To sum up the class I have been taking in Google Apps for Education, I would have to say it has been hectic.  It is a lot of work trying to teach full time, recovering from near death and take a class of my own.  I have really enjoyed it, but even though I am computer saavy, I have a lot to learn in GAFE.  So, I will keep on playing with the apps and finding ways to use them in my class and my personal life.  Right now, the most valuable app to me is the Calendar!!  I could not live without this.  I love the notifications to remind me what I am supposed to be doing each day.  Part of my health issue is memory loss due to lack of oxygen and this calendar has been a savior.  I think I will also use this with my elderly parent to help her remember things.

I really like the idea of Classroom, but am still having issues with students sending in blank assignments.  I will have this all figured out by the new quarter because I really want to use it.
Trying to stay alive in Google Apps!
Karin

I have been attempting lots of new things through Google Apps.  Today I am doing Google Draw with my robotics class for a crazy costume pre Halloween day.  The assignment is to create a robot in a scene where it is working; ie in a factory assembly line or picking apples in a tall tree.  They are to have fun with it and just play in Draw.  It is costume day at school and that means semi organized chaos.

Dabbline in Google Classroom

I started using Classroom just after I signed up for the class out of curiosity. I dabbled with it, but the class video made it seem much easier.  I like it because with my classes we use the LMS - Learning Management System that comes with the program and it is not as user friendly.  With Classroom I can upload the exact same assignments, presentations, documents, etc. and the kids can access it easily at home or at school.  

I now have all my classes set up on Classroom and I especially like it for the two classes that do not use the LMS.  I can ask a quick beginning of class question to get them thinking or put up homework. Some kids do not have access at home, so they come in during our PACE time, kind of like study hall, and take care of business.  

So far, I like what I have seen, but there are a few things I would like to see changed and I will be glad to let Google know on one of the forums I have been reading.  They are currently doing an upgrade and have some things changed already. 

My error!

I figured out the issue with my blog. It was as I suspected; I apparently wrote the blog under my home gmail address even though I was logged in under my school gmail. I see this as a problem and haven't been too impressed with the way Google is putting all my mail in one place. It also wants to merge with Google+ and I don't want that. Do I have to give in?

Hangouts was fun. In the past I have only texted with teachers for meetings, so the video made it more fun.

Google on!

Intro to my blog

This is my first attempt at a blog.  It will be sort of a journal of my experiences as I take a course on Google Apps for Education through my school district, Missoula Co. Public Schools in Montana.  

I have followed blogs written by friends following them throughout their teaching experiences in Alaska, jobs as fly fishing guides near Glacier Park and travels around the world. 

So, now it is my turn to blog!  

I have been dabbling in Google Apps since the first ones appeared.  I currently am using Google with my students and have my classes set up through Google Classroom.  In our school we also started using Google Drive to share documents with others within our building.  

There are some things I really like and some I do not.  I hope to learn more about all available in GAFE and you will hear about it through this blog.  One of my dislikes is that we have to have two emails open at all times to check because not all in the district use Google email.  The other thing I don't like it that when my students submit a slide presentation to me, it has to come into my email with everything else and sometimes it is a pain to find. Likes would be Google Classroom and Slides.  There are a lot of other fun things to dabble in and now by taking this class, my dabbling will be justified and credited!  Hope you have fun reading as I explore and write about GAFE!