Final Presentation Progress

In preparing my final project, I have decided to use Google Site to document my learning. Blogger and Google Site both offer valuable tools for keeping record of learning progress and ePortfolio, but Google Site will give me more convenience and variety of options in showing evidence of my work.

Project Goals

I have set the followings goals for myself as I work towards my final project, and hope to achieve them by the end of this course:

1. Become a Google Certified Educator.  To achieve this goal, I will review the lessons available at the Google for Education Preparation Courses and take all the required exams. The success of this goal can be measured by the result of these exams and the Certification by Google.

2. Organize training materials that will help in educating the teachers that I work with about Online Collaboration. To achieve this goal, I will arrange and document my learning on Google tools. The success of this goal can be measured by the availability of adequate resources that teachers can access and use in making a more engaging classroom. 

Try try try again!!!

I started working towards getting my Google Educator Certification. Took the drive test and flunked it, getting 78% while the pass mark is 80%. I tried again and passed with 85%. 

Today I went ahead with Google Sites exam and nailed it at 88%. This is getting really nice.

I guess there is truth in the saying that "if at first you don't succeed, try try try again". 

It seems that I will cruise through the rest of them. Fingers still crossed!!!

Google Sites and Blogs

Google Sites and Blogs are increasing becoming similar depending on how they are set up. Sites can be formatted to look like a blog and blogs can also be formatted like a site. This blog is a good example of how a blog can look like a website.

Students can use both to share learning materials and updates about class activities to the community. But for the followings tasks I would prefer the use of Sites:

• Digital Portfolios showcasing personal learning
• Group projects where students create their own pages and share it with others
• Class announcements 

Blogs would be better on the following tasks:

• Encourage peer critique by allowing students to post comments and feedback on each others blog.
• To cover a wide variety of articles.
• Keep parents updated about their kids learning

Final Project Ideas

Now I am seriously considering pursuing the Google Certification as my final project. If I am going to be effective in supporting the teachers and students towards integrating technology into the classroom, then I should educate myself first and become comfortable with what I will be assisting them in doing. Google Apps offer so many user friendly educational tools for schools. This certification will obviously increase my knowledge and skills in the area of educational technology.

Bio

This is Emmanuel, grew up in Nigeria and now live and work in Vermont. A tale of two worlds. 

I am learning all about the tools offered by Google and how these tools can be used in advancing critical thinking and acquiring knowledge.

Online Collaboration!!!

It is fascinating for me to learn and share the many exciting things we can do with technology. Such as Online collaboration with one another in real time, regardless of our geographical locations.

I have seen first-hand how the internet can turn the world into a "global village". Below are some of the impressive topics I have learnt so far: