Blogspot won't let me comment on anything, even my own blog. So I've tried to comment on some cpd23 blogs, but I can't. This upsets me. I want to let you know I've been reading! I have been.
Also, if anyone knows how to fix this problem, I'd be massively grateful of any help.
Sunday 4 September 2011
Thing 13: Google Docs, Wiki & Dropbox
I used both Google Docs and Dropbox while studying for my MA and found them both incredibly useful for group work. For one piece of work, which was a reflective log, Dropbox was especially useful. Myself and the rest of my group would meet up every couple of weeks and record our conversations, which we then went on to use as part of the final piece of work. We shared the audio files through Dropbox, and also shared articles. For another piece of written group work, Google Docs was used - this was much easier than emailing.
I have now got my first professional post in a school (I start tomorrow, eek!) and so I am keeping my eyes open for any ideas I can use. The idea of collaboration and sharing seems especially appropriate for education. I know the school I am working for has their own remote file sharing system, so I am unsure whether Dropbox would really be necessary, but the principles certainly seem the same: pupils can access work from home and IT don't have to worry about the security risks posed by USB sticks. It also means that a lot of work can be submitted electronically - so instead of handing in a piece of paper, students can simply drag & drop documents into teachers' files. This is something I find really interesting, and so very different to what happened when I was at school! That was less than 10 years ago, so things are changing very quickly. I certainly see the potential of such a system. It makes sense, if children are using technology, to utilise that for educational purposes, save teachers time, and to save money on resources such as paper.
I suppose the challenges relate to the fact that not all children are as familiar with technology as each other, and induction sessions would be necessary to ensure everyone understood what to do. Parents may find this especially challenging.
In terms of Google Docs, this would be useful for any group work carried out in the classroom. The remote file-sharing system would be useful, but the problem of multiple copies, presumably, would be an issue. I will certainly consider this if the need ever came up.
I'm a little dubious about wikis. I've read a lot about how they're often neglected and poorly used. I should probably read more positive articles! If anyone has any, feel free to let me know :) It would be foolish to write wikis off completely. It would certainly be an interesting exercise in collaboration to start one up, even if the outcome was negative; this could open up debate into the limitations of computer-mediated collaboration.
I have now got my first professional post in a school (I start tomorrow, eek!) and so I am keeping my eyes open for any ideas I can use. The idea of collaboration and sharing seems especially appropriate for education. I know the school I am working for has their own remote file sharing system, so I am unsure whether Dropbox would really be necessary, but the principles certainly seem the same: pupils can access work from home and IT don't have to worry about the security risks posed by USB sticks. It also means that a lot of work can be submitted electronically - so instead of handing in a piece of paper, students can simply drag & drop documents into teachers' files. This is something I find really interesting, and so very different to what happened when I was at school! That was less than 10 years ago, so things are changing very quickly. I certainly see the potential of such a system. It makes sense, if children are using technology, to utilise that for educational purposes, save teachers time, and to save money on resources such as paper.
I suppose the challenges relate to the fact that not all children are as familiar with technology as each other, and induction sessions would be necessary to ensure everyone understood what to do. Parents may find this especially challenging.
In terms of Google Docs, this would be useful for any group work carried out in the classroom. The remote file-sharing system would be useful, but the problem of multiple copies, presumably, would be an issue. I will certainly consider this if the need ever came up.
I'm a little dubious about wikis. I've read a lot about how they're often neglected and poorly used. I should probably read more positive articles! If anyone has any, feel free to let me know :) It would be foolish to write wikis off completely. It would certainly be an interesting exercise in collaboration to start one up, even if the outcome was negative; this could open up debate into the limitations of computer-mediated collaboration.
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