Google Forms & Google Sheets

Google Forms and Google Sheets (excel) are tools that can be used to help teachers quiz students and grade the quizzes in little to no time!

I would use google forms to check my students' knowledge of key literary terms, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. I like the way it makes creating a multiple choice test easy, and find that test on these subjects work well with multiple choice questions. I also like how Google Sheets make grading the quizzes realy fast and immediate, allowing me to know right away if students are struggling with a concept.

The limitation of these tools is that students must have access to computers to take the quiz, as well as internet access. This is a problem that most technology has, where access to materials to use the technology can put the lower income student at a disadvantage. I also feel like Google Forms are casual and would want to use a different platform for more involved/high stakes tests simply because I want students to take it more seriously.

The add-ons are really helpful for teachers once a quiz is put into Google Sheets. Flubaroo is my favorite because it grades your Google Forms quizzes for you, and as a teacher I can see that being very useful. Another add-on I like is Styles which lets me color code the result sheet that Flubaroo creates, allowing me to further personalize my Google Sheet.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OuoZ3THvNFWwcC8h9WA8JkeByL0A3ah-gvZ91_jhHDg/edit?usp=drive_web

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pS_Mnd3lR_Jqy3McbK6UGlo-mnRQlaPQIws296BI8qs/edit#gid=1873349293

Digg Reader

Digg reader is a way to compile blogs and website feeds in one place. It’s a nice way to have all your information in one place. It is also a useful way to keep up with blogs that publish weekly so that you never miss an update. It is a good recourse for compiling information.  

   

I have found Digg reader to be more interesting for non-education articles. I have been reading lots of training blogs about triathlon and other athletic activities. I really like a site called “nerd fitness” it has a lot of workouts and positive body image encouragement; it is also interesting to read.  I know that we set up the account for education, but I have found that the articles that come up through the education blogs are too random for me to become interested. I suppose I want more control over the topics I am reading about education, rather than following someone directly.

 One problem I have with Digg is that it’s a little like an email in box. I like feedly, another site that allows more sorting of information and websites. 

Copy Right and Creative Commons

Photo: Thomas Gehrke; flicker images

I found the information on creative commons and copyright very interesting. I had no idea that all original work is protected by copyright without needing to apply for it. As a creative person, that makes me feel good, because I do worry about what can happen to my stories once they are published.
I had a creative writing class that used blogs to share work and I always felt like I needed to keep my best ideas off my blog to protect them. I am glad that I will be able to tell my students that their work is protected even when it is published on a blog.

I also really liked learning about creative commons. I like that people are willing to let their work be shared, but also have a way to protect the integrity of their work. It really makes sense when it comes to photographs, but I also think it would work well for written works. It also helps me understand how books like The Martian started as a blog and then became a Kindle book for $ 0.99 and finally a best selling book and blockbuster movie. I always though that was cool, but I never understood how the author was able to protect his rights to the story if it was something that everyone could access.

The idea of fair use is also interesting. I think it is important that education gets a buffer when it comes to copyright laws because education should not be limited. I agree that teachers should not be photocopied a whole book and giving it to their students, but a page or two is okay. 

As the conversation in class continued I found myself wondering how often copyright laws are infringed upon and how often they go unpunished. I know that it is really easy to get movies and songs online and I wonder if people simply don't care that their intellectual property is being used, or, if they don't know, or, even if it is just too hard to contain? My guess is that it is a combination of all three, and that some creators are very offended by their work being distributed without their knowledge.  



 

by Tyler.stefanich, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tyler.stefanich_-_Creative_Commons_Swag_Contest_2007_2_(by).jpg