Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 1
Action Research in the Cloud:
Using Google Apps as a Learning Management System in Grade 8 Classrooms
Colleen Ites
Iowa State University
CI 515: Action Research in Education
1 May 2010
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 2
Introduction
The use of technology within classrooms is an evolving and timely topic that often crosses
generational boundaries. The current groups of students, often called the Net Generation (Net
Gen) have never not known computers in their daily lives. They live interactive, creative, and
collaborative lives through the Web, skills which often are not valued within the classroom. This
action research study will show how implementing Google Apps as a Learning Management
System (LMS) with a group of grade 8 students from a parochial preK-8 school in an urban
Midwestern city affects student initiative and cohesiveness of collaborative group work. A
separate yet equally important issue will be addressed regarding the use of Google Apps to
overcome problems among different operating systems between computers inside and outside of
school.
I believe that action research is a methodology that involves a teacher as investigator
using best practices to improve a specific area of instruction or learning. The process is
continual, recursive, specific to each situation, and reflective. Results are immediate, readily
applicable for classroom teaching and learning, and revisited often to evaluate for effectiveness
and further fine-tuning. To me, this process is a perfect fit for using potential technology
innovations within schools. Currently, most technologies evolve at such rapid rates that empirical
research’s methodologies are too slow to track active implementation with students. For this
study I chose Mills’ model of action research (Mills, 2007): a cyclical and recursive series of
action, reflection, and evaluation that can be continually tweaked throughout the process.
After completing a five day reflective journal I discovered three main areas of concern
surrounding students and technology: student initiative and technology use, effective
collaborative group work, and operating system compatibility issues between computers at
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 3
student homes and the school. I began to search out a good ‘all-in-one’ application available to
students that could address all three issues, taking into consideration usability, accessibility, and
cost. My school currently uses Edline and GradeQuick for communication and grading, but these
programs have usability limitations and require a ‘fee for use’ for each application purchased
outside of packaged school licenses. As a parochial school, technology funding has been scarce
at best, so the solution had to be low-cost and highly efficient. There were also additional
concerns regarding student safety, accessibility, and marketing to youth that needed to be
addressed.
As part of my preliminary research I met with key members of the technology team,
middle school team, and administration. We discussed and researched our potential options and
realized that Google Apps could be effective with older students who are already comfortable
navigating the Web. The technology committee set up a new domain name specifically for a
Google Apps for Education (GAE) account. After Google’s verification of this account I decided
to complete an implementation study with my grade 8 students. I kept returning to the question
“How can implementing Google Apps for Education make student instruction, assessment, and
communication more effective?” The potential answers to this question pushed me to develop an
area of focus.
Area of Focus
In the past five years Web 2.0 applications have exploded in popularity and use. Current
research on technology integration for adolescents stresses how teachers should capitalize on the
social nature of adolescents through collaborative group work (Hernadez-Ramos & De La Paz,
2009). Helping collaborative groups remain on task and be effective is one of the biggest
challenges faced in technology integration and technology-enhanced learning today. In order for
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 4
technology-enhanced learning to be effective it needs to follow best practice pedagogy, foster
communication with all parties involved, and allow schools to work more effectively.
Technology-enhanced learning is most effective in learner-centered classrooms and is also
anytime, anywhere, personalized, and flexible (Hamilton & O’Duffy, 2009). It is these factors
that prompted me to investigate the use of an all-inclusive application that would engage
learners, build upon their social natures and be an efficient use of time and money.
Currently, the best solution for my school’s situation appeared to be Google Apps for
Education. If used effectively, the Calendar, Mail, Documents, Groups, and Sites applications
within the Google Apps suite can help students and teachers manage collaborative group work.
Google Chat allows students to capitalize on their social natures while working with each other
on projects and assessments. The application is web-based and available anytime, anywhere. The
financial costs involved included purchasing a new domain name and additional hosting space (if
needed). Advertising within the application can be eliminated and students are ‘sheltered’ within
the domain from others on the Web.
Integrating technology today means educators need to teach students subject content, how
to effectively work in groups, and develop excellent digital literacy skills. These skills include
Wagner’s (2008) critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration across networks and
leading by influence, agility and adaptability, and accessing and analyzing information. These
skills are not just necessary to be more effective and efficient in the classroom, but will be
necessary life skills for students in the future. Many of my students who get work in late or have
difficulties with operating systems compatibility are also highly technology literate: I believe the
integration of web-based learning would motivate them to get their work completed with effort
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 5
and on time. Overall, implementing Google Apps for Education for use within and outside
classroom instruction seemed to be the best fit.
Research Questions
Will the implementation of Google Apps with grade 8 students be an effective and efficient way
to enable instruction inside and outside the classroom?
● How will the use of Google Apps with grade 8 students affect student initiative?
● How will the use of Google Apps with grade 8 students affect cohesiveness of
collaborative group work?
● How will Google Docs’ universal file compatibility impact compatibility issues between
student work completed on computers inside and outside of school?
Review of Related Literature
Over the last decade technology integration within classrooms has grown as a resource for
communication and assessment between students, faculty, administration, and parents. Led first
by for-purchase package-specific platforms, this revolution is now moving toward SaaS
(software as a service) providers with a ‘one stop shop’ for online applications, allowing students
and faculty to communicate, collaborate, create, and assess learning. This all occurs in real time
using ‘cloud computing’ or creation and collaboration apps on the Web. Google Apps for
Education is leading this charge, providing a free platform for schools.
This literature review will examine the positive and negative aspects of the use of Google
Apps for Education. Areas covered include the use of Google Apps as a Learning Management
System, (LMS) for schools, digital literacy instruction and safety for students and schools,
student motivation and engagement using the technologies for instruction and assessment, and
the impact technology integration has had on test scores and assessments. Each of these areas
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 6
will weigh the positives and negatives of the use of SaaS and cloud computing in middle school
classrooms.
Google as a Learning Management System (LMS) for Education
The evolution of Web 2.0 into what is known as ‘cloud computing’ has left many
scrambling to learn about how this type of system can benefit a school community. Cloud
computing, where all work is done and hosted via the Web, takes many different names. The
most common names used are Web-based LMS, software as a service (SaaS), and cloud
computing. Currently these terms are used interchangeably, but as cloud computing grows and
diversifies the terms will likely take on aspects specific to educational cloud computing.
With the need for students to become effective, efficient, cooperative learners, having an
LMS that is accessible anytime, anywhere extends the classroom to the Web (Brown, 2005;
Nevin, 2005; Ramaley & Zia, 2005). This concept of ‘education on demand’ is appealing to
many in the Net Gen, and to teachers as well, to show the formative progression of learning as it
leads to a summative product. The open accessibility aspect appeals to all involved as well.
