Week 7 Blog - Using Google Apps and Improving Student Learning

In the past, I have had my students find pictures in magazines or on the Internet that contained parabolas.  Once they had five pictures, they were to label the vertex and line of symmetry as well as determine whether it was a minimum or a maximum.  These images, once labeled, were then taped or glued to a poster and hung in the hallway.  After experiencing this course, I chose to modernize this lesson, tweaking it to incorporate technology.

Instead of randomly searching for images on Google, I will have my students use Panoramio.  They will also be tasked with a few research questions about the designer of whatever building they choose to label.  In order to accomplish this task, the students can use Google Scholar to ensure that the information is from a more reliable source.  Once the students have chosen their images, they can choose whichever medium to label the characteristics (print and hand label or copy into a program like MS Word or paint).  They will then take a picture or save the picture and post all five, along with their research results, on the class wiki.  All students will browse through the various groups’ sub-pages on the wiki and make comments about at least one picture from another group.

As I watched the two videos, I thought about my friend who is in nursing school right now.  All of her textbooks are electronic, allowing her to download them to her Tablet and simply carry that around rather than a huge backpack or a laptop.  Therefore, one way I think we can improve student learning is to make the switch from textbooks to etextbooks.  Another solution is that we can incorporate more Product/Problem Oriented activities, allowing the students to apply what they have just learned.  This will also tie into the social aspect of learning as the students collaborate within their groups.  As the students seem to have their cell phones permanently attached to their hands, we could have mini-quizzes or surveys to check for understanding that require them to text an answer to some specified number (kind of like American Idol voting).  I think that, by integrating technology and application style learning in the classroom, student learning will improve.