Google+Apps+Education+--+MyraG

Welcome to my planning space for learning Google Apps Education and developing support content for the Skyline High School 2008-09 WIRED classes.

My original proposal was to spend my time at CyberCamp to develop the WIRED Virtual Campus classroom space, along with tutorials on general technology areas. We were going to issue a flash drive to each Wired student (any odds on how many would be lost in the first week?); tutorials would include how to log in to accounts, how to save to district folders, how to print, how to transport documents (flashdrives, CDs, email, file formats), and other general use topics. The Wired Virtual Campus space would include all the resources for each section teacher.

Since submitting my application to CyberCamp, my task at hand has now grown to a major deployment project for Google Apps Education. As administrator of the platform, I will set up, troubleshoot, maintain, and train on the use of this platform. Initially, only the Wired classes will use this platform -- after a successful deployment and test period, we hope to expand the participation to other classes and eventually the entire school. This drastically changed my focus on training and development of tutorials.

** Why [|Google Apps Ed]? **
= = > § access from any computer w/ Internet, anywhere > § online storage of files; no need for storage devices > § no need for any software > § Collaboration, connection, conversation > § Student/student > § Student/Teacher > § Teacher/Teacher > § Admin/all > § Flat classroom (other classes, schools, cities, countries) > >  Lots of links, videos, tutorials, newsfeeds, and resources are available in this classroom for a self-discovery of Google Apps Education. Included are sample sandbox pages to try out the collaborations features of GAE. If you would like to view the site, please email [myragiers at gmail.com] for the password. **__ Week 1 __** This was a good week for learning about [|Google Apps Education] and learning about what others think about it. A lot of good questions were raised during my presentation on things to be aware of and to plan for after deployment. > o  email can be shut off for inappropriate use > o  will be the students’ School presence – not for personal use > o Student Ethics Statement or contract > > http://www.lisd.net/eschool/forms/1207Student_contract.pdf > http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php > http://adifference.blogspot.com/2006/01/safe-blogging-resources.html > http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/archives/564 > http://classblogmeister.com/bloggers_contract.doc > http://www.abpc21.org/res/BlogRules_ABittinger.doc >  Spent a lot of time practicing with the different Google applications, features, and how each might be used. > Set up documentation blog – After CyberCamp, I’ll be documenting my exploration and the deployment of Google Apps Education on my own blog. I’ve chosen Wordpress. It should be up and running in the next week or two. I’ll post the link on the CyberCamp blog, the GAE Virtual Campus space, and on this wiki.
 * Branded Productivity/Communication Suite **
 * Accessibility -- 24/7 -- fewer technology obstacles
 * Perpetual Beta -- always improving, adding features
 * Learning Networks
 * Digital Citizenship (Ethics, Etiquette, Content Responsibility)
 * Authentic Learning, Creativity, Engagement
 * Participation documentation
 * Several options ** for word-processing, presentations, web pages, wiki pages, projects, organization, notetaking, planning – all on a page for archiving and organization of documents.
 * Google Docs (word processing)
 * Google Presentation
 * Google Spreadsheets
 * Google Sites (wiki)
 * Google Talk -- instant communications
 * Gmail -- ** FalconMail ** -- over 6.7 GB/account
 * Google Calendar
 * Google Notebook (not __yet__ available)
 * Google Pages (webpage) (not __yet__ available)
 * WiP – Work in Progress **
 * [|Virtual Campus Classroom] --** this space is developing as a **//resource for teachers and staff to learn about Google Apps Education//**. Sections will be edited to more closely meet the needs of learners and to match up with professional development modules.
 * Set up the [|DNS records] and verified domain with Google
 * Edited CName records and MX records for the SHS email delivery system
 * Constructing start page for GAE interface
 * Sample start page:
 * [|http://partnerpage.google.com/internationalwildcats.org
 * I believe this may be a redundant portal if everything is to be available in the WIRED Virtual Campus (this link will be live in a couple of days) classroom space.
 * FalconMail for students and staff
 * GMail and GTalk – communications easy and available for every student with VrainNet permissions and district account
 * discovered that email can be set up to mirror the student district logins
 * Develop simple contract for WIRED students, and parents, to sign
 * Some resources to examine and develop our own version
 * Academic use only per VrainNet agreement
 * Google Docs for wordprocessing, presentations, special projects
 * Google Sites and Google Pages (now available for GAE) for eFolios
 * Google Calendar for planning, organization, and announcements
 * Utilizing Google Apps will eliminate many of the technology "issues" that waste time (setting up/accessing presentations), allow for student excuses, or precludes students from being able to do work (no MSOffice at home) o  Homework, presentations, and projects are always available 24/7, on any computer w/ Internet connection o   No figuring out how to email, save to disk, access flashdrives, losing flashdrives, o   Solves incompatibility of software (Office 2007, Works, etc.) issues.
 * Week 2 (and the rest of summer): **
 * Develop GAE branding logo for Skyline High School – will appear on every GAE page, instead of the Google logo
 * Continue deployment steps
 * Verification procedures to document 501(c)3 status for SHS/SVVSD to Google Apps Ed
 * Set up Jing for tutorial pages -- screencasting options for best delivery -- KISS
 * Look into video tutorials -- Resources????? Bud?
 * 1) **Examine eFolio options – which product is best?**
 * 2) **Student reflections – which product is best? ...chronological progression of writing**

·  **Quiz CyberCampers on best ways to learn GAE to use in the classroom** o  Would they use GAE? o  How do they see the best PD delivery model? o  Ideas? Thoughts? http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p3l9x9oWaPgoOaDMV4mj4Iw&email=true

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** Projects, thoughts, ideas to be explored -- yet to be completed: **
o  Patty – PD model??? >     **Will a Virtual Campus classroom for WIRED and a GAE start page be redundant?** >    **Ethics Statement/ Digital Citizenship Contract** -- Have the students create their own contract? How will that look? > o  Professional development -- time?, simple delivery?, teacher buy-in? > o  Simple how-to tutorials for students and staff > o  Project ideas for Presentation, Pages, and Sites > o  Format, product, sample of Reflections page/section – chronological sequence > ·  **Work-arounds for multimedia incorporation in docs, preso, sites, and pages** > o  what do we need from DTS > o  Flip camera applications > §  Codecs and file formats > §  MovieMaker > o  embedding video in GAE components – options other than YouTube > ** ·  Best product, structure, model for eFolio? ** > o  build a sample efolio > o  instruction model for efolios > ·  GMail administration > o  Database creation > o  Database import possible from BOCES > o  Building needs > ·  Library website WIRED RESOURCES page – link to VC, GAE start page > ·  WIRED specific instruction artifacts > ** o  ** **eFolios** > §  Statement -- purpose, format, reflections, saving work, > §  tutorials >  §   forms > > > >
 * Tech "club" (staff and students learning together)? -- learn 2.0 tools, projects, hands-on lab time. When?: before school, Lunch n’ Learn, embedded
 * what do we need from DTS to get a start page default on every computer/account?
 * Specific content, purpose, links for each
 * Develop WIRED VC classroom – content, syllabus, calendar, links
 * Link VC calendar w/ Google calendar
 * What kind of ethics statement will be appropriate for student use of email and collaborative Internet environments
 * Tutorials for GAE