Google Part 2

What? In class we learned about Google Sites and how we can create one for our classroom.

So What? I can use Google Sites as a student to start putting on information and building up tools and resources that I could use in my future classroom. If I find a good website, video, etc. that I might want to use in my classroom I can post in on the site so I can remember it and easily find it later when I need to use. Also, practicing with it now will help so I don't have to deal with the problems of learning how it works when I'm actually teaching. It will help save a lot of time.

Now What? I think Google Sites will be very helpful to me as a teacher. I can create a website where my students and their parents can go to quickly find out what is going on in class, what homework assignments are coming up and what school events are coming up. I think the feature where you can put your Google calender directly into the site is very helpful. If a student misses class the parent can look on the site and see what they missed and the assigned homework. Also, the site has all my contact information so they can email or call me with any questions they have.

I can also use Google sites to post announcements and post a letter updating the parents instead of sending out a letter to everyone's email or sending home a hard copy with the students. Kids tend to lose papers easily and if I use the site then it won't matter that they lose it because the parents can refer to my site for any important information.

Video: I think that is was interesting that he said "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original." Kids are born unafraid to make mistakes. As they grow older they learn to be cautious and they don't take as many chances. I think this guy made a lot of really good points about creativity and children. I think that it's important not get caught up in teaching all the required curriculum like math and history and forget about creativity. Ken Robinson says that many people who are brilliant and creative think they aren't because of the way that the education is set up. We need to remember to encourage creativity in our students and not just the more academic subjects.