Students can be given resources to use at their own pace to individualize and personalize
instruction (Kvavik, 2005).
Some of the forerunners in the educational use of cloud computing have been those in
library and media science. Frederick (2008) states, “If the goal is to prepare students with 21st-
century skills, the ability to work in teams and to collaborate is high on that list” (p. 46). Buck
(2009) corroborates this sentiment with her evaluation of cloud computing’s impact on the LMS
market, citing Google’s software as a service (SaaS) as the Web 2.0 service that may prove most
useful to school libraries. Hamilton & O’Duffy (2009) describe the need to educate students on
the ins and outs of cloud computing as the next stage in digital literacy. As Hamilton & O’Duffy
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 7
note, “We will move from the Digital Immigrant phase through the Digital Native phase to the
Online Native phase” (p. 333).
The expansion of the Web to a collaborative, creative information source allows for
student and school access from a variety of computer and PDA devices, while also protecting
users within their own domain (Nevin, 2009). These applications can be effective within
classrooms as well as when used in school libraries. Adams (2008) showed the effectiveness of
using Google Apps in an AP Language classroom. His students discovered how to effectively
use a number of applications to complete research for papers and projects using the Google Apps
Suite effectively both inside and outside the classroom. The applications used include Google
Docs, Search, Gmail, Calendar, GTalk (chat), Groups, and iGoogle. The idea that Google Apps
is easily adapted by both digital natives (students) and digital immigrants (teachers) is another
plus for its use in school communities (Van Horn, 2007). As stated by Thompson (2008),
“Google is fast becoming a one-stop shopping center for Web 2.0 applications” (p. 20). Although
Google Apps is cost-effective and promotes anywhere, anytime access, the issue of enhancing
digital literacy while keeping students safe online is also a paramount concern.
Digital Literacy Instruction and Safety
One of the greatest benefits of using Google Apps in the classroom is to enhance student
digital literacy skills. While many students use various technologies in their daily lives, most
only know just enough about educational technologies to complete their work (Kvavik, 2005).
Students need a solid background to support digital literacy skills, such as understanding diverse
Web applications and the ability to utilize those applications effectively (Clayton-Pedersen &
O’Neill, 2005; McNeely, 2005; Yoon & Johnson, 2008). Teachers need to instruct the
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 8
technology as well as the content in order to show students how cloud computing can streamline
their learning inside and outside the classroom.
One of the greatest challenges to confront when implementing Web 2.0 technologies is
that of student online safety. Google also considered this issue and addressed it head-on. There
are pages of information and responses dealing with the issue of Web safety for users. If using
the Google Apps Suite for Education, a school must have a dedicated domain name that ‘locks
down’ users and prevents SPAM, phishers, and on-line predators. Webmasters have the ability to
view all user-created materials, emails, and chats should an issue of cyber-bullying arise. The
content created through the Education Suite can be locked down to the domain or made public at
the discretion of the webmaster (Google Apps for Education, 2009).
The remaining concern for student safety while using Google Apps regards the
appearance of marketing and ad promotions on the application sites. Google is first and foremost
an information mining company. There are many who question if the applications used in the
Google Apps Suite will also be mined (Buck, 2009; Frederick, 2008; Van Horn, 2007). While
there are no ads used in the Education Suite, the potential for advertisers to ‘hone in’ on ideas,
products, and desires found in students’ Google Docs and Google Sites can be a bit unsettling. In
its current state, this problem does not seem to impact users of Google Apps for Education. As
Google Apps for Education continues to develop and evolve, it will be an issue to watch.
The safety and integrity of student work while hosted ‘in the cloud’ has some educators
and safety experts alike wondering if this truly is the best application for schools (Miller,
Thompson, & Pomykal Franz, 2009). These concerns about a lack of file back-up and trusting
the system to not fail is also addressed by Google. Company-owned server farms are designed to
prevent a cascading failure, and rarely is the system off-line (Google Apps for Education, 2009).
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 9
Students can still save work to flash drives or home computers as back-ups for their files, since
work from Google Apps can be downloaded to any operating system and further manipulated
using purchased software programs such as Microsoft Office.
Constructivist Teaching and Technology
Current research on using cloud computing, SaaS, or LMS in classrooms all comes down
to one pedagogy: constructivist teaching. Current best practices with technology emphasize the
need for learning to be student-centered, collaborative, personalized, and a form of ‘show me,
don’t tell me’ learning (Bell, 2010; Hew & Brush, 2007; Oblinger, 2005). Students who
participate in constructivist learning practice creating instead of consuming knowledge, become
intentional learners, and take an active role in their own learning (Brown, 2005; Hofer & Swan,
2008). These students also enjoy working in teams, sharing opportunities and knowledge, and
benefiting from the knowledge of the group in courses and classes (Adams, 2008; Hernandez-
Ramos & De La Pas, 2009; Mai & Tse-Lian, 2009). They have a desire to become part of the
process and the product, not just a producer at the end.
Constructivist learning often walks hand-in-hand with project based learning (PBL).
Many of today’s students have never lived without being ‘wired’ to technology and expect
education to allow them to work in teams, multitask, work toward overarching goals or
standards, complete work hands-on, and create products that go ‘beyond the classroom’
(Hamilton & O’Duffy, 2009; Hernandez-Ramos & De La Paz, 2009; Oblinger, 2005). Students
want to work with their peers to create something that they share in both process and product.
They long for their work to have an impact on the greater world (McNeely, 2005). Many SaaS
applications allow for this, with Google Apps for Education being at the forefront. This greater
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 10
impact through constructed knowledge can apply to the entire world, to their peer group, or to
one-on-one collaboration with their teachers.
Working collaboratively through a SaaS such as Google Apps for Education develops
another side of student-centered instruction. Journals created in Google Docs by a student with a
teacher as collaborator can be insightful into a student’s abilities at the keyboard as opposed to
within a notebook. The teacher can ‘tweak’ journal questions for each student based on previous
responses, giving more immediate and pertinent feedback. Responding on-line is more
convenient for both student and teacher and the ‘locked collaboration’ of Google Apps often
gives students a greater sense of trust with the teacher.
Students can also collaborate on documents with each other, creating wikis of
information, websites of resources, and sharing knowledge among a group (Thompson, 2008;
Van Horn, 2007). Google Doc’s layering of each edit to a document allows users to go back and
review previous revisions as a ‘back-up’ to current work. The use of the Calendar in Google
Apps allows groups to create shared calendars for projects or for individuals to sync their
personal calendars with other peers to determine best times and places for collaboration (Google
Apps for Education, 2009). All of these aspects can capitalize on students’ previous knowledge
and abilities in order to have them best show their current application of knowledge. Whether
using Google Apps as a more convenient and efficient learning management system will also
influence student motivation and engagement with content and instruction is another important
topic for investigation.
