What is GSuite? Assignment 3 Tony Babecka

 EDUO 9150 – Assignment 3

Tony Babecka


Why GSuite?


GSuite is a fantastic collection of applications and tools that can help transform the classroom and open up new opportunities for both teachers and students.  Since the application suite is completely cloud based, work is constantly being saved and results can be found and calculated instantly.  


Since I am an itinerant teacher who teaches at 8 different schools with limited resources and teaching spaces, having the ability to use Chromebooks to create and complete assignments is a huge advantage given my current teaching situation.


GSuite is full of applications; however, I have listed a few below that I find beneficial for my teaching practice:


Google Docs Reflection


Google Docs is an excellent resource for not only typing documents, but also for its sharing abilities.  The ability of multiple users to create a story simultaneously means that blended learning can occur with students regardless of location.  The power of Docs can be used to type summaries, research papers, or letters, giving it flexibility to adapt to multiple applications and real-life environments. 


For example, students could use Google Docs to collaborate with students in class or across the globe on learning about a specific composer, piece, instrument, or genre.  By being cloud based, a shared document could be used to help students learn about music in their particular culture.  Not only does this allow a student to learn about another musical culture, but allows one to share his/her musical culture with others.  Students can also easily add images or links to show examples of music as examples.


Google Drive Spreadsheets


Google Drive Sheets is an excellent resource that allows you to easily track anything from budgets to calculations to class lists with the ability to share and collaboratively work on spreadsheets.


Sheets allows one to use functions and formulas to calculate equations and populate tabs and create charts/graphs based on information in the database.  In addition to professional practice possibilities, students can use it for a plethora of classroom activities.  For example, the class could collaborate on practice log tracking.  It would give the ability to calculate class averages from formula and equations by instrument and day in terms of the amount of time practicing.  Graphs and charts could also be created to provide a visual of the results.  


The flexibility of Google Sheets gives you the power of Microsoft Excel with the added benefit of being completely cloud based.  By using Google Classroom, you could easily create class based spreadsheets for research and to help improve student performance.


Google Slides


Google Slides is a great tool for making presentations that are not only cloud based, but will look similar across any device.  It allows one to add images, video, and sound to text display that can help a wide variety of learners due to its inclusive nature.  In addition to creating the presentation we are all familiar with, Google Sheets is great for creating interactive activities and quizzes, collaborative stories, and themed presentations.


Google Forms


Google Forms is a great tool that allows one to create easy surveys that can reach a wide audience easily.  The ability to track results and responses via Google Sheets gives more depth to explore those responses through its many tools.  In addition to creating quizzes and general feedback, Forms can also be used in the classroom to create digital score sheets for export; digital sign-out sheet/logs; choose your own adventure stories; information collection like email and phone numbers; and sign up sheets for school projects and activities.  Forms may be shared through links or can be emailed to participants.  


Reflection


  • Class Brainstorming or Individual Share Responses - Teachers can create a document and ask students to respond to a class brainstorm session on a particular topic using Google Docs.  Teachers can also ask students to respond individually to questions with answers that may provide unique answers by each student.  The documents can be shared so that student work added remains anonymous.

  • File Sharing - Teachers can post common files in one place that will allow for easy student access.  The teacher can just share one link and all students can have access to the folder.  It is also a great tool for having students submit files to one common place for easy checking and assessment.

  • Presentations- When students are given a presentation assignment, they can use Google Slides to develop and modify the presentation.  It allows for easy retrieval across any device as it is solely cloud based.




Teachers can use Google in numerous ways to help improve student learning.  Google is also innovative and adapts to reading/speaking learning disabilities to help improve comprehension and communication through the use of user feedback and various addons.  Google is always on the forefront of innovation and applications have a multitude of uses beyond the initial intended purpose. Though Google, the potential and ability to truly reshape equality in education is truly unlimited.

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