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Google Docs in the Geography classroom

This post is aimed at teachers who are thinking of using Google Documents in the classroom.

I'm the first to admit, that I am sometimes a late adopter of new technology in the classroom. This is usually because I take some time to identify and plan how the tech in question can be used.

I have been using Google Docs for quite some time for collaboration with colleagues and other projects. Today I used the Google Spreadsheet for the first time.

I wanted a Year 10 class to revise their knowledge of coastal management techniques. This was in preparation for decision making essay they have to write for homework. I thought this would be an ideal opportunity and effective use of a Google Spreadsheet.

The result can be seen by clicking here. I'm fairly pleased with the result - and I hope to see an improvement in the essays compared to last year. The pupils seemed impressed by how quick the work was produced by working in collaboration.

I learnt a few lessons myself - I will be using Google Spreadsheets again tomorrow with a Year 11 class. There were a few issues caused by pupils accidentally deleting work. Although I had allocated one area of the spreadsheet, I will need to be more specific in future, maybe limiting each pupil or pair to editing one cell. Tomorrow I'm going to try this and then get pupils to change, adding more information to each cell.

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  1. Kenny O'Donnell10 November 2009 at 20:53

    I like google docs, and have been using the spreadsheet with some colleagues recently, but had never thought of students using it in this way, thanks. I think I am going to try using dabbleboard for students to mindmap a topic collaboratively and maybe that approach could work as an alternative, or for a different topic with the same class? www.dabbleboard.com

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  2. David Rogers11 November 2009 at 15:12

    Thanks for the feedback Kenny - and the link to dabbleboard!

    Using Google Docs with a GCSE class was a risk - but it seems to have paid off. I guess their homework will let me know for sure!

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