Student Motivation and Engagement
Net Gen students are wired to use technologies in their everyday lives, but most do not
want strictly on-line instruction (McNeely, 2005). These students want to engage with their
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 11
work, to dig deeper than basic knowledge of concepts and ideas, and to show what they have
learned and how it has impacted them (Brown, 2005; Considine, Horton, & Moorman, 2009;
Deaney & Hennessy, 2007; Mai & Tse-Kian, 2009; Ramaley & Zia, 2005; Roberts, 2005;).
Typical results in current research show that students who are given motivated instruction by
actively involved teachers are likely to show high levels of engagement with and positive
attitudes toward technology integration into the classroom. These studies use student input as
part of the research process, giving the students an active voice in their opinions about learning
as well as in their instruction. While technology is seen as a motivator, it is still the impact of an
engaging and motivated teacher who takes an active interest in each student’s learning and is
willing to ‘go the extra mile’ that students say drive them the most (Shihab 2008). Students are
more engaged when their input is considered valuable, and it is important to assess what, if any,
knowledge transfer occurs as a result of this engagement.
Test Scores and Technology Integration
While the use of SaaS in K-12 classrooms is fairly recent, there are studies that show test
scores can improve with proper technology implementation. Maninger (2006) cited that over
90% of at-risk students who were retaking a course for failure or truancy passed state mandated
tests after technology implementation and supportive devices were introduced. Other studies
have shown progressive test score improvement as students are taught proper use of new
technologies (Swan, Van 't Hooft, Kratcoski, & Unger, 2005). Adams (2008) believes his AP
Language students performed better on the AP exam after implementation of Google Apps for
Education in his classroom.
While this trend is promising, there are others who caution that more research in this area
is needed, especially with minority or at-risk students (Hew & Brush, 2007; Oblinger, 2005).
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 12
Others also worry about how to assess technology’s true impact, since many schools cannot risk
neither time nor money to implement these projects in a culture of high-stakes testing (Lowther,
Inan, Strahl, & Ross, 2008). The culture of high stakes testing often can appear at odds with the
use of SaaS and other technologies that promote constructivist practices over rote memorization.
The implementation of action research projects regarding the impact SaaS and cloud computing
can have on student test scores will help further research in this area.
Summary
The research on the use of SaaS, and especially Google Apps for Education, in K-12
classrooms is still in its early stages. Much of what is currently being done looks quite
promising. These projects are showing that the use of collaborative, cooperative groups through
a web-based LMS can be beneficial on many fronts, including test scores, student attitudes, and
communication among all stakeholders in schools (Adams, 2008; Bell, 2010; Deaney &
Hennessy, 2007; Hamilton & O’Duffy, 2009; Maninger, 2006; Van Horn, 2007). Implementation
of such programs gives students a safe and secure environment for learning both inside and
outside the classroom, and a place to gain a sense of ownership over their own learning. Students
are learning skills that will incorporate their previous technology knowledge and give them a
toolbox for future digital literacy instruction. Students are also seeing how their work can have
an impact on the world outside the classroom walls. For now, it appears that Google Apps for
Education may be the best solution for a newly emerging form of educational technology. I am
excited to see if the implementation of Google Apps will be as beneficial to my own students as
it was to those found in the literature.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 13
Intervention
I will implement a school domain locked Google Apps Learning Management System
(LMS) with grade 8 students at a preK-8 parochial school to address issues of student initiative,
cohesiveness of collaborative group work, and operating system compatibility between student
work completed at home and in school. The domain will be purchased and an Education account
set up with Google Apps. Students will be given 1 class period each day to work on research
papers using the Internet as well as the Google Apps for Education Suite. Assignments will be
posted in the classroom and online using the Calendar and Gmail features. Students will be
expected to complete work face-to-face as well as outside the classroom using this LMS
structure. Nearly all student work will be completed on-line, with grading and comments written
collaboratively on documents created by students.
Membership of the Action Research Group
The participants in this study will be 30 grade 8 students at an urban Midwestern preK-8
parochial school and their language arts teacher. There are 16 females and 17 males total. All
students have Internet access outside of school and come from six suburban and 1 major urban
areas of average to upper middle income homes. The students are majority Caucasian and all are
native English speakers. Students will each have their own username through Google Apps and
are expected to communicate with their teacher and peers face-to-face in class and on-line.
Applications used will include Google Docs, Calendar, Sites, Groups, Chat, and iGoogle. These
students were chosen because the teacher has everyone in the grade each day and at thirteen to
fourteen years old they are most likely able to handle negotiating Google Apps. The teacher will
serve as site administrator and instructor of effective digital literacy techniques to students. The
teacher will also serve as a collaborator with students on all necessary applications. Students will
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 14
participate in this study via information given in a parent letter and a signed permission slip
between each student, parent(s), and teacher. Assessments of this study include student surveys,
teacher journals, student-and-teacher collaborative journals, and comparisons of academic
reflections and behavior reflections before and after Google Apps implementation. The
classroom teacher along with the middle school team will evaluate the assessments in order to
draw up findings about this process; this will require two team meetings outside the normal
meeting schedule.
Negotiations to Be Undertaken
An initial meeting with my administrator to discuss the possibility of implementing
Google Apps with a sampling of students was set. After preliminary discussions we would meet
with the other members of the school’s technology team and parcel out specific research areas to
review in order to justify the study. After a week of individual research on the topic, the
technology team would again meet and determine if the action research study should occur.
Based on age, maturity, and previous digital literacy instruction, only grade 8 students would be
considered for the initial study. Based on results at the conclusion of the study a summary
document would be created and presented to the School Board for potential implementation
throughout middle school grades in the school.
A parent letter and permission slip would be created and sent home with students. After
all permission slips were returned (signed by each student, their parent(s), and the teacher), the
entire grade will walked through the process of logging into Google Apps and how to use the
different applications. Students will create a personalized journal in Google Docs with the
teacher as a collaborator, create collaborative wiki pages through Google Sites, and join a
collective all-grade calendar to use in organizing schoolwork. Middle school team teachers
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 15
would be asked to complete a survey at the end of the study to determine if the use of Google
Apps transferred to other courses.
Timeline
Each Phase listed below will take approximately 7 school days to complete, with the entire
process taking approximately 42 days.
● Phase 1: Permission slips sent home and returned to teacher; students are given
usernames and initial passwords. Students are given step-by-step instruction on how to
use Google Docs, Sites, Calendar, and Chat and directed to make the teacher a
collaborator on at least one of each application. Initial journal prompts sent out at end of
phase. Teacher reflective journal started.
