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Flip your classroom using G Suite for Education

One popular current trend in education is the concFlipped classrooms with G Suite for Educationept of the flipped classroom. The flipped classroom can be defined as:

… a pedagogical model in which the typical
lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Short video lectures are viewed by students at home before the class session, while in-class time is devoted to exercises, projects, or discussions.

https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7081.pdf

Below is an infographic with some tips on ‘how to flip a classroom’ along with potential benefits to flipping your classroom. Of course, G Suite for Education provides excellent technological tools to assist in blended learning and flipped classrooms. Some ideas:

  • Share content including video through Google Slides, Google Collections, Google Sites and Google Classroom
  • Evaluate learning using quizzes in Google Forms
  • Create learning communities using Google+ and Google Hangouts.

One of the advantages of using G Suite for Education to flip your classroom is its cross platform compatibility – whether iOS, Apple, Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome OS (and possibly dome others I may have missed!)

However, it is important to be conscious of the ‘digital divide’ – some students may not have access to the Internet at home which means they cannot prepare for class under a flipped model. An alternative is ‘flipping’ within the classroom. For examples, stations where students alternate between watching a video and taking a quizz online, a group discussion with their teacher,  applying new skills and knowledge and working on a longer-term project.

However you blend, the G Suite for Education toolkit is a terrific asset.

Here are some other posts that can help with blended learning ideas:

4 Google Apps tools to blend your classroom today: http://googleappsaction.com/?p=286

Creating mini-lessons using Google Slides in 6 easy steps: http://googleappsaction.com/?p=292

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How future proof is Google Apps for Education?

Technology in general, and educational technology in particular, is evolving at a rapid rate. Every week it seems we hear about something that’s going to be the next big thing. And, along the way, we can end up with some expensive white elephants (I’m not naming anything here but I think you can think of at least one!)

Google Apps for Education seems to be going from strength to strength. Whilst maintaining consistency across core apps like Google Drive and Gmail, it is evolving with improved features and flexibility. One of the biggest advances in the last 12 months is Google Classroom which is a bit like a ‘lite’ version of an LMS.

I thought it might be useful to look at GAFE in light of current and future edtech trends and challenges as outlined in the NMC Horizon Report > 2015 K-12 Edition. I selected 10 of the areas listed in the report and gave GAFE a score out of 10 for each area, for a total score out of 100. My score for GAFE future proof score was 76%.

Okay, it was not an exact science, but I think the score indicated that GAFE has a pretty healthy outlook and is well worth hitching your wagon to!

Below is an infographic outlining my ‘report card’ and explaining my scores. I am happy to hear your thoughts!

A visual report card comparing GAFE future proof characteristics

GAFE future proof report card

Infographic-Mobile learning: are workplaces missing out?

Okay, so this is not strictly speaking about Google Apps. But this inforgraphic does contain some interesting information about how we learn in our personal lives compared to work, particularly using our Internet connected smart devices like smartphones and tablets. And Google Apps can certainly better facilitate our use of mlearning (especially capturing informal learning) in the workplace.

Feel free to share and distribute this infographic.

Infographic on mlearning in the workplace.

Infographic on mlearning in the workplace.