While watching a child struggling to write a story the following thought hit me! Show the child how to make a simple graphic organizer using a single column table in Google Docs. Creating a simple table gave the student the tool they needed for proceeding to write independently.
During the creation of a collaborative Google Site, I discovered the “Publish to Specific People” setting. This share setting provides the ability to restrict a website with a chosen group of people instead of sharing it with the world. In an education setting, this provides the teacher with the power over privacy concerns.
Teachers have the control to share a collaborative website between two classrooms or small groups of students. Connecting classrooms is an easy method a teacher may use for nurturing young students with becoming respectful digital citizens. It also provides the opportunity to practice communication and collaborative skills along with creativity.
It seems “Share Settings” is one of those misunderstood tools embedded into G Suite APPS. “Share Settings” may become a powerful tool to use. It is up to the user to follow some simple best practice for sharing files and folders for maintaining the utmost privacy in the realm of education. The Google for Education Team supports “Privacy and Security” within the tools they provide for educators and students to use.
Maintaining both FERPA and COPPA compliance is dependent on how “Share Settings” are used. Below you will find instructions for helping you to understand how to use Google Products share settings.
If you are sharing a file or folder it is important to understand what the following three settings mean:
Recently in the Chrome Help Forum a user asked if there was a way to prevent tabs from being lost when closed. The question reminded me about one of my favorite Chrome Tips for Students. When students are engaged in a research project I like showing them the “Pin Tab” feature. The pin tab feature allows the student to return to the open tabs if the Chrome Browser is accidentally closed. Just follow the below steps to help prevent losing hours of research.
Hey folks I really missed sharing & caring, along with answering your questions via post comments. Recently I helped a relative near and dear to me complete their cancer journey. The final segment of his cancer journey started back in October. Now you might be thinking, “What does this have to do with educational technology?” Innovative thinking is the answer!!! I’m thankful due to the doctor teams’ innovative and creative thinking skills because it extended my husband’s life for five years. Saving a life is just one reason why applying educational technology for supporting the 4C’s is so important!
During my husband’s cancer battle I got to see what strong communication and collaboration can do. It took the brainstorming of many specialized doctors to figure out exactly what to do for providing both longevity and a quality of life. Due to this experience I feel it is more important than ever before to engage students by using Google Docs Chat, Comments, Blogging and etc… for brainstorming and supporting 4C’s skills. It is these very skills which are essential for innovative thinking to occur!
My husband also experienced another benefit of technology. Our daughter lived in a different state far away from us. Although she flew in (hmmm…technology=planes) quite frequently to visit him this wasn’t enough! However thanks to the technology of Video Chats this man who wasn’t savvy had the ability to see and talk with our daughter quite frequently. Bill also enjoyed when my daughter left video messages for him to view.
On one of our last Sloan visits my husband experienced interacting with machine technology when my car yelled at him! He insisted on driving home after spending a week in the hospital. I was against this and apparently my hybrid vehicle didn’t like it either. My husband wouldn’t listen to me when I complained about him swerving back and forth. However he handed over the steering wheel after the car flashed a coffee cup with the message, “I think you may need a rest”
Another benefit provided by technology was the simple enjoyment my husband received when talking with our Google Home. He like to ask it silly questions just to hear how the device would respond. This simple use of machine technology provided hours of laughter and pleasure during these stressful times. The Google Home also helped my husband keep track of time, play music and create shopping lists for me to access from my phone.
Although I miss my husband very much it is an honor to blog about how much technology influenced this simple man’s life. I am thankful for the innovators in this world who have affected my husband’s cancer journey. Technology is a blessing when it can be used to make a positive difference. The creation of innovative tools depends on the skills of communication and collaboration.