● Phase 2: Collect initial data through student-and-teacher collaborative journals about
reactions to the initial process, including student posts to teacher responses. Calendar
reviewed at the beginning of each teaching block, with changes emailed to all affected.
Teacher continues to develop personal journal of the process. Preliminary data reported
to administration. Second journal prompts and responses to first entries posted at the end
of the phase. Teacher reflective journal continues.
● Phase 3: Modify applications used based on content covered and student journal
responses. Collect second data set through student-and-teacher collaborative journals and
complete initial review of student information wikis; have students create Presentation
outline for research papers making teacher collaborator. Students set up personal
homepages using iGoogle. Third journal prompts and responses to second entries posted
at the end of the phase. Teacher reflective journal continues.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 16
● Phase 4: Modify applications used based on content covered and student journal
responses. Collect third data set through student-and-teacher collaborative journals, final
review of student information wikis, and rough draft of Presentation outlines for research
papers making teacher collaborator. Current data reported to administration. Fourth
journal prompts and responses to third entries posted at the end of the phase. Teacher
reflective journal continues.
● Phase 5: Complete comparison of academic reflections and behavior reflections for
grade 8 students before and after implementation of Google Apps, paying special
attention to habitual offenders in both areas. Complete final data set through student-and-
teacher collaborative journals and teacher reflective journal; code entries. Grade wikis
and final draft of presentations, review rough draft of final MLA comparative papers in
documents.
● Phase 6: Complete summative survey via Google Docs with students, voluntary survey
with parents, and summative survey with other middle school teachers. Gather all data
and have all middle school team analyze for results, sharing out preliminary findings with
administration (and possibly School Board). Based on findings, determine future
implementation of Google Apps with other classes of students, specifically looking
toward all middle school implementation.
Data Collection and Analysis
Student-created data
Students will create a student-and-teacher collaborative journal that will contain teacher
prompts as well as student responses. These responses will include student reactions to using
Google Apps, the possible use of Google Apps in other classes outside of language arts,
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 17
discussions on face-to-face and virtual collaborations, student reactions to virtual due dates (e.g.:
journals being due at 11:59 Sunday night as opposed to 4th hour Monday morning), and student
responses to previous posts. Students will also create an all-class wiki of theses for their MLA
comparative research papers, a script and storyboard for their documentary on Net Gen students
completing research, and teacher-and-student collaborative outlines and papers. Students are
collaborative editors of their scoring rubrics on their journals, their interactions in groups, and
the completed documentary. Finally, students will complete a summative survey of their
reactions to the implementation of Google Apps across the grade.
Teacher-created data
The teacher will collect student responses to the collaborative journals and code them for
themes found. The teacher will also use the edited versions of Google docs to show progression
of student changes to scoring rubrics based on student feedback. The teacher will submit a copy
of the personal journal kept during the process to be coded. The teacher will create the surveys
given to students, their parents, and other middle school team members assessing the value of
Google Apps implementation. The teacher and middle school team will review academic and
behavior reflection data from before and after implementation, paying close attention to those
students who have been habitual offenders in the past. The teacher will organize all data into a
matrix and data analysis document to determine the data’s value to future implementations of
Google Apps with students.
Analysis
Data that will be coded for themes and over-arching topics include student journals,
teacher journal, all respondents to the summative survey, and anecdotal notes kept by the teacher
during formative assessment. Coded data will be organized into charts or graphs based on the
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 18
numbers of students who fall into each theme or category chosen. Potential themes to look for
include student engagement, time management, group dynamics, and collaboration.
Data that will be analyzed statistically include summative rubric scores on student group
work, summative journal work, the final documentary rubric, and comparison of academic and
behavioral reflection data before and after implementation. The statistical data will be looked at
for changes in number and type of reflection, patterns in scores including outliers and overly
consistent trends, and charts will be created based on gender, group membership, and homeroom.
Issues to address would be score improvements and a reduction in reflections for habitually
disorganized or late-work students, determine if having an online presence has helped shy or
quiet students become more engaged in classwork, determine if outlying scores are based on
effort or motivation, and if there is a difference in participation and motivation between males
and females.
Findings
Due to current university policy regarding course-related projects involving human participants,
this study can not be implemented at this time. Results for a project such as this should be
available at a later date.
Action Planning
This section of the process will involve reflection on the findings and the impact of final data
results. Based on the current literature, it is my hope that the implementation of Google Apps
will provide positive supports for the research questions. Below are predictive results of the
process based on the proposed timeline and action plan. All final results will be reported back to
the administrator and School Board, who will make a determination regarding future
implementation of using Google Apps as a Learning Management System middle school wide.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 19
Impact on Research Questions
Will the implementation of Google Apps with grade 8 students be an effective and
efficient way to enable instruction inside and outside the classroom? Based on research found, I
feel that it will. As my students begin to use these technologies, I plan on being an active and
engaged guide for their process. I will allow them to see me ‘tinker’ with the process to
encourage them to do the same, and will help them personalize the experience to understand how
it best applies to them (Ramaley & Zia, 2005).
Students have completed an all-class survey about the three sub questions as well as their
attitudes toward technology integration for instruction; they will complete an individual survey at
the end of this study regarding their use, attitude toward, and active implementation of Google
Apps. Parents, teachers and staff will also complete a post-study survey regarding any changes in
behaviors they have observed in their classes, again reflecting the three sub questions within the
research focus. Finally, data taken from Academic Reflections (ARs) for missing work and
Behavior Reflections (BRs) for staying on task with computers will be gathered and analyzed for
changes.
How will the use of Google Apps with grade 8 students affect student initiative? I believe
students will find a renewed interest in their own learning through the use of Google Apps. In my
experience students enjoy school most when they can have a voice in their instruction. It is also
more likely that following implementation of Google Apps for Education students will become
intentional learners and see homework as an extension of the classroom instead of something the
teacher requires (Ramaley & Zia, 2005). Students surveys regarding all three research areas are
given twice in the study: questions regarding their initiative will be included in these surveys.
Students also like to share their talents with others; in this way I believe both introverts and
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 20
extroverts alike will benefit from the use of Google Apps (Clayton-Pedersen & O’Neill, 2005). I
also believe that students who have a history of late assignments or who have trouble staying on
task while using computers will show a change in their behaviors through the implementation of
the Google Apps for Education Suite.
