Sunday, November 2, 2008

I wanted to report on my first attempt to use one of the Web 2.0 tools in class. I had my students use google docs for the first time. I have to admit I was a little nervous about it because I wasn't very confident about the application myself. However, it went more smoothly than I anticipated. Some students had used it before, and helped out with the setup of the accounts. I also had the help of Veronica S., who, during the last MILI meeting ran through the set-up procedures with me. That was huge!! Many thanks. I do have to work with this more in the future, and become more comfortable with it. I had students add me to their google doc accounts, but I do confess that I did not sign in to check on their progress (I believe this is the purpose of having access to their accounts.) I think that I could have helped the students by making more comments on their power points if I had done this.

This first attempt will also help me when designing the U.S. history project for this class. Students prepare a powerpoint on one of the "decades" and Rachel H. and I are planning on having students use google docs.

All in all, I am pretty satisfied. Without this course, I do not know when I would have caught wind of this. This is why I signed up. I know I need to spend more time experimenting with this tool and others in the Web 2.0 and its applications to the classroom.