Middletown Elementary
Tech Challenge

There is only one week left of the Elementary Tech Challenge! Thank you for continuing to check out the resources and tools available for teachers. Keep reading to learn more about how Google applications can be useful for educators.

Challenge: Integrate a tool from Google for Educators

Google could easily comprise a month-long tech challenge of its own! Although Google is known for their search engine, there are many other useful products offered, and although some of them have already been mentioned on the Tech Challenge, YouTube EDU, Google Maps, and Google Earth, there are many more to consider incorporating in your teaching. This post will highlight some additional tools for elementary teachers provided by Google.

Google Docs:

This is a word processor, presentation and spreadsheet creator (think Microsoft Word/PowerPoint/Excel but free and online, and of course, by Google). Once you type in your username and password, you are ready to get started creating (there is no software to download). Since everything is stored online, your documents are accessible from anywhere! Any edits that you make to your Google Docs are automatically saved so there is no need to worry about intermittently hitting save. Since this does it for you losing your work is one less thing on your mind. Also, you can “share” your documents with others by entering their email. This is great for online collaboration. Using Google Docs is easy, intuitive, and extensively useful. You might consider using Google Docs for lesson plans (access them at school, home, etc.), sharing PLC ideas, and for other collaborative purposes. Learn more about Google Docs by clicking here to watch a presentation, a YouTube video, and to learn tips and tricks!


Google Books:

Google Books allows you to access and preview or read books. In the classroom, this tool can be used to locate information for PBLs and projects. It could also be used to project a text to read whole-group and to teach a mini-lesson with examples from a text.  

Google Calendar:

Google Calendar is a great way to stay organized. You can set up calendars for different uses. A personal calendar is a good tool for keeping track of phone calls, meetings, school events, class trips, school opening/closing dates, etc. Also, you might also consider setting up a Google Calendar for your students and parents with information about when projects are due, assessment dates, and classroom events (class parties, trips, etc.).

Custom Search Enginge:

This tool allows you to create a customized search engine for your students. This tool helps to provide a safe search option for students because only preselected websites (by you) will be utilized in their search. 

Webinars by Google:

Google provides webinars specifically for teachers about using their products. You can sign up for future webinars or watch archived presentations.

Google Posters:

Try displaying some of these printable posters in your classroom as a reference for your students as they use Google.

Resources for teaching students to search:
Here are resources for helping students become familiar with vocabulary related to the internet and also the process of searching.

How to Accomplish this Challenge Item:
1. Explore the resources offered by Google
2. Integrate one of these tools into your teaching
3. Comment on this post (Which of the Google tools do you anticipate being the most useful in your classroom? Have you used any of these tools before?)

Thank you for reading this post! If you have any questions, comment below or email katzgrauk@middletownk12.org. Comment on this post for a chance to win an iPad and other great prizes!