How will the use of Google Apps with grade 8 students affect cohesiveness of collaborative
group work? One of the many pitfalls when using group work is to have members of the group
take on too great a role in the group (dominators) or too little a role in the group (slackers)
(Adams, 2008). With an active presence both online and within the classroom, I hope to help
guide these students to participate equally based on their talents and skills. As an online student I
have found that the ability to interact online via chats or discussion board posts helps influence
all students to take a more active role in group work (Shihab, 2008). It is my hope that with
diverse and mixed groups (the students are in two separate assigned groups for activities, one
based on skill set and the other based on interest) the ‘desire of the whole’ to be active members
and to accomplish group goals will translate to all members of the groups (Yoon & Johnson,
2008). I will also intervene with all members who are taking an unequal role virtually and in
class to help guide them toward active group participation. This will include helping introverts
become more active online and to help those who are overly social find a way to remain on-task
while working in groups (Hamilton & O’Duffy, 2009). For most students, this skill will not be
innate and instead will need to be taught (Kvavik, 2005).
Will Google Docs’ universal file compatibility drastically reduce compatibility issues
between work completed on computers inside and outside of school? This issue of operating
system compatibility has become very prevalent in the last three years of instruction. To help
minimize technology costs my school uses only the Windows XP operating system. With the
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 21
introduction of Windows 7 and Windows Vista, as well as students having Macintosh, One
Laptop Per Child (OLPC), Linux, or using Open Office (O/O) operating systems, finding a good
‘translator’ for files between operating systems has been nearly impossible. The patches supplied
by Microsoft for their systems are not compatible with OpenDNS, our school security system.
Teacher laptops have the patch downloaded to them directly, which works when students do
presentations for class, but when a student wishes to open a file from home and continue to work
on it at school, this becomes an issue. Our computer lab is not located near the middle school
rooms and has only networked computers. If a student wishes to open a file of previous work we
need to find a teacher near the computer lab (this is our K-2 wing of the building) and ask him /
her to use their laptop for a file conversion. Most middle school teachers have begun bringing
their laptops down to the lab, but this is bulky and there is no safe desk space for laptop
placement (each seat is occupied by a desktop unit). Also, most of our laptops are older and
therefore have older batteries; it isn’t uncommon to have a teacher laptop shut down if in the lab
for two or more periods continuously due to low battery.
Having introduced Google Docs to my students for their grammar work at the beginning of
the year, those who have permission to use Google Docs have developed a system for this file
conversion nightmare: they open their Google Docs file and upload their previous work file to
their account. Then they can download the file back to school computers, which is translated into
Windows XP (Van Horn, 2007). I’ve also had some students complete a ‘rough draft’ of work in
Google Docs then download it at school to add ‘bling’: colors, backgrounds, visual & sound
effects, slide transitions, special fonts, or specific formats. This is a fairly effective way to deal
with operating system issues (and an excellent example of active, engaged problem-solving), but
by implementing the Google Apps Suite I hope to make it more efficient for students.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 22
While using Google Docs seems like a good solution, Google Docs doesn’t have decent print
drivers. It is my hope that with a locked-down domain, students will house their work in the
cloud and only need to convert it in order to print. Part of this will be re-establishing habits, as
students are used to going home and opening the document-maker program on their home
computers. They need to retrain themselves to instead go to the Web and open a new document
file in Google Docs. The study will take place over 5 weeks, the approximate amount of time it
takes to retrain a habit. Questions about this process will be included in the post-study survey to
see if students’ habits regarding operating system use have changed as a result of Google Apps
implementation. Questions about this will also be in the post-study survey given to staff
members, observing if this habit of working with Google Docs has translated to all subjects, or if
students have compartmentalized it to only language arts (Kvavik, 2005).
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 23
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Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 28
Appendix
Appendix A: Sample Student Journals
Appendix B: Sample Teacher Journal
Appendix C: Sample Parent letter and permission slip
Appendix D: Sample presentation outline
(this is hosted at the school’s Google Apps domain; the text only is listed here)
Appendix E: Sample student wiki
(there is only available through my school’s Google Apps domain; only Dr.
Schmidt has access at this time)
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 29
Appendix A: Sample student journal posts
Molly journalWeek 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully. 1) Well my greatest challenge is knowing how to use google docs like when I mixed up the WWII thesis. I try to go on it when I am home and I play around and I figured out what I need to know, I hope. I do hope to accomplish being able to fully understand google docs. Sometimes it bothers me when it all pops up in different tabs but it also helps me to, it mostly bothers me using the schools computer because it brings up a new internet instead of a tab. I do like the calenders because i can use it for my homework or family stuff and it wont show up on other peoples calenders. Molly, I hope as you 'play with' the process it becomes easier to understand and use. I also like to 'play around' with new technologies in order to better understand them. I'm glad you've found the calendars useful; I also find them helpful outside of this project.
J2: In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Jake’s JournalWhat has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? 1. the biggest challenge was probably getting onh each day to see if we have homework2. i havent overcome this but i am working on it by asking if we had homework3. i would like to accomplish being more savvy over the internet not only on gmail but on word and powerpoint etc. this could be difficult but i can do it
http :// web . ebscohost . com / ehost / detail ? vid =6& hid =7& sid =9360 b 9 f 3- ee 7 d -4 cf 9-8 e 78- 65 fbe 598 a 49 a %40 sessionmgr 12& bdata = JnNpdGU 9 ZWhvc 3 QtbGl 2 ZQ %3 d %3 d # db = eric & AN = EJ 308332# db = eric & AN = EJ 308332
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 30
Interesting way to phrase it 'being savvy over the internet.' What do you mean by this? Do you think the Google Apps Suite can give you this opportunity? Also, you'll want to post your link above to the shared website for your 'Holocaust experimentation' group; put it on the website with the name & author of the article & the abstract (or a short summary of the document). Do you think being savvy will involve using Google Apps with all your classes, or just language arts? Why?
J2: In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Annie’s JournalWeek 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully.
logging in. yes i forgot to go to the website i just went to google. inturacting with my class mates. i think it will be pretty self explainatory.yeah the video chat thing cause you can see the person and fully inturact with them and see thier ideas. :)
Annie, thanks for the comments. Next journal, please post the question within the answer ( eg: my greatest challenge so far has been logging in). Having just the answer is very disjointed & difficult to comprehend. It will be interesting to see how using video chat will help or hinder the process - I use this a lot for Iowa State and it is good to see the person you are speaking with. The most difficult part is the time delay (about 3 seconds); people tend to 'talk over' each other at first. :)
J2: In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Jennie’s journalWeek 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 31
creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully.
I think the greatest challenge for me was just getting used to GoogleApps. At first everything was a little confusing, but now that I have used it a few times it is actually quite simple. What I would like to accomplish is using GoogleApps outside of the English classroom. I want to use it in the future for other classes. I like Googleapps because everything has a set time and you don't ever have to question when things are due. It is also easier to communicate to other classmates while we aren't at school.
