Today we learned about some ways to use Microsoft Word and GoogleDocs in the classroom. First, we learned how to use Word on Macs, for those of us who aren't very Mac-savvy. Then we learned how do do concept mapping online using bubbl.us, which is a great online program for anyone to brainstorm, a lot like x-mind, only you don't have to download it. It was great, because it helped organize some information about Olympic sports. I am a very visual person, so it helped me remember what it was about.
Then we did an activity where we wrote a "day in the life of an Olympic Athlete". We each started by writing a topic sentence, stating who the Olympian was, and what event they are in. Then we moved around the classroom, adding on a sentence to other peoples stories. The results were really funny! We also learned about GoogleDocs, and how it is a great way to write a paper and edit it from anywhere. The layout is a lot like Microsoft Word, but with a few differences. We did the same activity that we did before, but this time, we actually didn't have to leave our seats to see and edit someone else's story.
I know that I will use all of these programs in my classroom, because it includes a lot of things that students will need for their entire lives. And what better place to teach it than in the classroom? Bubble.us is a great resource because it can help students sort out data, and see what would be really relevant in a story, or research project. Microsoft Word is definitely a great tool for students, because they need a place where they can write stories, poems, research papers, or other written projects. I also really like GoogleDocs, because they could be writing something at school, open in on a computer at home, show their parents, and work on it from home too. It would also be a great way to do a group project where each has to write a part. I think that each of these programs will be very useful in my classroom, and I know that I will implement them into my lesson plans.
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