One More Web 2.0 Application - Twitter

In searching for users of Google Documents in the classroom, I find a number of teachers referring to Twitter. As I investigate, I determine it is an SMS application for texting from a PC to PC or PC to cell phone; 140 character maximum per transmision.

I also found a blog posting on David Warlick's "2cent worth," that reported the results of a survey of high school students that were asked what skills they would expect to see in a tech-savvy teacher. I was a little taken back because of the eight or so responses, I was only using one. Stephen Heppell asked a group of students what a literate teacher should be able to do, and they agreed that teacher should be able to:
* upload to YouTube
* edit a Wikipedia article
* choose a safe online payments site
* subscribe to a podcast and un subscribe
* turn on and off preditive predictive text
* manage a groups Flickr photos (and spell Flickr!)
* look after a community in Facebook
I stand guilty as charged but resolute that I must rectify the situation. http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/archives/1345

I joined Classroom 2.o and posted a discussion on their forum. To this point, just the site moderator has responded. I did find a couple of teachers doing Google Documents in the classroom and replied to their postings. I subscribed to a couple RSS feeds there but have heard nothing as of yet.

Google Docs in the Classroom

Additional research has focused on targeted groups of educators who may be using Google Apps and Google Groups particularly education groups. Many universities continue to signup for Google Apps and report substantial benefits. There is a huge difference in what they are doing campus wide and what I am doing in a classroom. I have contacted four teachers who have related their use of Google Docs in the classroom. Their reports are favorable but without any hard data as to successes they have documented. I continue to feel like a trail blazer.

I have discovered there are other “competing” on-line collaborative tools like Zoho. Users tout their superiority to Google Apps but I feel that the strength of Google carries a degree of sustainability that other products, though fine products, do not promise. Google has made a huge commitment to education offering Apps at no cost.

I continue to prepare for my presentation at the UCET conference February 29th and March 1st. I hope to enlist the cooperation of any teachers who attend my session. They will at least have a basic interest if nothing beyond curiosity. If there are any who are already using Google Docs, I hope to establish a reciprocal dialog about implementation and best practices.