It is hard to imagine a classroom without a Learning Management System (LMS) if technology is thoroughly implemented by the teacher. By having an LMS, teachers, students, and parents are able to stay up-to-date with happenings in the classroom. Such items can include announcements, assignments, links to websites or videos as additional resources.
I currently use Google Classroom as my Learning Management System as this has been recommended by my administration. The great thing about using Google Classroom as a building is our students are able to go to one place for all of their classes. Each class has their own section and is easily accessed on one screen. I make an announcement each day that lists the date, our objective, what we did in class, and homework. In addition, I upload assignments, link videos, or give access to Google Slides if they were used for note-taking. Thus far, using this method for communicating the agenda for my class has proven successful because students who have had to stay home are able to remain caught up with the content being delivered. However, the downside to using Google Classroom is I do not have parents directly connected to each class. I know that this is an option, but I have not yet incorporated this -- yet. I am using Synergy to communicate with parents and to use as a grade book. Synergy is used district-wide, so I realize this LMS will not go away anytime soon. One more frustration that I have experienced is the ability to share a Google Doc with each student, but they cannot type directly on it and turn it back in to me. They have to open this document through Adobe rather than type directly on Google Docs. Now, I know that this may have to do with the way security is set on the students’ iPads, but I would like to find a way to work around this because it takes multiple steps to accomplish their task.
After reading more about the Google apps, I became really intrigued after learning about Google Sites. I did not even know this existed! I would love to have students create their own Google Site in order to have a Science portfolio that captures everything they have studied or made throughout the school year. It would be an ideal way to share with parents what they are learning in class, but without cluttering their home with papers and projects! By adding Google Sites to our classroom, I could create additional project-based learning (PBL) opportunities that would deepen students knowledge about each unit. This type of extension is something that I want to be able to offer my students and offer them choice on what avenue they want to carry this extension piece.
I currently use Google Classroom as my Learning Management System as this has been recommended by my administration. The great thing about using Google Classroom as a building is our students are able to go to one place for all of their classes. Each class has their own section and is easily accessed on one screen. I make an announcement each day that lists the date, our objective, what we did in class, and homework. In addition, I upload assignments, link videos, or give access to Google Slides if they were used for note-taking. Thus far, using this method for communicating the agenda for my class has proven successful because students who have had to stay home are able to remain caught up with the content being delivered. However, the downside to using Google Classroom is I do not have parents directly connected to each class. I know that this is an option, but I have not yet incorporated this -- yet. I am using Synergy to communicate with parents and to use as a grade book. Synergy is used district-wide, so I realize this LMS will not go away anytime soon. One more frustration that I have experienced is the ability to share a Google Doc with each student, but they cannot type directly on it and turn it back in to me. They have to open this document through Adobe rather than type directly on Google Docs. Now, I know that this may have to do with the way security is set on the students’ iPads, but I would like to find a way to work around this because it takes multiple steps to accomplish their task.
After reading more about the Google apps, I became really intrigued after learning about Google Sites. I did not even know this existed! I would love to have students create their own Google Site in order to have a Science portfolio that captures everything they have studied or made throughout the school year. It would be an ideal way to share with parents what they are learning in class, but without cluttering their home with papers and projects! By adding Google Sites to our classroom, I could create additional project-based learning (PBL) opportunities that would deepen students knowledge about each unit. This type of extension is something that I want to be able to offer my students and offer them choice on what avenue they want to carry this extension piece.