GoogleGroupsEasterling

By: Kaitlyn Vitale, Aaron Smith, Kristin Harker
 * __Google groups__**

Google groups is a free tool that allows users to create, browse, or participate in discussion forums on a large variety of topics. The topics include computers, society, schools, recreation, arts and entertainment, business and finance, people, science and technology, health, home, news, adult, and other. They are further divided into region, language, and hundreds of sub-categories. Once joining or creating a group, members can post and reply to messages via the forum or email. Members can also create and publish web pages, as well as upload documents and files to share with their group. Members can view, contribute to, and comment on these pages. All members can create a profile. Users can search for other members and search for groups of interest. Groups can be public or private, and colors, pictures, and styles are customizable.
 * Brief intro and description:**

1. Collaborative learning- students can get response from peers and teachers on their writing, projects 2. Can be done via the web or via email 3. Share and receive documents, files 4. Groups can be private or public 5. Students can explore ideas of people from all over the world and see what they say about the same topic- expand and develop a multicultural perspective
 * Advantages:**

1. Technology isn't always reliable. For instance, the internet can go down, pages may not load, data could be lost, etc. 2. Anyone can use google groups, so groups may include people you do not know and students, therefore, need to be extra careful about what type of personal information they are posting. 3. Editing multiple pages may result in the page getting locked for review. 4. This may only be useful for certain projects, such as groupwork, and for certain age levels. Elementary students may be too young to be on google groups. 5. Google groups has many topics that may not be appropriate for students to read, so having them create an account may inadvertently provide them access to these pages.
 * Disadvantages:**

In fourth grade, Indiana students research information about a specific county in Indiana and present it in front of the class. Students can work on this assignment with google groups and get feedback from other students as well as the teacher. They can compile their information in the group and explore groups from different counties. Students can edit the pages with different fonts, colors, and pictures, thereby developing their visual and technical creativity.
 * How to use in an Elementary class:**

Students can join a teacher-created google group to collaborate on an assignment- discuss ideas, upload files, and comment on each others’ postings. This can be done from home or within the classroom. The group can be for the entire class, or it can be sub-divided into smaller student groups. For example, if the teacher assigns a research project and students need to work together to compile information, then they can use google groups to compile and comment on their resources, upload pieces of their writing, and edit and discuss each other’s work.
 * How to use in a Middle/high school class:**

__MATH__ Student’s role- The students use Google Groups to collaberate on a group math assignment. They talk about strategies to solve the problem(s) and share their solutions that they come up with.
 * Examples in subject areas:**

Teacher’s role- The teacher makes sure that the Google Group site is only used for class work and not used as a random chat room, that the students are staying on task. The teacher can also correct errors and post suggestions.

__ ENGLISH __ Student’s role: While reading a Shakespeare play, students respond to teacher-created writing prompts in the google group and respond to each others’ postings and interpretations. Students are able to offer constructive criticism as well as expand on and develop their peers’ ideas. Using the group will help them collaboratively and critically analyze the play in response to teacher’s prompt. Teacher’s role: Post a prompt, monitor student postings, reply with feedback when students make particularly insightful points or when they go astray.