Jennie, I'm glad you were able to overcome the 'overwhelmingness' of everything that GoogleApps has to offer. I am interested in what you mean by "What I would like to accomplish is using GoogleApps outside of the English classroom." Do you mean for other classes here at STS, or do you mean in high school? What makes this Suite of apps appealing in that way? You also enjoyed the communication and organization aspects of GA - do you think these should be applied across the board by teachers in the middle school? Why / why not? Excellent job on your first entries!
In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Celie's JournalWeek 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully Well as you might have figured out, I am not used to the email thing yet i have never had one before and it is kind of confusing and frustrating sometimes. i love the fact that you ask if we need any help or have any questions in your emails and that you show us how to do things on the smart board. I also love that google is the email that we are using because it is very specific on where we might find things. it will take me a little while to get used to things but it could be worst. I really like the fact that the journal is only between you and I, the communication with peers.
Celie, thank you for the honesty of your reflections - learning everything from email to Google Sites all at once can be a bit overwhelming! :)I'm glad that you are finding the communication processes to be helpful; do you think this makes all the information easier to understand, or that it us just parcelled out in smaller chunks?
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 32
Collaborative documents can be wonderful; do you see the collaboration on the websites and calendars to be as helpful? Why / why not? Nice work on your first entry!
Mrs. ites,thanks for getting back to me. um answer to your questions i think the communication process helps but when we break it up into smaller parts helps A LOT:) i think the collaboration on the websites and calenders help make the work eaiser to understand and helps keep me organized. I was also wondering about our research paper, you said in class that you wanted us to have at least three sources. i was wondering if the sources had to be off the internet? i have been having trouble finding info on my topic on the internet and when i do find information it is either not what i am looking for or the same information but tweeked a little compared to the other information i had found before. i have found a excellent book called"HITLER'S POPE" by John Cornwell. the book is specifically on my topic but doesnt just show one persons side of view it is a book that tells what happened and the different sides of view. the author who wrote this book does a very good job staying nuetral throughout the whole book not picking sides and explaines both side of the argument in detail. my mom had also ordered a encyclopedia on the holocaust that talks about Pope Pius the twelfth. so if you could let me know about what our sources can and cannot be that would be awesome. thanks,CelieCelie - you are amazing and ahead of the ballgame! :) Each student must have at least 2 non-Web sources for their paper, but I don't start prepping them for that until Friday of this week. The book that you have and the book you are ordering sound like EXCELLENT resources. Remember, you are going to argue your point (that the Pope should / could have done more for Jews during the Holocaust), so if the author of your book is biased, that is OK. You will have 3 pros supporting your thesis and 3 cons going against it in your paper; the persuasion occurs in the way you arrange those pros and cons. Right before he died John Paul II published an apology for the Church's role in the Holocaust; I'm thinking if we look this up through EBSCOHost we'll find some good resources. Excellent start and initiative - now you know why you were a natural Organizer! :) - Ms. I
In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing . Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Maggie’s Journal
Week 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 33
WEEK 1#1) Getting the googledocs at home, with my computer. #2) I am still working to overcome this challenge. I will try it on my dads computer. He could help me with it at home. #3) I would like to get the feeling of computer files and doing my homework on the computer and email. I think this will be a difficult process. I think that it will be hard to send the homework, know where to find what to do, and know how to do it. #4) The email makes it feel that its my own. I can talk to people on this site while doing my homework. Also the calendars are cool so i know what is when.Maggie, thank you for the honesty of your posts. Have you been able to log on to the system on your home computer, or are you still having difficulties? Remember, you can't just log on to gmail, you have to use www.google.com/a/stsdsm.com. Otherwise, you won't get access. Please let me know if I can help in this area.You expressed concern over knowing when and where to find homework, but later talk about liking the email, chat, and calendar, which are the ways I've been notifying you of the homework. I find this confusing; please give me more detail here so I can understand and make the system better.Great first post - nice work!
In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Henry’s JournalWeek 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully. The one challenge I faced was remembering to log on.I forgot to activate the account and fill out the paperwork/make the journal/fill in WWII subject. However I am starting to get the hang of it and otherwise this has been an easy process. It might be because I have used Google Docs before for A Match Made In Hell. I don't find it hard, it's all very organized. I now have no problems with this. I have only used the doument part of google apps before and am very excited to have all the other features including mail and chat. I think it will help we can email each other sources and talk to each other to help with our projects. I have many options and things I can do on Google Apps, and it really makes me know it's mine. I feel like I'm talking to other people through the computer because of the way we will be able to look at each others work.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 34
Henry, thank you for the honesty of your responses. I am curious how you, Pat, & Matt may see this process differently after your work with Match Made in Hell. I'm also pleased to see that you are enjoying the collaborative aspect of what the Apps can provide. Do you foresee any problems using these different apps for class? Do you see yourself using these apps for other classes than language arts? Why?
In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
John’s journalWeek 1 questions: What has been the greatest challenge(s) in setting up your GoogleApps account? How did you overcome these challenges, or are you still working at overcoming them? What would you like to accomplish using GoogleApps, and do you think this will be a difficult or easy process? Is there any aspect of GoogleApps that excites you or gives you a sense of ownership (eg: shared vs. private applications such as calendars & documents, website creation and maintenance, communication apps with peers)? Please explain your answers fully. I havent realy had any challenges. it was all pretty easy. i think this will be alot easier because we can work anytime. i think using google apps will be easy but the work we will have to do for the documentary will be hard.
John, it is interesting that you find the Google Apps to be easy and the documentary to be hard. Why do you think you have this difference of opinion about these two items? I'm interested in your comment about working anytime; do you think it will be helpful to access these documents as collaborators over the Web both during school and outside school? Why / what not? Be sure to give more details in your future entries; nice start!
In journal #1 most of you chose the calendar and the communication components as your favorite parts of Google Apps. Explain how these can be useful to you for class as well as for socializing. Also popular among you was the collaborative nature of Google Apps. Show me how this could be helpful to you in classes other than language arts. Do you think using Google Apps in all middle school classes would be beneficial or not? Please give detailed explanations for your answers.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 35
Appendix B – Sample Teacher Journal
● Phase 1: After developing my action research questions in class, I took this information
to E (administrator) for discussion. I walked her through the Google Apps site that
discussed safety, marketing, and testimonials from other educational programs. She
voiced valid concerns that most schools using Google Apps are IHE’s and not K-12; we
wrote this on our potential research posting. We gathered a few more areas of research to
review, including impact on student engagement, impact on student learning settings,
potential impact on test scores, informational safety of implementing Google Apps,
support for Google Apps, and need for PD to train other teachers.
