I think that most people would agree that organizations derive a great deal of benefit when their members work together effectively. Google Applications is a web based suite of software specifically designed to support collaboration within organizations. It does this by providing access to real time updates to documents, spreadsheets, presentations and drawings. In other words there is no longer a need to send multiple versions of files via email as you work on them; with Google Applications, all users that a file is shared with sees an changes immediately . At Sublette School District all teachers, students, and staff are fortunate to have the power of Google Applications at our fingertips.
While many students and teachers across the district have implemented Google Applications in a variety of ways, the staff at Pinedale Middle School have truly embraced Google Apps as a way of doing business every day. Here are some of the ways that Middle School staff members are using Google Applications. Hopefully you will get some ideas for supporting collaboration among the team of people that you work with, as well as with students.
Professional Development in Google Groups - Google Groups is an online forum that allows members of a group to have threaded discussions around any topic they wish. At the middle school, staff members are currently using this technology to host an online book study of the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. The book study leader posts new questions each week and staff members have a discussion. Here is what it looks like (click on the image to see it full size).
Why it works:
Jeff Dietelin - “I like the flexibility to read and post on my own time”
Steve Miller - “For me it is great that we can go at our own pace and have plenty of time to really consider the topic. In addition, there are more opportunities for input and collaboration. I am not limited to only commenting during a meeting.”
Tracking After School Interventions With Google Spreadsheets -The middle school staff is using a Google Spreadsheet to share and track information about students in real time so that they can coordinate their efforts to support struggling students in ways that are immediate and meaningful. Here is a snapshot of this Google Spreadsheet.
Why it Works
Erik Makelky - “everyone is on the same page immediately about student arrangements for extended day, this eliminates many problems that result from miscommunications”
Steve Miller - “it is much more efficient to have a centralized document than to use phone calls and emails”
Sandy Kawa- “we know where kids should be after school and it really helps us communicate with parents”
Sharing Lesson Plans using Shared Google Drive Folders - All teachers at the middle school share their lesson plans with the principal, Mr. Fluckiger. Using a shared Google Drive folder allows teachers to create their plans in Google Drive and place them in a folder which Mr. Fluckiger (and anybody else to whom the teacher gives access to) also has on his Google Drive. The great part is, if they make changes or if he makes comments, there is no need to resend the document, all changes are updated automatically.
Why It Works
Erik Makelky - “In addition to sharing lesson plans with Mr. Fluckiger, the teachers in our department share teaching materials with each other. All new assignments, digital handouts, etc. are immediately available to the whole team via a shared folder. Because we are working together, our workload is reduced significantly freeing up more time to plan instruction”
Jeryl Fluckiger - “Having access to lesson plans in shared folders helps me be more efficient in the way I give feedback to teachers on instruction. Before using this system I would spend a lot of time sorting through my inbox to get to lesson plans, now they automatically appear in an organized way in my Google Drive as soon as teachers create them.”
Jeff Dietlin - “Google Docs allow teachers to share classroom tasks which is a great way for specialists and support staff to know what is going on in the classroom.”
8 Other Ways the Middle School Staff is Using Google Apps
(click the four way arrow symbol to view this presentation in full screen)
Why It Works
Jeff Dietlin - “I can immediately see updates to the minutes of a meeting even if I wasn’t able to attend”
Cydnee Jaskolski - “being able to make updates to shared documents saves a lot of confusion that occurs with multiple emails and versions of files”
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