Google Sites

Google sites is a structured wiki- and webpage-creation tool offered by Google as part of the Google Apps. It was my first time to create and edit a Google site.It was an interesting experience.

I followed the steps and tutorials on Atomic Learning, so I logged in my gmail account and created a new site.Creating a Chinese learning website came to my mind, so I typed in "Learning Chinese with Ms. Yuling" as the site title. I wanted to make the URL shorter and simple, but I can't. I guess I have to pay $12 a year to be able to do that. I passed it and did all the setting such choosing a blank site, a branch theme.

I created three pages total: Home page, and two subpages. I started to edit the Home page by clicking the pencil icon "Edit Page" on the top. I typed in course description, objective and calendar to make it as a Chinese learning course.

Then I clicked the icon next to the pencil icon on the top to add page.I created the page title as "Growing up with Chinese" and set the page under the home page. This time, besides adding text, I inserted an image by uploading it from my computer.I used the toolbar below the image to move it to the right. That action was as easy as inserting image on Google Documents.Also, I highlighted a video's name on my page and clicked the link icon on the toolbar. i copied the original webpage's URL into the blank to insert a video link under its name.I had to clicked "Save" every time after I finished editing unlike other Google Apps.

I did the same to add the third page "Travel in Chinese" under "Growing up with Chinese". I did not have problem inserting text, link and image. After I clicked "Save", this page title didn't appear on the sidebar. Instead, I saw it on the bottom as a subpage. I was so puzzled. I did the same thing when I added the second page, it showed on the sidebar but third page didn't. So I tried to delete the third page and create another one to see if it worked. But it didn't. By doing that a few times, my site was massed up. Fortunately, I remembered the "Revision History" function. There were a few versions with recorded times when I edited them.So I chose to revert the version before I deleted anything. "Revision History" is so helpful and advanced. Finally I figured out how to manually manipulate the side bar navigation to have three pages showed one after another. I clicked the gear icon on the top and selected "edit site layout" again to change the horizontal navigation so that the names of three pages will show.

Lastly, I selected "manage site" to edit the site's format. I changed the text background color and the page titles' color. Now, the first website in my life was finished! I copied my site's URL below.


https://sites.google.com/site/learningchinesewithmsyuling/

Drawing

Experience Learning to Use Google Drawing
Google Drawing offers digital drawing board. After watching a few tutorials, I found Google Drawing very interesting and easy to be mastered. Google Drawing shares similarities with Google Documents in terms of text editing, comments, chat, share, download.However, Google Drawing's highlight is drawing functions.

To learn in-depth, I created a Google Drawing by clicking "New" and "Google Drawing".It was so cool to have a wide open space just for drawing. Toolbar offers functions to insert and edit all kinds of lines, shapes, shape and line colors, images, text.After inserting some lines and shapes, I clicked a certain part to change its color. I can also click the "select" tool to select the whole board if I want To re-position the lines or shapes,I just need to tapped on them to drag to anywhere.I have to select the central circle on the top of a shape to rotate it.I can also change the background color. I had two shapes overlapped. In order to show both of them, I selected the shaped, right-clicked the mouse device and chose "order" and "send backward". This is very important when creating a complicated drawing.I can insert images by uploading, choosing from my album, by URL, taking a snapshot or searching, which is very similar to Google Documents.Inserting text inside or outside of the shapes are available too.After I finished, I could download into many formats such as PDF, SVG, JPG,PNG or email it to others.

It's such a creative tool to help teachers with lesson presentation and to provide a digital board for students to practice drawing.

Exploring Middle School-Tangram Square

This lesson plan thoroughly connects Google Drawing with mathematical figures.It implies Tangram Square in the lesson with the use of "The Sage's Journey". I have never heard of this story before but I consider it one of the highlights of this lesson plan. It vividly explains what Tangram Square is and inspires students to create various kinds of images with the seven shapes:two big right triangles, one medium triangle, two small right triangles, a square and a parallelogram.The lesson's objectives are that students will learn and explore the names of the shapes and the key vocabulary of flip 90 degree, flip horizontal, flip vertical. They will also construct their own Tangram creations using Google Drawing.With the ease of editing shapes on Google Drawing, students can achieve this objectives by flipping around the shapes and creating their own stylish Tangrams.

Google Drawing's unique feature allows more than one student to work on a drawing together at the same time. This lesson will instruct students to share the puzzle with another to make the square using Google Drawing. It lets students use Google Presentation with the characters made from the shapes to present their stories.

This lesson plan shows clear objectives, instructions and creativity. It makes good use of technology integration such as Google Drawing and Presentations to help students explore knowledge and meet Common Core State Standards.

Comments on Common Core State Standards Concerning Drawing

Google Drawing is meant to create flow charts, custom graphs, informational posters, and graphic designs to publish online using the document's unique URL.These features of Google Drawing helps students exceed CCSS's  Writing, Math, Science, Social Study and Technical Subjects.

The CCSS Anchor Standard 1 for Writing requires students to "read closely" to understand the text and make logical conclusions from it.Using Google Drawing, teachers can create graphic organizers to give students a change to organize their thoughts and facts gathered from the text to prepare for writing.The standards are clear that college- and career-ready students will need to be organized when writing.Students themselves can take advantage of Google Drawing to organize complex text during their study.

Google Drawing can be used to explore geometry according to Geometrical Figures Seventh Grade Standards.Teachers can instruct students to explores the shapes on Google Drawing using flips, slides, and turns in various activities.It is also a great exposure to mathematics vocabulary words.

Common Core State Standard stress the importance of understanding of graphs, charts, diagrams.Creating flowcharts in science and math is a great way to gain information from these informational objects and make it graphically and visually appealing.

Again, Google Drawing's "Share" and "Comment" features enables collaboration among students and publishing to the Web. Google Drawing is a dynamic and outstanding design program that can urge students to create, collaborate so that they can exceed Common Core State Standards as well as develop profound technical skills for future.

Documents

Google Documents vs Microsoft Office

I have been using Microsoft Office for years, but when I found out how powerful Google Documents is, I definitely would like to switch to use it. Google Doc shares a lot in common with Microsoft Office as a word processor. They are both able to insert text, images, chart, table, links. Their toolbars have similar functions such as print, undo and redo, text’s types and sizes, font, center, format, spell check, word count. Apparently, Google Doc is much more supreme, convenient and has more functions than Microsoft Office. You can rename the file inside Google Doc’s interface while doing it outside of Office’s file by clicking its icon. Doc automatically saves all changes while Office requires you to do it manually. You can easily comment on Google Doc but you can’t on Office. One of the main differences between Doc and Office is that the former is an online word processor while the latter is done in a computer’s memory. That’s why Doc is able to research and define words directly from the document in the Tools menu. I just found out that Microsoft Office is able to email research and translate directly from the document too, however, it seems less accessible and advanced than Google Doc.Microsoft Office is only limited in PC or Mac while Google Doc is available on PC, Mac, tablet and smartphone. The only weakness about Google Document is that you have to have Internet connection to be able to create and edit a document while you can use Microsoft Office wherever you want with a computer. But it shouldn't be concern because Internet connection is accessible in many places.

How Google Documents Meets Common Core State Standards

Common Core State Standards have arrived in most states and push students to approach integration of technology to be prepared for college and career.With all the functions mentioned above and more, Google Documents will perfectly meet CCSS and help teachers meet the needs of students to be ready for college and career.

In Anchor Standard 5 for writing, revising, editing, rewriting are key features.Google Documents has the ability for students to see a revision history of their work allowing them to return to a previous version. Numerous basic and advanced editing functions are available on the top toolbar.Anchor Standard 6 stresses using technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others, which aligns fully with the use of Google Documents in the classroom.Students can create a Google Document to work on a piece of writing, then share it with teacher or other students who can give immediate feedback by using the Comments feature on Google Documents.Lastly, students can publish their writing anywhere on the Web or select specific people with a click of the "Share" button. Anchor Standard 5 and 6 suggest guidance and support from peers and adults to develop and strengthen students' writing. The Comments feature is extremely unique and innovative.Students can easily share their writing with teachers and  comments can be given in the form of the teacher writing directly on the paper with the students.

 In Anchor Standard 10,Google Documents can be used to collect research from the Web and to write over extended time periods.Students can directly research from the document and insert information or links into their article.They are able to continue to work on their writing because it allows user to save the work and access it from anywhere with Internet connection. As early as Grade 3-5, the Common Core State Standards will mandate the use of technology to foster keyboarding skills and writing skills.With guidance and support from adults, students can exceed most standards of writing with the use of Google Documents.

Google Documents provides ways to collaborate, develop skills of writing digitally.One of Google Doc's outstanding features is that up to 50 people can work on the same document at the same time from anywhere from the world or in the same room.In Common Core Mathematics Eighth Grade, comparing two proportional relationships represented in different ways is the key feature. In the classroom, math teacher can instruct students to take notes only in their assigned box on the same document. With collaborative note-taking, students can learn from  each other and get the most knowledge out of the lesson effectively.In addition, students in their careers will be writing in these mediums, creating living documents like blogs, wikis, Facebook and Twitter posts. CCSS presents standards of writing that embody living documents which allows students to be interactive authors with the ability to change their work with new knowledge learned.Google Documents provide the platform for which students can achieve these standards with the features of receiving immediate feedback, Web-based writing, researching directly from the document and adding links to other webpages to offer more information.

According to Middle School Standards for Writing, Listening and Speaking, students are require to include multimedia components such as graphics, sound, charts and tables.Inserting Drawings into Documents and other programs such as Presentations by using digital media and visual displays is a great way to meet these standards.

Google Documents offers all kinds of services and support for free to help students meet Common Core State Standards and develop skills for college and future career.

Comments on Collaborative Editing with Partner

It's not easy to always finish Dr.Templar's Bible assignments. I had a few questions undone among more than 100 questions. So I decided to send it to my partner and collaborate with her. It's a Microsoft Office document. So I uploaded it on Google Doc, opened with Google Doc format and emailed it easily by clicking the "Share" button. Instead of emailing back and forth to come up with thoughts discussions on those questions, we were able to use the "Comments" feature to communicate directly on the document.Also, as both of us worked on this document, I saw her name on the upper right-hand bar, then little chat room was showed so that we were able to chat.As I was writing answers, she gave me immediate feedback so that I was able to complete my assignment effectively and quickly. It was such an interesting experience collaborating with partner.

Comment on Forms in Schools from Graham's Book

Forms is such an amazingly helpful Google App that can deliver data for decision making. It not only allows teachers to deliver online assessments to student, to self grade easily and clearly, but also it also enables teachers, principals, deans, counselors or anyone to gather date and create a survey.

Uses in creating quiz and self-grading:
Quizzes and grading are big deals to teachers. Traditionally, teachers create quizzes by writing questions and answers on the paper or creating them on Microsoft Office or Excel. There is not only heavy work to create them but also taking forever to grade them, especially in a large class. With Forms, teachers are able to make quizzes and grade them effectively and at an ease.The "Question Type" allows teachers to include different types of questions for assessment, without worrying about how to create a certain question format. Questions can be easily added and edited. Checking "Required Question" box helps students to complete the whole quiz before submitting. Everything about creating quiz on Forms seems so neat,effective and professional. After creating the quiz, teachers can either include the form in email or just email the link to students.The "Responses" menu helps teachers to collect information or answers effectively. "Accepting responses" needs to be checked to allow respondents to submit data. "Summary of responses" is checked to automatically create simple charts and graphs that analyze the data in the spreadsheet.I wish I knew it before when I was teaching. It took me so much time to create and grade the quizzes.

The answers or data collected from Google Forms goes directly in Google Spreadsheet, where it can be analyzed, organized and displayed in charts.Creating formulas, dragging down the column and sorting the grades will be done in a short while, which  enables teacher's grading effectively and accurately.

Uses in collecting data and creating survey:

Collecting data and creating survey can be done the same as creating quizzes. You just need to type in different types of questions and choose the certain question type that fit the survey.  When schools send home a parent survey to gather information about parents' certain aspects and suggestions of school life and study,a Google Form can be created and posted on the school's public media, allowing for easy data gathering.Sharing easily enables collaborative work.Teachers can create forms that will track specific students' grades, behavior and assignments.

Forms meet Common Core State Standards:

According to the CCSS, students need to "present information, findings and supporting evidance." With Google Forms, students are able to meet this standard outstanding by authentically gather real information, viewing directly and analyzing it from Spreadsheet. Therefore, students provide evidence to support their findings and decisions about a given topic. CCSS's High School Writing Standard requires students to focus on research projects and demonstrate understanding of the subject under investigation.  Google Forms is meant for research and investigation. Data gathered with Google Forms and analysis made with Spreadsheet aid in making assertion in writing, as well as other subjects. According to previous standard, it requires students to use appropriate tools wisely and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats. Google Forms is another great tool to help students succeed.

Summary:
Google Forms has great impact in schools in many aspects: for students to gather and organize data into spreadsheet, for teachers to create self-grading quizzes and tests, for teachers and school board to create survey and gather information from students, parents and teachers.

Forms

It was an interesting experience to explore how to create Forms. Now I know how Dr.Krug create our quizzes.After I watched the tutorials and read the Google Apps book, it didn't seem too complicated to me, but I went across a few problems when I was actually making one.

I went to Google Drive and clicked New to choose a new Form. First I created a title of the Form as "Chinese Culture"on the top left-hand corner. I could add form description, but I didn't because I was creating a simple multiple choices quiz.First of all,I typed "Last Name" in the "Question Title" blank, chose the question title as "Text", then checked the "Required Question" box. Lastly I clicked "Done". I did the same to the second question "First Name".

After creating Last and First Name requirement, I started to make quiz questions by clicking "Add Items".My first question was about Chinese official language. I ignored the "Help Text" because it was unnecessary. It's so convenient to choose from so many types of question such as Text, Multiple Choice, Paragraph Text,Checkboxes, Choose from a list, Scale, Grid, Date and Time.I chose Multiple Choice, correspondingly a few "Option" blanks were displayed.I made four choices then checked the "Required Question" so that students can't submit the quiz until it is completed. Errors are inevitable when teachers create quiz. Forms allows you to edit, duplicate, delete and provide advanced settings. I did the same to my second question. I only created two questions and sent the Form to myself through email.

On the toolbar, it brought me to a spreadsheet after I clicked "View Responses". It showed Last Name, First Name and the two questions on the first row.Right next to the second question, I typed in two correct answers "Mandrain" and "Red", each in the next two cells accordingly. I went to my gmail to use my name to submit the "teacher" answers then randomly made up some quizzes by using a few students' names.It was so cool that after teacher and each student submitted the quiz, responses were showed automatically in my spreadsheet.Next, I typed in a formula to grade students' answers "=if(D2=$F$1,100,0)", then click"enter" on my keyboard, the first answer was graded, either "100" or "0" representing correct or wrong. The sign "$" in front of "F" and "1" was to enable me to drag down the cell to grade the rest of the first answers. I did the same to the second answers. To complete the the self-grading quiz, I created "Student Average" column and sorted the range.

I was able to send it to whoever I want through email and share it on Facebook, Twitter or Google+. I could choose to let receivers only view the form or edit it.However, I couldn't figure out how to "Embed" the link and shorten the link domin. I will explore more to figure out. Anyway, I find creating Forms so powerful and practical to daily teaching, creating quiz and grading. The Form's link and Spreadsheet's link are as follow:

Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lUH9j6U3GUnyV-l5HBDwx0dn7dqErv-UgPuQKfJd428/viewform?c=0&w=1


Spreadsheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O2-UdUg0IevsrwqJJ6wW_ucexlmyU9O5WEp8BSQ085A/edit?usp=sharing

How to Apply Spreadsheets to Common Core Standards

Google Spreadsheets is a fully integrated program that brings date and information alive for Education. Math is primary focus, but other subject will use it too,such as history, science.According to CCSS for Mathematical Practice 3:"Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others." With spreadsheets which are meant for mastering date and information, students are able to work with data to convey the information and findings to persuade others of their points of view.

Besides, CCSS requires students to develop critical thinking with math. They are meant to capture the "processes and proficiency" of math in order to be ready for college and career that involves data analysis and decision making.Google Spreadsheets allow students to collect unorganized data in cells and manipulate it by making charts and graphs that students can use to present their findings with evidence. It helps students explore mathematical concepts and models, share, manipulate and present data.

Common Core State Standard emphasizes collaborative work. Google Spreadsheets allow people to go over revision history. Each time an entry is made into s spreadsheet, it is saved along with time and a note on what was revised. Therefore, in a group project, students can go back to see a previous version of the data to find and correct the errors made from other students.Revision history is so important to make sure that the project's accuracy when handled through so many students. Another powerful function that Google Spreadsheets has is that spreadsheets can be emailed and downloaded so easily through different kinds of formats such as CVS, HTML, TXT, Excel, OpenOffice and PDF. Thus, students can share data with others without worrying another student who doesn't have the same format.