● The technology team met over lunch to discuss the information E an I had previous
found. I brought examples of research articles in the areas previously discussed and
recommended search parameters using the school’s loging for EbscoHOST. The team
split up information to research (each member had approximately 3 areas to cover) and
agreed to complete this initial research before our meeting the following week. I’m
hoping some of these articles could be useful for my paper in class. I will be researching
impact on student learning settings, potential impact on test scores, and the need for PD
to train other teachers.
● Team could not meet following week and instead shared out info found via emails. I met
with Ellen to go over the specifics and we decided to give the study a shot, but only with
eight graders. The rationale behind this was that I teach all of them in two blocks each
day, they have had the most digital literacy instruction, and they will be held more
accountable for their own digital literacy next year, especially those attending DCHS. I
developed a possible parent letter and permission slip and submitted to E for approval.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 36
She made changes and approved the letter and permission slip; I sent both home in Friday
folders. The kids are incredibly excited to do this; I’ve shown both classes what the
homepage and the potential website would look like. Several kids have already broken
into research groups based on the topics they would like to write about for the MLA
paper; I am pumped to see if this infusion of technology can make the research writing
process more effective and less dry.
● The last of the permission slips have been returned, so I’m setting the kids loose in the
computer lab today – kind of scary, yet exciting! Most were able to access their GAE
accounts quickly; two students whose names require numbers were unable to log in, so
I’ve contact Google support to rectify the situation. All other students created their own
journal and personalized with background colors and fonts, then made me a collaborator.
I used the projector to show students my view as webmaster; when they saw that I truly
did have access to all their chats as well as their collaborative documents, they began to
seriously think about how they were using the chat app. I could hear the murmurs at
potentially ‘getting busted’ for poor behaviors on the Chat and Gmail. I emailed out the
first journal prompts and instructed students to cut and paste the questions into their
newly created documents; we’ll see how well that knowledge transfers to a new situation.
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 37
Appendix C – sample parent letter and permission slip
St. Theresa School5810 Cara Carpenter Avenue Des Moines, IA 50311Phone (515) 277-0178 Fax (515) 255-2415 ___________________________________________
Dear parents and students,
One of the big projects covered in grade 8 language arts is the research for and creation of an MLA-formatted research paper. Students have already covered the basics information regarding World War II through non-fiction texts, the Anne Frank play, and various instructional media. Now students are choosing their own arguable thesis, arguments for and against this thesis, and appropriate resources for support. As part of this process, students will create a documentary film on the research process. We will be working with two producers from IPTV as well as two research librarians from Drake’s Cowles Library. Based on student choice and teacher input, students will work in virtual and face-to-face groups in one of five teams: organizers, writers, artistic production, editing, post-production, and communicators. Each group will function across the grade, working face-to-face during class and virtually outside of class.
Students will also receive their own log-on for a new school-sponsored GoogleApps account. This account will be their primary source of communication: students will create calendars of short & long term schedules, wikis of information, images, and video, websites for each group’s work and an all-class website, discussion boards, email, virtual chat with the experts from IPTV & Cowles Library, and to check in with other team members, creation of documents and storyboards, and for communication regarding the premiere of the finished documentary.
Each student’s login matches their AR web login; their username is their lunch number with an additional three zeroes at the end (see example below)
John Smith AR login: JSMITGoogleApps username: [email protected]’s lunch code: 123 GoogleApps password: 123000
I recommend that all students and parents log in to their new account together, as the students will be asked to change their password from the AR-default-plus-000 to one of their choosing. While this is not required, it is a good time for students and parents to discuss appropriate use of their new account. These accounts will be locked down; meaning those with non-domain (stsdsm.com) addresses will not be allowed to join. Student behaviors using GoogleApps are an extension of the classroom; the same behavior rules and consequences apply. Inappropriate use of these technologies inside or outside the school campus will result in a student loss of technology privileges. I am confident that given the opportunity to function as adults virtually and within the classroom these students will rise to the challenge.
This project is based in the theory of constructivism, where students create a physical product applying their gained knowledge. It is also an example of Project Based Learning, where students learn required curriculum in a real-world setting working with experts within a field of study. Many of our students choose to attend Dowling Catholic, where creation of a science documentary is already part of the curriculum. It is my hope that this project will give our grade 8 students a solid foundation in organizational skills, group and individual goal setting and work skills, technology skills, and workplace skills they can capitalize on during their high school years. Once all students have signed up for the site and are placed into groups, a copy of the
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unit’s goals, processes, and project timelines will be created by students and Ms. Ites placed on the site.
Ms. Ites will maintain an active presence on the site and will serve as its administrator; any questions or concerns about the account, the process, or the completed documentary can be directed to her or members of the communicator committee. There will be twice-weekly updates on the websites attached to this site; I encourage students and parents to review these together.
Parents and students, please write your name, and sign you name on the contract form attached. Students, please bring these back to Ms. Ites no later than Monday, March 29th, as students are to have the initial Student Interests Survey hosted through GoogleApps done by this time. The projected premiere of the documentary will be Friday, April 23rd in the afternoon; this date will be subject to change as the project ‘takes flight’ and students begin their work.
Thank you for your support of student learning and Catholic education,
Ms. Itescites @ stsdsm . com
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Parent / Student / Teacher Contract
● I agree to have my student participate fully in the documentary covering good research practices at St. Theresa School during the 2009- 2010 school year. This process includes my child’s participation in GoogleApps through the stsdsm.com domain.
Parent written name Parent signature
● I agree to participate fully in the documentary covering good research practices at St. Theresa School during the 2009- 2010 school year. This includes my school appropriate participation in GoogleApps through the stsdsm.com domain. I understand that my misuse of these technologies will result in a loss of technology privileges on the St. Theresa School campus and could result in my elimination from the GoogleApps domain.
Student written name Student signature
● I agree to work with students to help increase their technology, organization, cooperative, research, and writing skills through the use of GoogleApps for the school year 2009-2010 and in the creation of the student documentary. I will maintain an active presence on the hosting site and assist students in their work virtually and face-to-face. I will communicate with parents and students about all aspects of the project and strive to maintain a safe environment virtually and face-to-face.
Teacher written name Teacher signature
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 39
Appendix D – Sample Google presentation outline(converted from a Google Presentation into text only)
Title: Experimentation SHOULD BE USED TODAY
By: Sydney
THESIS
The results of Nazi experimentation should be used today.
Strongest conStrongest con= That it was RUTHLESS and HORRID for the VICTIMS and would be DISGRACEFUL to use the information gained
● They performed these studies without the CONSENT of the VICTIMS, who SUFFERED INDESCRIBABLE PAIN, MUTILATION, PERMINATE DISABILITY, or in many cases DEATH as a result
● After all the living data was taken the twins would be killed by a single injection of chloroform in the heart. Care was taken to insure the twins died at the same time.
