a Knol.
Assign students research involving local culture, landmarks, or issues and have them set up a Knol to relay what they have learned to the community, allowing others to read and weigh in with their opinions.
Teach kids the basics of writing how-to papers and guides by allowing them to set up a Knol on a particular subject and requiring their classmates to offer feedback and advice on any missing or overly complicated steps.
68. Teachers may want to initiate Knols.
In order to completely control what information gets published on the internet, concerned teachers should start Knols before allowing students to add their findings. Even if the effort is collaborative, only teachers hold the ultimate authority when it comes to posting the work online.
69. Collect student blogs on Google Reader.
Educators who wish to observe and/or grade their students’ blogs would do well to compile them all in Google Reader for fast, convenient access to what they have to say.
70. Subscribe and share blog entries.
Compile reliable, relevant blogs into one handy Google Reader package and annotate and relate the most interesting ones back to the class in lectures.
71. Incorporate Reader into a website.
Add an extra dimension to class websites by hooking them up with a Google Reader account and letting students explore different blogs pertaining to the courses as they update.
High schoolers capable of using Google Reader may compile blogs they find particularly valuable, and their instructors can grade them based on the quality and reliability of the resources. Such an assignment helps strengthen their research skills and teaches them how to determine credibility both online and off.
73. iGoogle also provides supplementary potential.
As with many of Google’s educational applications, iGoogle also provides an easy, straightforward interface for teachers to post up media they deem of great support to their lectures.
74. Utilize comments sections.
Whether in a blog or via iGoogle, teachers can take advantage of comments sections to encourage discussion amongst students, coworkers, or parents who want to weigh in on the desired questions.
75. Track current events as they change.
Dedicate an iGoogle tab specifically to a rapidly-changing event (the site uses elections as a great example and encourage or require students to follow along with the news that directly impacts them.
76. Use Google Notebooks to illustrate good organizational skills.
Google Notebooks provides educators with a neat opportunity to digitally outline the best way to organize information for projects as well as annotate their findings properly.
77. Remember to label findings.
When adding content from the web, add notes to the excerpts to highlight what makes the information important. This also helps students learn how to best analyze and process their internet research as well.
78. Use annotations to encourage discussion.
Teachers utilizing Google Notebook may want to get kids thinking and talking by offering up challenging questions about the collected bits of information with the annotation tool.
79. Call for student participation.
Ask pupils to contribute internet sources they find on their own based on the set lessons and topics. Share the best of the bunch and explain what makes the particular selections so effective.
80. Have students compile and share their own notebooks.
Formulate assignments based around creating Google Notebooks revolving around a particular subject, using them as a stepping stone for teaching children effective research and organization habits.
Send kids out to investigate either a real or fabricated mystery and ask them to compile their evidence into Google Notebooks.
82. Don’t ignore the Q&A function on Google Search!
Rather than answering questions the traditional way, use the Q&A available through Google Search as a way of teaching younger children how to run queries themselves.
83. Encourage the use of “define” for vocabulary assignments.
Teach students how to take advantage of the “define” feature on Google Search to learn more about vocabulary words, as it gives examples and any multiple meanings.
84. Use Google Search as a calculator.
When access to a TI83 may prove restricted, Google Search can take its place. Plug in square roots, trigonometry equations, logarithms, and unit conversions into the search bar for an accurate answer.
85. Create “postcards from the past.”
Compile features from Google Earth, Google Groups, and Google News to teach students valuable history lessons by whipping up informative postcards from different eras.
86. Running proper search queries is a lesson in and of itself.
The ability to properly search for and process information off the internet is a valuable life skill today, so taking some time in class to simply teach the best possible protocol makes for a worthwhile lesson.
87. Teach students about Creative Commons licenses.
Older students struggling to understand what does and does not constitute plagiarism and how copyrights work benefit from Google Search’s ability to filter what information is and is not available through Creative Commons.
Save paper and ink by keeping a class calendar online so parents and students never have an excuse for missing an important assignment or date.
89. Learn about epidemics and pandemics.
Teachers with access to multimedia equipment and Google Apps may want to consider this in-depth lesson plan that traces the biological, cultural, and geographical impact of the worlds’ most disconcerting epidemics and pandemics.
Google-savvy educators have found ways to get kids thinking critically about literature by asking them to predict the outcomes of literary works.
Google Calendar provides teachers with an interesting tool for illustrating the difference between telling time on a digital readout versus the traditional analog.
92. Write a “choose your own adventure” story.
Stimulate the creative side of students by letting them loose on Google Docs and Presentations to collaborate on their own “choose your own adventure” tales to share.
Set up real-world processes and problems by asking kids to evaluate the safety, durability, and effectiveness of specific consumer products and organizing all the data in Google Docs.
94. Create multimedia literature presentations.
Encourage students to blend Google Docs, Maps, Presentations, Blogger, and other tools to create long-term, intensive multimedia reports on their assigned reading.
95. Explore photography’s impact on society.
Combine Google Sites, Docs, and Earth into one effective assignment that tracks how photography influences and reflects the regions, people, and places it captures.
96. Celebrate “great moments in art.”
With Google Calendars, art, humanities, or history teachers may share with their students the most important dates relating to mankind’s creative output.
97. Require students to evaluate their revision history.
Track the progress of writing assignments by requiring students to pay close attention to revision history on Google Docs, perhaps including self-evaluation as part of a final grade.
98. Teach the basics of erosion.
Google Docs, Earth, Sites, and Maps, when used in tandem, can make for an extremely effective visual lesson in how soil erosion works and impacts the surrounding environment.
99. Participate in a WebQuest.
Tech-savvy teachers may want to compile an intensive WebQuest involving a particular topic and ask their students to take advantage of as many Google Applications as they can to support a thesis and share what they have learned.
100. Mark important dates for the history of life on Earth.
Creationists may want to clamp their eyes shut for this one, but Google Calendars allows teachers to coordinate the application with geological time scales in order to give kids a nice overview of how life on Earth has evolved over time.
Obviously, Google Applications holds many other amazing educational opportunities not listed here. Take what the teachers and Google itself suggest and use their advice to discover personal inspiration in the amazing programs the company has made available.
