Collaboration using Google apps

Google apps for Education

https://www.google.com/edu/

How to hit some of the key elements of the new Computing curriculum is an issue for many schools. We have been using Google apps for Education to ensure that we are encouraging pupils to be using computer networks (including the Internet) and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration (A key element at KS2). I will be posting several examples (in the coming weeks) showing how we are using the range of products on offer in a practical way to enhance Computing across the curriculum. Today is the turn of Google Slides!

Google slides is a free product offered to all that have a gmail account (or much easier a school that has signed to Google apps for education - also free!

This is a presentation piece of software, that looks very similar to other products both teachers and children may have used in the past and feels immediately familiar.  However there is one main difference - the fact that it is web-based. This allows multiple students to be working upon one presentation simultaneously (collaborating and communicating via the web!). Here are a few easy steps to get you going and some ideas showing how we have used this in reality!

If you want to know how to access slides check out this link (http://www.google.co.uk/slides/about/), or load your Google drive (if you have gmail you have this!) and click, create, presentation.

The main element I am concentrating on is the collaborative working element of Google Slides for use in the classroom. Create a blank presentation with slides for each child in the class (ctrl and m to add a slide)

Once you have completed this step, the slides need to be shared with the pupils, use the blue share icon to do this and enter the pupils gmail addresses (or use Google classroom - I will look at this at a later date)

Once you have completed this step, pupils should see the presentation appear in their Google drive (under shared with me). They can now all contribute to the presentation simultaneously.

Once you have created a blank presentation, there are many features you can work with (adding slides, changing backgrounds, inserting pictures etc..) .  Further instructions can be found here - http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/04/9-simple-steps-to-create-good.html


Top Tips and ideas!

• Give each child a numbered slide and discuss how the presentation should flow before they begin, this way they all have an idea what is expected on their slide!
• Class research at the start of a topic is always a good activity, with each child having a different focus. 
• Creating a whole class story, each person creating a chapter (or be brave and create a multi pathway story)
• Pre-populate each slide with a simple sentence, let each child improve this and then share.
• Ask each child to look find something that ..... makes them smile, makes them cry, a hero .........
• Create a teaching presentation explaining a maths concept. 
• Any other ideas?

Some examples of work our Year 3 pupils have produced can be found here https://sites.google.com/a/southbournejuniors.co.uk/displaywork/