The conditional formatting function assists students with their self-study. In the spreadsheets, the conditional formatting will be set ahead of time for the correct answers by teachers. If the cell matches exactly as the predetermined formatting, the cell will turn a particular color, indicating the answer is correct, otherwise wrong. The notification function is impressing too. Notification setting enables the user to be alerted when changes are made to the spreadsheet sot that it keeps everyone informed when students work together with a project. To protect the spreadsheets, the user can also make the setting to determine who can edit the data.

Seeing all that Google Spreadsheets can do, undoubtedly they are supreme to any traditional office software such as Microsoft Excel.Moreover, Google Spreadsheets can share and collaborate on data projects from within the room or around the world. CCSS commands students to use appropriate tools to think mathematically and study collaboratively.Students are able to fulfill those standards when using spreadsheets to collect, analyze, and report findings with data. They will become better decision makers and learners.

Google Spreadsheets

Thoughts about creating a spreadsheet

I have never used spreadsheet before. I wish I knew it earlier when I was teaching in China. Microsoft Excel share plenty of common functions with Google Sheet though. Therefore, it's not difficult for me to handle it.

To start with, I created a simple gradebook of five students.I typed in the categories on the top row, names on the left column and created the students' scores for the attendance, assignment, quiz, project and exam. Next step was a little hard for me-using the function to calculate the final grades. I had learned it in Microsoft Excel when I was in undergraduate, but I haven't used it for years to create grade book. Thankfully, I found a tutorial on YouTube about how to use the Function. I created a SUM formula by including all five categories according to their percentages. I had the first final grade in a cell after I clicked "enter", then I dragged down the column in order to make the rest of the grades easily.I also made a grade chart for visual purpose.

I had a good experience creating my first spreadsheet.It's convenient to manipulate date and numbers as a great helper for teachers and even companies. I think I am able to master many menus such as:File, Edit, Insert, Format and Tool.It's very easy for me to insert a chart and share it with others. I am impressed. Automatic saving function is very helpful,which avoid missing it when the computer turned off accidentally. It will be saved on the Google Docs webpage by itself.However, I still need to explore other menus such as View, Data.  Not sure how to import date from other file, but I will find out soon.

Here is the link to the spreadsheet that I just created.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xRjZK1aHCjLVDHUXlhlwX1VJHrkoko1MY1zkawR_JIs/edit#gid=0

Google Drive /Presentations

I have been using Microsoft PowerPoint to create presentations for learning and teaching for years.It includes various functions such as slide transitions, animations, word art,inserting texts, images and videos.It can be name and renamed, attached through email and printed.

However, it's my first time to experience Google Presentations which contains all the functions above that I mentioned of Microsoft PowerPoint and it functions more than what PowerPoint can do.For example, students and teachers can move the presentations from device to device without losing information or not having the right program; Google Presentations can be downloaded as the following types of format: PNG, JPEG, SVG, PPTX, PDF, TXT; Videos can be inserted in the presentations from YouTube; importing slides.

The most outstanding feature of Google Presentations different from PowerPoint is sharing, collaboration.Each presentation made in Google Presentations is given a unique Web address that when typed into a Web browser can be viewed or edited depending on the share settings.

The powerful features of Google Presentations greatly meet the Common Core Standards which emphasize the uses of digital media, visual displays, graphics,sound,technology,presentations of critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. The key functions of Google Presentations are collaborative presentations, cloud storage, share presentations with teachers, students and parents, insert image and video, publish presentations to the world, slide transitions and animations, which perfectly help students fulfill the standards mentioned above in different aspects of learning such as speaking and Listening, Science and Math, History and Social Studies, etc. Google Presentations is a powerful and profound app for education.

Something about Yuling

I was born in China and finished my undergraduate on ESL Teacher Education. I met my husband 3 years ago in Pigeon Forge, TN and got married last year.

I love sports like badminton, table tennis and tennis. I have a great passion to teach. It's excited to john this MAP program and happy to learn things.

I enjoyed this evening learning with others.