Transformation

Lerman & Hicks, Chapter 1, is a lengthy and very full chapter. It does explain why we are focusing nearly half this class just on Google. The GAIN track works through what is properly known as Google Apps and what is fairly universally used in schools, as evidenced by the preponderance of lesson plans found in these apps. The only pieces not covered explicitly are Gmail and Chat. Gmail especially has some unique dimensions, compared to other email services, but they are relatively intuitive. As you will see in the reading, though, these two apps are foundational to a Google Apps structure. The Google Presentations slide show http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dd2xg6bf_294zqzf47xg (p. 14) provides a good introduction to how Google Apps all work together.

Reading Notes: The Principal, p. 6, starts an ongoing litany of astounding gains, percentage-wise, that will crop up in other areas as you read through the chapter. Although the fimeline starts in 2003, with more or less natural personnel changes over a 3 year period (see p.11-12), then major groundwork laid in the 2006-2007 school year, the results really ramp up in the 2007-2008 school year. In many respects, the huge gains really reflect one year's actually work with the system in place for the children. The principal's inspiration (p.7, in the sidebar) was in April 2007.

NIce quote, p. 9, "Unfortunately in education, many see technology as an option. I see it as oxygen."

The section on Teaming is easy to overlook, except it underlies to a fairly large extent the sections from pages 13-24.

Notice that Google Apps allows the speed of response for Instructional Improvement and Discipline, and pulls together information planning in some unusually creative ways that only could be accomplished with this sort of technology support (p.14-19). Assessment, Classroom Instructional Organization and Delivery (p.19-24) use spreadsheets in ways that are more recognizable, yet the collaborative nature of the documents help the teaching teams function far more effectively.

Although the presentation is a little frustrating to watch because the fixed camera does not follow the speaker to the screen when the speaker goes to point to something on the screen, you might want to see__ [] __ on the Instructional Improvement strategy.

The Dean of Students is really animated and passionate about her use of Google Apps in this video:__ [] __

Undoubtedly the videos most of interest to classroom teachers are these about the classroom use of Google Apps: __ [] __ and __ [] __.

When you get to You Tube for these you will see they are 7, 8, 9, 10 of a series on CIS 339 given at a conference where the school was feted for its accomplishments. I sampled a few of the others in the series to find all that I listened to reinforced what this chapter is about. So, if find any difficulty staying with the reading, you might want to try out a few more of the videos in the series.

Pages 24-27, be sure you know and understand the 7 factors contributing to success. The greatest amount of text is given to expertise, support and critical mass. These are areas where you, as a new teacher, can really be of assistance in helping everyone get a hand up to the help technology offers in the conduct of school in the 21st Century.

"What Does This All Mean?" pages 27-9, talks about "cloud computing." This is the overarching concept that drives Google Apps. There are other cloud-based services, it is just that Google Apps has the broadest array of apps and apps that are very tightly linked together. Be sure you understand the broader term "cloud computing," and what it entails, at least with regard to Google Apps.

CIS 339 is not the only school using Google Apps in significant ways. Also check out:

Maine Township High School District - __ [] __

This chapter, and the accompanying video clips, are full of statistics and references to the progress this school made and how it was done. Comment first on three of the astounding points of improvement accomplished, then note three activities that were implemented using Google Apps that contributed to the overall change at this school. Post your comments to the discussion group GAIN-CPED 5300 at Google Groups under the topic "Transformation."
 * __Performance Record__**