Here is the link to our project: Doc group project Cohort-B'12

For me, this google docs exploration was a new experience. I've never used it before, but I will be using it in the future, and in fact, I have already used in a class project. My original thoughts were that it was just like word, so why bother. Now I see that it does so much more.

Some things you can do with google docs that you can't with word...

*share the document with others

*chat to your doc members

*work on a project from different locations

*insert Internet links: including videos, pictures, websites etc.

*use the link from your doc for a blog,

*Write separate comments within the doc

Personally, I will use this for writing workshops. In the past, when I've workshopped/edited a story for one of my creative writing workshop group members, they've sent their stories to me by an attachment in an email. Email attachments pose many issues--sometimes the file isn't compatible with my computer, I have to attach it back, it's still in my computer, it's difficult to edit by typing on their doc. etc. With google docs, I could make comments as I go and not upset the structure of their text. I could also have them view it at the same time as I, enabling me to get any questions I have answered.

Use in the classroom...

I think I could find many uses in my classroom. My students could put their assignments in google docs, invite me, and I could make comments when it's not class time. I could also set up a survey in a doc, invite my students, and get the results without wasting paper.

Overall, this was a good trek through google docs. It will be fun to get more comfortable with this program, and to discover more of it's capabilities.

Blogging with Students

I think blogs could be a great way to introduce technology and information to your students. I also think it could be tricky and that you should be sensitive and aware of your students capabilities.

Here are some of the ways I might use blogs in my classroom:

*Having my students follow certain blogs--either we all follow the same one, or having them each choose one to follow--could be a good way to put relevance of what we're learning in our classroom with the outside world. It also may be a good opportunity to show the different ways to write--a blog can be much more informal than an essay for example. You could also have them edit blogs for sentence structure, grammar, development of ideas etc. to get the students mindful of writing elements.

*If the parents and students sign a release form, a blog would be a great way to post students work so the parents could see a presentation. Or, a grandparent from across the country could read their grand kids poem. You could also make it more public and connect with another school or class and comment on each others blogs.

*I could have a blog, as the teacher, with relevant links for the class to do research or have a better understanding of what is going on in the classroom. Or even post notes for them--being mindful that if you post your notes, many students won't pay attention in class. 

This is Me...

So, I'm, Jan. I live in Millersburg with my husband, Ben, my dane/lab Barney (full name Sir Barnacle Linus), and my fish, Bilbo. I grew up, mostly in Eugene and loved it...or liked it a lot for the most part. I have three nieces and one nephew who I will miss so much during this program. I majored in english at the U of O. I've worked at starbucks, a video rental place, nannied, and in publishing. I LOVE writing (fiction) and my family. In my spare time, I love hiking (the outdoors in general), being crafty (sewing and wire twisting, not witch crafty), and reading. I like a lot of things that I will not bore you with.

So, I'm here at Willamette University so I can get into a classroom with as much confidence and skill that I can. I'm getting my certification in high school and middle school language arts, and middle school social studies. My ideal job would be in a middle school classroom teaching reading/writing and infusing creative writing into the curriculum. I think middle school students have a lot to offer, and I would love the opportunity to learn from them and also, possibly, ease their awkward years when they are somewhere between innocents and...you know... Also, I am glad to have such great people in my cohort. I think y'all will make these next ten months much better than if you were all a bunch of (insert something not so pleasant). 

Pretty much, that's who I am in writing. I'm not great with technology so I am glad to figure some of this stuff out. Until next post, Ciao!