If you are a student or faculty member at Tech, you have a free Google Workspace for Education account, which includes an unlimited Google Drive!
- Just use “username”@email.latech.edu and your normal password!
- You might be thinking to yourself, “Okay, but what exactly is Google Workspace for Education?” It might be easier to think of it as a collection of applications similar to what you are already using in your daily life, or at the very least, have some experience. Though there are an ever-growing number of tools, below is a common list to get started:
- Calendar – Online calendar
- Classroom – A simplistic LMS, Learning Management System aka online classroom
- Docs – Word processor similar to Microsoft Word
- Drawing – Basic graphic creator and diagramming software
- Drive – Cloud Storage of folders and files similar to Microsoft One Drive
- Forms – Surveys, forms, and quizzes
- Keep – Digital sticky notes
- Sheets – Spreadsheet program similar to Microsoft Excel
- Sites – Easy website builder
- Slides – Presentation creator similar to Microsoft PowerPoint
These tools can be integrated into various aspects of classroom instruction, promoting collaboration, organization, and digital literacy while enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. Integrating these tools into the classroom can enhance collaboration, organization, and engagement. Here are some examples of how to integrate them in the classroom:
- Collaborative Document Creation: Use Google Docs for collaborative writing assignments. Students can work together in real-time, providing feedback, editing, and revising documents simultaneously. This promotes teamwork, peer learning, and effective communication skills.
- Interactive Presentations: Create engaging presentations using Google Slides. Students can incorporate multimedia elements, collaborate on group presentations, and easily share their work with classmates and teachers. This encourages creativity, visual communication skills, and knowledge sharing.
- Digital Assignments and Feedback: Utilize Google Classroom to distribute assignments, collect student work, and provide timely feedback. Students can submit their work digitally, and teachers can easily track submissions, provide comments, and assess student progress. This streamlines the assignment workflow and promotes efficient communication.
- Collaborative Research and Note-taking: Encourage collaborative research using Google Drive and Google Docs. Students can create shared folders to collect and organize research materials, collaborate on note-taking, and compile information for group projects. This fosters critical thinking, information literacy, and collaborative skills.
- Data Analysis and Visualization: Use Google Sheets for data analysis and visualization activities. Students can input and manipulate data, perform calculations, and create charts and graphs to analyze and present their findings. This develops analytical skills and data literacy.
- Virtual Field Trips: Explore the world using Google Earth and Google Maps. Take students on virtual field trips to different locations, historical sites, or cultural landmarks. They can explore in 3D, investigate specific regions, and conduct research using satellite imagery and Street View.
- Digital Portfolios: Have students create digital portfolios using Google Sites or Google Slides. They can showcase their best work, reflect on their learning journey, and share their achievements with peers, parents, and teachers. This promotes self-reflection, goal setting, and digital literacy.
- Formative Assessments: Use Google Forms to create quizzes, surveys, and formative assessments. Teachers can gather real-time feedback, assess understanding, and tailor instruction to individual student needs. This enables personalized learning and ongoing progress monitoring.
Virtual Collaboration and Discussions: Use Google Meet for virtual class discussions, group projects, or guest speaker sessions. Students can connect with classmates and experts from different locations, fostering global connections, cultural understanding, and collaborative skills.
