Google Docs - An Essential Student/Teacher Resource

What can I say, Google Docs is AMAZING! Not only does it make sure that students to never lose their work (and therefore no more complaints about printers or software errors) but it also allows for more efficient collaboration between the student and their teacher. Teachers can view the progress of a student through the 'Revision History' on the document, and is able to view the document live as the student works on it. Also, teachers can add comments on the side of the document to give feedback on the student's work (by pinpointing exact parts of the document) and in return the student is able to ask questions to clarify certain comments made by the teacher.  

Not only can the student easily collaborate with their teacher, but they can also collaborate with other students during group assignments.  Through Google Docs students and teachers can creates word processing documents, presentations, spreadsheets and forms. You are also able to share PDFs and convert Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents. It is a great place to store files. 

Through using the Form creator, teachers can easily make online quizzes and tests for students to fill out. 

There are also a vast range of things that teachers and students can use Google Docs for - it just takes a bit of imagination and creativity :) 

LINK : docs.google.com/

Here's an idea! JEOPARDY PPTs.

Remember that old game show 'Jeopardy'? The one that completely turned the tables because the host would give the contestant the answer and in return the contestant had to reply with a question. Well, it turns out that teachers all across the board are now using Jeopardy Powerpoint Presentations to relive the game show experience in their own classrooms. It is a great revision activity before a test or exam.

• Split class into groups/teams
• Make sure each of them have a 'buzzer' and a team name
• Put Jeopardy ppt onto SmartBoard (IWB) or use a laptop with projector/TV
• Whichever team has the most points/'money' in the end wins! 

For example, here is a ppt that an English teacher used in order to revise with his class the novel, 'Lord of the Flies' : www.dukeofdefinition.com/LOTF_jeopardy.ppt 

Quote of the Day

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework             - Lily Tomlin (Edith Anne)

Lee Sheldon's Gaming Grading System

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/at-indiana-u-a-class-on-game-design-has-students-playing-to-win/21981

Lee Sheldon, a professor at Indiana University, is indeed the epitome of creative teaching. Managing to incorporate video games into a mark book, Mr. Sheldon has accounted for the fact that we live in a social-networking, technology-immersed society. Instead of sticking to the traditional A, B, C grading system, Sheldon decided to use experience points (XP). Not only does this keep his students engaged in the class, but it motivates them to keep striving to achieve - and makes them feel more rewarded.

"Class time is spent completing quests (such as presentations of games or research), fighting monsters (taking tests or quizzes), and “crafting” (writing game-analysis papers and a video-game concept document). The 40-person class is divided into six “zones,” named after influential game designers, in which students complete group tasks." - The Chronicle of Higher Education

I'm not saying that you should necessarily forget the old grading system, but I have known a fair amount of teachers that use the gaming system to aid them in keeping their students motivated. They get their students to convert their grades to experience points (eg. a 95% could be 5xp, 85% is 4xp ...) and then write it down on a personalised chart. They progress through levels as they accumulate a certain amount of experience points, and each level is harder to obtain. Students strive to get to the highest level which usually has an attractive name such as 'The Mathematical Master.' Some teachers also modify this system to fit for each student by having them earn experience points by calculating the difference between their start of year grade average and the mark they've gotten on an assessment.

Gaming in education is a revolutionary concept for the modern high school  classroom, and most definitely one that can be manipulated in a variety of ways by teachers.

What is it about?

'A Crack in the Chalkboard' is a blog that aims to aid teachers in creating a creative and malleable classroom environment for a variety of students. It will include worksheets, activity ideas, teaching strategies, latest teaching news, technology integration ideas and much more. The blog focuses mainly on Y7-12 English (AUS).