Google

Today I'd like to talk about the educational use of Google tools. But before explaining what Google tools are, I'd like you to have a look at two interesting articles I've found in Google scholar:

The first one is called Vocabulary Learning and Speaking Activities. This article provides ideas to teach vocabulary through speaking activities (retelling, role plays...) It also explain you how to create worksheets to offer the students opportunities to learn new vocabulary, but also to use it.
The second one is a research on Teaching English It is is quite interesting since it gives you many points of view and study results about teaching English as a second language.

Now, as I've said at the beginning, I want to speak about Google tools. Maybe you already know about them, but I think it is quite interesting to have a look at them:

• Blogs: I'm sure you know what blogs are, so I don't need to explain anything about them. However, I'd like to say that they are so useful in an educational context since you create a communicational space to use with students where you can share ideas, activities or anything you think that is significant for them to know connected with the topics they're studying in class.
• Calendar: It's an online calendar you can share with students or teachers. Maybe your students are not very organised or maybe they are but they forgot to write down the nest exam date, so you can help them with this device. They'll be able to see assignment deadlines, school holidays, exam dates.... Incredibly helpful!
• Docs: This tool allows learners to work and collaborate online in real time. And you don't need to go home to work on it, you just have to use a computer with an internet connection
• Page creator: Perhaps you know how to create a web page without this gadget, nevertheless If you can't, don't worry. Google page creator will help you to create web page in a easy way and without being an engineer or a computer specialist!!! So now you can build your own English, Maths, Science or whatever web page.
• Groups: As it name suggests, if we make use of this tool we'll create groups. But what kind of groups? Discussion groups! So we can make online debates. Moreover we can communicate with our students easily outside the classroom.
• Google notebook: An online notebook for you not to forget about anything. You can share with other teachers or students if you want to...
• Picassa: A device that allow you to find pictures on your computer from different folders. Useful to do slide-shows.

As you can see, there are many tools on Google we, teachers, can use to make our lessons more attractive and to motivate our students!

This is not the end of the post today!!! Why don't you have a look to some books I’ve found on the net???

If you don't feel like reading books about teaching English because they are so serious, just have a look to 'Teaching English as a Foreign Language for Dummies'.  

Another book you should have a look to is The Dark Side of Google by Ippolita. We know Google tools are very good but we also must know what is bad about Google...

Wait for my next post, please! And thanks for reading!!!