Module 3

Hello

I have just completed the course on google docs. What a fantastic idea! I have often felt the annoyance of trying to create documents and then share/send it to a number of people, only to have it made difficult when different versions start getting created. I can also see the advantages in school setting for a number of reasons.

Firstly, I can see the positives in using this type of tool for group assignments set at school. Students can use the application to make contributions to the assessment task simultaneously and allow them to work on tasks from home; saving time in travelling and setting meeting times that really are just a way for the kids to be sociable rather than work. There is only one issue - the application allows students to make contributions and it colour codes this as they are working, which means that you can see who contributes what. But does it allow the teacher to also see these contributions once it is handed in? That would really revolutionise group work!

I have already begun thinking that perhaps I should implement this task into a upcoming commerce task where students have to create a budget using excel. It would be nice to introduce this type of technology to the students... I could also implement this type of tool into an upcoming unit of work on junior economics. I could set a type of task where students are to create a number of opinion pieces on various economic issues using google docs and publish it using the application. Then I could incorporate this with the blogger application, where students can then link it to the blog and get other students to make comments.

Secondly, I can see the positives in using this application for teachers in the setting of assessment tasks, in particular exams. This tool could be used so that a number of teachers can write the exam from home, save it to the application and request that other teachers view this from the comfort of their own home. This would reduce the need for teachers to meet during their busy day to discuss the setting of assessment tasks. As long as one person initiates the process, then it should work well.

These are just a few thoughts and ideas.