Google Apps in the Classroom

There are several advantages to using Google apps in the classroom. Google apps can be used to enhance the students’ learning experience as well as enhance professional development. Google docs is a great tool that provides opportunities for powerful collaboration. This can be especially helpful when students engage in writing assignments. With Google docs, “students are able to see another student writing at that very moment. Editing can take place at the moment words are placed on the page,” (Olah, 2014, pg. 1). Thus, students can collaborate with each other throughout the entire writing process. Students can easily see the writing of their classmates and provide helpful comments. Google docs allows students to receive instantaneous feedback from their classmates as well as from their teacher.  In addition to this, using Google apps removes restraints that are otherwise present. For instance, students can collaborate and interact, “with an ever-expanding circle of their peers, regardless of geographical location,” (Cruz, 2011).  Students are no longer limited because of their geographical location. Instead, students can use Google apps to communicate, collaborate and learn with other learners from all over the world. Not only do Google Apps expand student collaboration, but it also eliminates the issue of losing papers, documents and presentations. The work that students do with Google Apps is all saved to the cloud. Their work can be accessed at any time from any place or any device. This is a huge benefit for students. Furthermore, Google Apps expands educational opportunities to students who may have challenges that make it difficult to participate in a traditional educational setting. This can include students who are going back to school at an older age or students who are disabled. When Google Apps are used, an educational experience become easily accessible to all students regardless of personal challenges.

            Google Apps have advantages for professional development as well. Educators can use Google docs to communicate and collaborate with each other in real-time. They can instantaneously edit and comment on notes that are being taken. This allows each teacher to contribute his/her ideas. Also, Google Apps can be used to provide professional development opportunities for teachers. These apps would be free, compared to other professional development opportunities that would cost money. In addition to this, teachers can easily share information with each other. School calendars, unit plans, lesson plans and class lists are some of the things that can easily be shared with other teachers in the school. Google Docs provides an easy and convenient way to share this information and allow it’s members to make changes as necessary. Essentially, Google Apps has so much to offer and it should be used by students and teachers.

References:

Cruz, L. (2011). How Cloud Computing is Revolutionizing Education. The Network:

            CISCO. Retrieved on May 13, 2014 from http://newsroom.cisco.com/feature-        content?articleId=460910

Olah, D. (2014). Module Seven: Productivity Applications: Google Apps. Southern New   

            Hampshire University. pg. 1-4.  

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