BP8_Links to RILS Comments

Here is a link to Emily Corrado's blog on a way to implement what I call cyber-service learning.

Here is a link to Antonio Solis's blog on implementation of iGoogle in the classroom.

Relevant & Innovative Learning Scenario

Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario

Jason Smith

My RILS will be the creation of a fantasy football league.  I will use two Google applications to facilitate collaboration between players without face-to-face meetings.  Participants will create Google accounts & use the applications Docs, Groups, & Gmail to create & manage teams.   

Target Audience- Adult learners interested in playing fantasy football.

Materials

·      Computer, tablet, or handheld device with Internet connection

·      Fantasy Football account

·      Google Account with Docs, Groups, & Gmail

Objectives

After completing this scenario, participants will be able to

·      Create a Google account & utilize Groups, Docs & Gmail

·      Discuss Fantasy Football league play

·      Formulate an algorithm for drafting players

·      Collaborate with others to compete in a fantasy football league

Procedure

1. Sign Up for Gmail

2. E-mail instructor

3. Reply to Groups Invitation

4. Collaborate on 1st round draft picks using Groups

5. Begin posting other draft picks in Docs

Groups will be used to discuss elements of league formation: league platform, drafting order, team names, and logos. Docs will be used for the draft itself by sharing a draft spreadsheet among participants.

Connections– Football is the most popular sport in the American culture.  Each participant will have varying amounts of intellectual & emotional connections with football. 

This rubric will be used to assess participation.

Reflection

Participants were debriefed following their first round picks.  Two issues were common among them.  First, was the current Google upgrade of groups.  Google offers the choice of using the old or new Google groups, which was a bit confusing.  Second, participants wondered why we were not just using a particular league platform to conduct league business.

Using this learning scenario in the future, I may put more effort into showing students the benefits of using Google tools rather than a league.  It took more coaxing on my part to get people to engage than I anticipated.  I find the Google apps to be very friendly, but it seems participants were still daunted. 

Overall, I found the process to be very enlightening.  Giving participants a goal, using the applications, best teaches the Google apps.  I am curious to see the learning curve as the season progresses.   I hypothesize that students will gain confidence and move forward quickly.  

Below is a short documentary of my process...

PE5 – Google Groups

I have seen the beauty of seeking out groups using Groups.  I started by just clicking the browse for groups button.  Groups offers a number of choices, first by topic then location.  Users may choose varying degrees of specificity.  Very specific searches led me to groups for which one needed to apply for entry.  For example there was a group formed by painters who live near me.  Based on my search criterion I believe these folks to be artist.  They could be housepainters though, because I am not a member of the group.  I decided not to apply for membership because I can't paint.

After a number of specific searches I decided that I would need to perform a more vague search in order to find a group to instantly participate in.  I found an English language poetry group.  Unfortunately and, alas predictably, after a thorough search through the thread, I failed to find any good poetry.  Although I'm a bit of a "chav" when it comes to modern poetry… it needs to have beets & get spit by an MC.  I plan to soon start posting some bad poetry of my own.

Groups turns out to be a powerful tool for finding groups to join.  I am still of the opinion that Groups is more effective tool for organizing & maintaining groups that finding them.  This is more a result of high functionality in the former rather than low functionality of the latter.  Incorporate Google Groups into your life.  You'll be glad you did.

PE4 – Google Groups

Google groups has the power of simplicity.  I have used a number off message boards & I love this example.  Simplicity is the strength of using Google Web 2.0 services.  By creating many applications with specific functions Google keeps any particular application from getting too complicated.

Groups allows users to create groups, post threads in groups, & reply to threads.  This is a terrific forum for generating lively discussions.  Even better a perfect record of these discussions is maintained.  Posts can include images & hyperlinks, creating a rich 2.0 environment.  Like other Google applications Groups allows for customization.  Users can create their own greetings & synch with their Google account photo.

So far, I have found Groups to be most useful for creating & maintaining groups with a purpose.  Other message boards seem to be more appropriate when looking for others to discuss a particular topic with.  Therfore, I find Groups to be a tool best used for private groups.  These groups are best formed by sending invitations to potential members.

While I have been learning Google groups it has updated to a new version.  These changes demonstrated to me the potential of updates as teachable moments.  Applications will always be moving forward.  We must teach our students to be undaunted.  Groups has added mobile device accessability which is sure to earn some cool points with students.  Groups will work with Android or IOS. Google added a number of key shortcuts to increase speed & ease of browsing.  Given some time, I hope to get the hang of browsing larger groups.

BP7_go Google

Google aint' just a search engine any more!!!

BP6_Link

   Here are links to Jessica's blog.    

BP5_Link

    Here are links to Emily's blog.