Google Documents Suite for Classroom and Out of Classroom Activities

Google documents is an essential tool for teachers in the 21st century. Personally, I have come to understand the workings of the program for my students, however since my students do not all have access to the internet, let alone a computer, using Google Docs seems like a pipedream right now. I have seen how in Red Owl's class, we have used the programs for group assignments and have been able to correctly identify the problems of group issues and free riding problems. Personally I have used google docs to create a webpage through google sites that has enabled parents and students to be equally accountable for my classroom work and projects. I have ultimately created a better avenue where parents and students can contact me and know the daily agenda in case they were not in class that day or it was too noisy and other students disrupted their education. Overall, google docs while there are still some flaws will be an essential part of my classroom from now on. YouTube and teachertube are unfortunately blocked in my school, but they have some great videos where students can visually relate to the subject matter I am working on. FlickR is a great program if I were to post images for a slide show presentation that would relate to the material of the class at the time. iTunes for my students is an avenue to download legal and illegal music, but showing them the educational side of the program may entice them to try and create their own podcasts using audacity. Technology is on the rise in education; if you don't partake now, you might as well get off the proverbial bus, because education will reach a standstill without integrating technology.