Beyond GooglingBeyond Googling:
Applying Google Tools to Teaching and Learning



I'm going to "google it."
My "source" is "google".
I learned it on "google".
I love "googling"!

A growing number of educators are concerned when they hear students are "googling" rather than really thinking about sources of information. Many students have only used the Google Web Search option. Help young people learn about how the many Google tools available for accessing, organizing, and sharing information can facilitate learning.

Explore Google for Information, Multimedia, Collaboration, Creation, and Communication, Fun and Learning, and Teaching. Also, explore Issues.

Also, learn more about Google Earth and GIS Systems and check out the Fire and Fire Safety example.

Google for Information

Just for fun, start with a Google search of the word "google" and you'll see the many things that Google offers beyond the basic search tool.

Get to know Google as a company through Google.org and Google Blog. Check out Google Flu Trends.

Try a basic Google Web Search.

Revise the Advanced Search for lots of ideas. Once you know the syntax you can write your own.

Try It

fossilsGoogle is wonderful at helping you locate information on any topic.

Let's use the example of fossils. Download the Arkansas Mystery Rock PowerPoint.

Consider other related topics such as dinosaur tracks, leaves, landforms. Can you think of others?

Try It
Design an inquiry-based activity that involves the Google tools above.
Ideas:
Start with a historical fiction book or biography. Can you visualize the people and places?
Start with a category of plant, tree, or animal. What are the connections or cycles?
Start with tourist destination. What would it be like to go to this place?

Google Patent Search

Try It
Brainstorm a list of patents that you’d like to explore.
Could you trace the history of this invention or inventor?

Explore Google - Countries.

Try It
Compare Google searches in different countries. Try another language. What country would you explore? What languages do they speak?

 

Google for Multimedia

How I Found The StrongUse Google to locate a wide range of multimedia resources including visuals, maps, and videos. Let's say you're doing literature circles on the topic of Civil War and students are working on the CivilWarLit wikispace. One group might be reading the book "How I Found the Strong" by Margaret McMullan set in Mississippi during the Civil War. Another group might be reading "Shiloh Attack: Battle of Shiloh" by Hama, Wagner, and Moore. Students might search for resources about the key battles (Battle of Shiloh) discussed in the book.

Learn more about Google Earth and GIS Systems.

Combine Google Earth with Comic Life. Great for Macs and Windows.

Combine Google Earth with Spot Messenger. Then place the images in Comic Life. See examples at Lamb & Johnson's pages.

Google for Collaboration, Creation, & Communication

To learn more about Google Apps for Education, go to their website and read the flyer and datasheet. Schools can receive free, no-ads Google Apps. Questions? Read the FAQs. Also, read about student accounts without email.

The Google Apps include a wide range of tools for collaboration, communication, and creation.

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Google for Fun and Learning

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Google for Teaching

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Beyond Googling

Google is much more than a search tool. Let's go beyond the basics! From identifying quality text, audio, video, and images resources to exploring our world with Google Earth, learn practical applications of Google Tools in teaching and learning.

fireBEGIN HERE
Go to our companion workshop project page called Fire and Fire Safety.
This project was designed as an example educators can use to demonstrate the many ways to apply Google to a specific topic: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911.

 

Google Issues

Some schools have issues with using Google. What are your issues? Filtering, passwords, supervision, skills, time, focus, activities.... ?

Know the issues. Demonstrate quality examples. Take a stand.

What would you like to see Google tackle next? Who should they buy up next? What's the next generation?

Check out Mashable for "what's cool."

Overwhelmed? Try one a day.

Learn more with the following online resources and tools:

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Developed by Annette Lamb, 4/08. Updated 12/09.