CyberCamp 08 » Google Apps Education

Six Months…Really?

manni14 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:37:38 +0000

Wow…December already? We decided that November or December would be a great check-in time to bring everyone up to date with our projects. I know that everyone has been slammed since school started. Hopefully you will all be able to take a few moments and give us an update on your Cybercamp project. It has only taken me a month to post since Bud’s reminder in November. There were such incredible ideas and products born during Cybercamp — I’d love to hear what worked, what didn’t work, and all about the great things you are doing.

I am pleased with the progress and results of the Google Apps Education implementation for the Wired classes. There has been a lot of lessons learned on the scope of use in the classroom — and time for reflection, changes, and improvements will come after semester ends. Four classes were set up on the Google Apps domain, with student email addresses and access to Google Docs, Google Sites, and all the Wired resources on the Virtual Campus site. You are welcome to view the final product on the Wired Classroom site. Just send an email for the password: MyraG (at) shsfalcons (dot) com.

Students have been using Google Docs for reflections, sharing work with project teams, and sharing work with their teacher. They have produced presentations for career exploration projects and group/individual Google sites for their exploration of Digital Citizenship topics. I’ll share a sampling of those projects at the end of the semester. The final project will be to pull all their work together on an eFolio — they will use a Google Site to feature their work from Wired, and other classes in 2008-09, on the online document. Their reflections for the semester, career presentation, and a link to their Digital Citizenship project will be linked or embedded in their eFolio. They will be able to personalize their site (hopefully using all the tools they learned in their digital safety research) to make it their own and, optimally, use as a repository for their best work during high school.

Google Apps Education was piloted with the 9th-grade Wired classes, but we are planning on opening up the framework to any teacher wishing to use the collaborative environment. But, oh, there is still so much to learn and all kinds of applications yet to be discovered. Anyone have any time to loan?

I look forward to CyberCamp 2009 (is that on the calendar?). The time to work, network and learn with other CyberCampers, and the mentoring from Bud and Jerry was so valuable.

WiP#8 – Alice

Bud Hunt — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:25:52 +0000

This is the eighth WiP presentation from CyberCamp. In this presentation, Alice talks about some of her ideas around Wired, a class she’ll be helping to teach that involves student advising, planning, and digital and information literacy. Here’s the link to the archive of the chat from the session.

Monday-Short Blog Out

manni14 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:24:59 +0000

Aye! Like Joanne and 1 wheel wrote today, I feel that while I have spent a lot of time on my project, it is moving along much more slowly than I had anticipated. I became bogged down in how to assess all the many things I want to put in this many stepped project. I have finally come to the realization that it is too much. There will be a final project for the part of the new class that I am teaching collaboratively. I will save the major assessment for that final project and have some checklists and/or reflections along the way. Makes it all seem more manageable, and of course, more realistic given all that has to be done. I am hoping that my classmates can give me some feedback on what I have so far.

Blogging into Week 2 and out of a Productive Weekend

manni14 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:27:43 +0000

It was a good weekend in that I was able to make some headway on my project. The Skyline domain was verified by Google Apps Education and I can now begin working on the nuts and bolts of deployment. I was able to set up our domain so it would be recognized on the Internet and set up the email client so that our email will be delivered where it is supposed to go. …and lots of practice using Google Docs.

This week will be action-packed once again — I look forward to all the chaos. I’m still behind on building the tutorials for students and staff, but yet feel that I’ve accomplished so much.

I look forward to the presentations this week — I learn so much from all the CyberCampers!

WiP #4 – Myra

Bud Hunt — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:22:08 +0000

This is the fourth WiP presentation from CyberCamp. In this presentation, Myra talk sabout her school’s plan to use Google Apps for Education as a digital learning platform for teaching and learning. Here’s the link to the archive of the chat from the session (Scroll down about halfway – to 11:30-ish on the time code – to see Myra’s portion of the chat.).

I’m not sure why – but this video was recorded in two pieces. The first clip below is the first section of the presentation. The second clip is the remainder.

GOOGLE DOCS – I GET IT!

manni14 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:09:49 +0000

Myra’s presentation today was mind-boggling. I now get it! I see why I need to really learn how to navigate all of these great tools. People have mentioned to me previously – use your gmail acct, put it on google docs, etc and I didn’t really understand why I would want to do that. But, after juggling info around between 3 different computers, I see it and see the usefulness for our students to maintain info. on a google acct. because many of them are so often in transition.

Great day! Best class.

Oh, the possibilities…

manni14 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:47:20 +0000

Another good day at CyberCamp. This was a valuable day in that we discussed the first three chapters of the Boss & Krauss book, Reinventing Project-Based Learning. A few things come to mind: that there is a lot of learning going on at CyberCamp, there is a lot of learning to do, and maybe even more unlearning.

We are really looking at a paradigm shift here — in our own district. I can see, as a non-teacher, the tendrils starting to reach out and take hold. It will take time, patience, and a lot of modeling.

Do take a quick look at Google Apps Education — it can really be a perfect infrastructure for project-based learning. I will try to present more of what it can do for students and teachers — opening up communications, collaboration possibilities, and handing over some creativity and responsibility keys to the students. Hopefully, Skyline will successfully implement Google Apps Education and serve as a model for the district. Whew! I just scared myself.

Good Morning Campers!

manni14 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:42:22 +0000

With a few hours to read, think, and reflect on our learning yesterday, I’m ready to jump in. Google Apps Education makes more and more sense for student (and staff) use. I plan to document my learning here, briefly, but I do think that this process will necessitate my own blog on the deployment of Google Apps Ed, development of tutorials, and ways to to use the platform in the classroom.

I look forward to our discussions of our camp text, Reinventing Project-Based Learning, today — lots of learning and sharing going on today…

Rainy Day at Camp

manni14 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:49:04 +0000

There will be no morning calisthenics, bed checks, or campfires – although I am hoping to make a digital braided lanyard. Our CyberCamp is a computer lab full of some very smart people and I’m hoping to absorb some ideas, tips, and great new tools. From the sounds of things, there will be many very cool projects developing on this blog. We are exploring, focusing, researching, creating, and will be sharing our journey and our projects with all. It should be exciting.

Bud and Jerry have set up a FULL schedule of activities for all of us including blogging (you are here), a book study on Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age by Krauss and Boss.

As far as my own project…well, let’s just say there’s a lot of work to do. My first task is to whittle all my ideas and goals down to a manageable project. We are looking to use Google Apps Education at our high school — I need to wrap my head around all the details, steps, and processes in administering the deployment. Then, hopefully, develop some tutorials that can be used by both students and teachers.

Short of an afternoon glitch of our district internet being down (no fun when it rains on your first day of camp), it was a good first day. Thanks to Bud and Jerry for setting this up for all of us campers!

Off to work, in my sleeping bag, with the flashlight on…