● The two main methods used to freeze the victim were to put the person in a icy vat of water or to put the victim outside naked in sub-zero temperatures.
● http :// www . remember . org / educate / medexp . html
● http :// books . google . com / books ? hl = en & lr =& id =_ VH - 7 oeT 4 lEC & oi = fnd & pg = PA 1& dq = holocaust + experiments & ots =7 PKpWyv 2 hF & sig = Td 8 oKQHe UkjCaU 7 kFZuRXmoF _5 Y # v = onepage & q = holocaust %20 experiments & f = falsez
Weakest ProWeakest pro= that it picked only CERTAIN people of certain traits
● They picked GYPSIS, HOMOSEXUALS, MEN, WOMEN, people with MENTAL ILLNESS, DWARFS, BLIND, DEAF, MUTE, and TWINS. This is giving a wide variety of uses of the EXPERIMENTATION
● Russian men,Blacks, Hispanics
● http :// www . remember . org / educate / medexp . html
● http :// books . google . com / books ? hl = en & lr =& id =_ VH - 7 oeT 4 lEC & oi = fnd & pg = PA 1& dq = holocaust + experiments & ots =7 PKpWyv 2 hF & sig = Td 8 oKQHe UkjCaU 7 kFZuRXmoF _5 Y # v = onepage & q = holocaust %20 experiments & f = falsez page 4
Middle ConMiddle Con= that the results of the experiments may not be correct since TENSIONS
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 40
and NERVES and not being a willing donor to the EXPERIMENTATION could affect how the RESULTS came out
● When you have a WILLING DONOR they are more RELAXED and know what is coming. When you have someone who is AFRAID, NERVOUS, TENSED, the OUTCOMES will be DIFFERENT then if they were willing DONORS
● http :// www . auschwitz . dk / doctors . htm
● Measurements of heads, eyes, nose, blood were required.tubes being forced through their noses and into their lungs.The young men were crying so loud that Doctor Mengele ordered they be gagged.
● http :// www . remember . org / educate / medexp . html
Middle ProMiddle Pro= it will help us also UNDERSTAND what the JEWISH people and others went through at the mercy of the GERMAN DOCTORS
● If we use the MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION we can better UNDERSTAND what the GERMANS did to the JEWS. If we know more the better we can LEARN from the MISTAKES of the PAST and be sure NEVER to let this HAPPEN AGAIN
● The Holocaust was the systematic annihilation of six million Jews by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis during World War 2. In 1933 approximately nine million Jews lived in the 21 countries of Europe that would be military occupied by Germany during the war. By 1945 two out of every three European Jews had been killed by the Nazis. 1.5 million children were murdered. This figure includes more than 1.2 million Jewish children, tens of thousands of Gypsy children and thousands of handicapped children. offered so much to mankind.
● http :// isurvived . org / TOC - I . html # Up
● http :// www . auschwitz . dk / doctors . htm
Weakest conWeakest Con= that they were already in BAD HEALTH that it again was not ACCURATE
● The people when they came to BLOCK 10 they were already in BAD HEALTH so with that said the EXPERIMENTS would not be ACCURATE. People when getting SURGERY or something MEDICAL are in GOOD enough HEALTH for it to WORK.
● http :// en . auschwitz . org . pl / m /
● PETER ROSSLER, then 11 years old, watched helplessly as his father died in the ghetto. He was 46. Peter's mother died a few months later, at 36. Nine more close relatives died in the ghetto or were deported to death or labour camps.
● http :// web . ebscohost . com / ehost / detail ? vid =2& hid =2& sid =8 ce 9 db 99- cab 3-4 f 6 d - bf 6 f - e 702677 b 3158%40 sessionmgr 12& bdata = JnNpdGU 9 ZWhvc 3 QtbGl 2 ZQ %3 d %3 d # db = n 5 h & AN = SYD -5 P 2 A 9 L 2 R 4 LGB 6 VGS 566
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 41
Strongest ProStrongest Pro= That it already happened and it was HORRIBLE but what if we could BENEFIT from what happened and FIX other people wouldnt that be WORTH the WORLD so many DIED but if you could SAVE just one person from the INFORMATION we gained wouldnt that be ENOUGH.
● The JEWISH people DIED at the MERCY of the GERMAN soldiers. They were TORTURED and KILLED then BURNED in the CREMATORIUMS. If people now in this day and age could BENEFIT from the HORRORS of the PAST we should SAVE people now then let them SUFFER and DIE when MAYBE there is a CURE somewhere in those documents. In my opinion people would REMEMBER the HOLOCAUST alot more if there was a semi good ENDING in this HORRIBLE STORY.
● http :// en . auschwitz . org . pl / m /
● http :// books . google . com / books ? hl = en & lr =& id =_ VH - 7 oeT 4 lEC & oi = fnd & pg = PA 1& dq = holocaust + experiments & ots =7 PKpWyv 2 hF & sig = Td 8 oKQHe UkjCaU 7 kFZuRXmoF _5 Y # v = onepage & q = holocaust %20 experiments & f = falsez
●
re-stateWithout a doubt the results from Nazi experimentation should be used today.
work sited
● http :// isurvived . org / TOC - I . html # Up ●● http :// www . auschwitz . dk / doctors . htm ●● http :// www . remember . org / educate / medexp . html ●● http :// books . google . com / books ? hl = en & lr =& id =_ VH -
7 oeT 4 lEC & oi = fnd & pg = PA 1& dq = holocaust + experiments & ots =7 PKpWyv 2 hF & sig = Td 8 oKQHe UkjCaU 7 kFZuRXmoF _5 Y # v = onepage & q = holocaust %20 experiments & f = falsez
●● http :// web . ebscohost . com / ehost / detail ? vid =11& hid =3& sid =3 a 8 d 2 ee 2-80 e 8-4378- be 04-
49 b 920 b 86 f 79%40 sessionmgr 4& bdata = JnNpdGU 9 ZWhvc 3 QtbGl 2 ZQ %3 d %3 d # db = eric & AN = EJ 762533
●● http :// books . google . com / books ? hl = en & lr =& id = CEt 6 nlBbKMIC & oi = fnd & pg = PR 9& dq =
%22 experiments %2 Btwins %22+ %2 BMengele & ots = foJT 1 B _ q 48& sig = fAPjDVJUXjbc 55 oJyuimeXdy 8 n 0# v = onepage & q = %22 experiments %2 Btwins %22%20%2 BMengele & f = false
●● http :// en . auschwitz . org . pl / m /
Google Apps in a Grade 8 Classroom 42
Appendix E – Sample student wiki(This is only available through the St. Theresa School Google Apps domain; Dr. Schmidt has access to this artifact)