google apps in the middle school classroom

in the

Middle School Classroom

Amy HopkinsCaddo Mills ISDahopkins@caddomillsisd.org

About Me

• 6th Grade Technology Teacher in the Caddo Mills ISD

• Webmaster for District and Middle School websites

• Technology training for CMISD and other districts/programs

Clipart from OpenClipart.org

Family

Background

• Implemented use of Google Accounts in my classroom 4 years ago with 8th graders

• District converted email to Google Apps 2 years ago

• Converted my classroom/middle school campus to Google Apps this school year with news of full suite of products being added in Fall 2010.

Flickr picture courtesy of Eric Begin

Google Apps BEFORE• Email• Docs/Spreadsheets• Calendar• Sites• Contacts

Original suite of products PLUS

• Blogger• Reader

• Notebook• Picasa Web Albums

And MANY MORE

Google Apps AFTER

WHY Google Apps for Education?

Because as much as we might be

resistant……

We must EMBRACE

technology!

Steps to ImplementGOOGLE APPS FOR EDUCATION

Step 1: Purchase A Domain

• I used www.mydomain.com• $10.47 per year

Step 2: Register this domain for Google Apps

By going here to Google Apps for Education

• Completing this form will immediately launch a standard edition of Google Apps while Google reviews the education application. Continue setting up the domain in the meantime.

• Google will email requesting more information regarding application. Reply to the message with the required information.

• If in 48 hours Google has not been upgraded, complete this form: http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/request.py?contact_type=nonprofit

• Enable services for your domain and closely follow the instructions on-screen.

Step 2: Verify Domain Ownership• You must confirm that you own the domain you

signed up with.

There are two verification methods:1. Upload an HTML file to your site2. Create a special CNAME record for your domain – MY

CHOICE• Must return to the website where domain was purchased and

make additions there

For more help on how to create the CNAME record and add MX records for your domain, refer to this website:http://support.hostgator.com/articles/e-mail/google-apps-email-

walkthrough

• Step 3: Customize Google Apps

• Upload your logo on the control panel so it will appear on the sign-in page and on applications

• Go into each product and customize – enable/disable services and certain options– relatively easy; some are very technical and may

require help from IT personnel– choosing basic options is not difficult and will

suffice unless there is interest in more advanced services

Step 4: Create User Accounts

• Once signed up and customized, you can now create as many user accounts as you need from the control panel.

There are two ways to add users:

1. Add users individually

2. Add users in bulk

1. Add users individually• To do this, click ‘User Accounts’ tab and then ‘Create a

new user ‘. • Enter each users’ full name, username and temporary

password. Then click ‘Create new user’ button. • Repeat for as many users as you have.

2. Add users in bulk• Recommended if you have 10+ users in your

organization, as adding each individually is tedious and time consuming.

• To create multiple accounts at once, upload a spreadsheet of users accounts and usernames by click the ‘Upload’ link from the ‘User Accounts’ tab.

CSV Bulk Upload Template

For more help with implementation steps, Google can help!Google Apps Administrator Help

Clipart from OpenClipart.org

Caddo Mills 6th Graders Use:• iGoogle• Gmail• Docs/Spreadsheets• Bookmarks• Reader• Notebook• Calendar• Picnik New!

Clipart from OpenClipart.org

• iGoogle

• Customized homepage • Students can pick themes and gadgets to add to

page, educational AND non-educational

Gmail

• Gives students an email address to make signing up for educational websites EASY!

• Teachers communicate with students on issues such as:– Test/quiz reminders– Late work– Sending of study sheets/handouts/assignments

Google Docs and Spreadsheets

• Ability to create documents – word processing, spreadsheets and presentations

• Can also upload already-created documents and continue working

• Access from anywhere the user has an Internet connection

• Allows users to collaborate with others on documents

• New features added often!

Google Bookmarks

• Students can save their favorite websites to access at any time

• Create “labels” or folders/categories to keep them organized

• Share bookmarks with others• No more having to remember website names and addresses!!

Google Reader

• Constantly checks favorite news sites and blogs for new content

• Shows all of your favorite sites in one convenient place

A great site for kids to learn aboutCurrent Events that we subscribe to!

The Big Picture

Google Notebook

• Aids in compiling research – save only the information from a website that is really wanted

• “Clip” information into notebooks for later access• Makes creating citations for a Works Cited page a

SNAP! – saves all needed information

Google Calendar

• Full functioning calendar with LOTS of extra features– Receive email or mobile text-message reminders– Share calendars with others– Print out your calendars, if needed.– Access Google Calendar from a mobile phone

Picnik

• Acquired by Google – March 1, 2010

• Photo editor with lots of fun features for students– Edit: crop, resize, sharpen– Create: effects, frames,

stickers, text

AFTER

BEFORE

Works Cited• 123jschwartz. "Why Google Apps for Education? ." YouTube - Broadcast

Yourself. . N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRYRbPCHTck>.

• Begin, Eric. "Red fox pup ( wild ) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Yahoo, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericbegin/2462700869/in/set-72157605076496782/>.

• "Google Apps." The Next Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011. <http://thenextweb.com/google/2010/11/18/google-apps-get-more-googly-with-over-60-consumer-applications-now-available-for-businesses/google-apps/>.

• "Icon with question mark - OpenClipArt." OpenClipArt. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. <http://www.openclipart.org/detail/28725>.

• "Joes Non Notebook Video." Music Videos, Politics, and Funny Videos at Vodpod. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. <http://vodpod.com/watch/1452948-joes-non-notebook>.

• "Laptop - OpenClipArt." OpenClipArt. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011. <http://www.openclipart.org/detail/5012>.

•  

in the

Middle School Classroom

Amy HopkinsCaddo Mills ISDahopkins@caddomillsisd.org