Google Sites Reflection

1. What do you see as the potential benefits of Google Sites and/or other website development systems for you as a teacher?
With Google Sites it opens up a whole new world with teaching. Google Sites creates such a new level of communication. Communication can come from student to student about projects or from students to teacher to clear up questions. The great part is you can still communicate even outside of the classroom. In physical education sometimes it is hard for students to really understand what they are doing because they are unable to see the skills they are performing, but with technology like filming it can be easy to assess skills at a higher level. Keeping class calendars, web pages with announcements and assignments is another way I plan on using Google Sites. Posting when events begin and when exams are taking place will be another strategy I will use. Doing projects with Google Sites can be a big benefit for students and the teacher when working in groups. Again communication can take place without having to meet in one place to go over the topic. When I become a teacher I plan on using Google websites to help teach my class. One day I would like to develop a project over a specific content unit where the students are put in the role of a head coach. This project will be developed where they can use their imaginations by using the different Google websites and tools to create plays, strategies, and more while working in a group. Filming of games and plays that can be downloaded onto the computer is an example of something I would be looking for by students using Google Sites and/or other website systems.

2. What do you see as the potential drawbacks of Google Sites and/or other website development systems for you as a teacher?
One area that can create using Google Sites hard is knowing that every student can't have access to a computer outside of the school. I'm pretty sure not every student will have equal opportunities to have or use a computer. Each students background is different whether they provide for siblings, poor incomes, or have a broken environment can be a problem when having students find information or complete homework over the website. Another area that kind of relates to this is the previous experience that the student might or might not have had with computers and the technology provided these days. Asking a student to use Google Sites when they have never really had the opportunity to run a computer puts them at a unfair advantage compared to the students who have had those opportunities. One finally thing that could cause issues is the fact that it is outside of the classroom that they have to find and complete work. I would be worried it would only frustrate and turn the students away from wanting to learn and participate with the website. I want the students to be motivated and excited to participate with a fun and insightful website, but know there will probably be a couple of students who have no desire to be a part of the website.

3. Do you plan to have a class website? Why or why not? If so, what would you include on that website? Why?
Yes I plan on having a website because I think it can help the students prepare for the future. When I started college I had no idea I would have to check and send assignment through these websites. I also think that it could be a fun way to keep the students posted and enjoy the class. I would include a class calendar of important events, things involving both in my class and the whole school. Important announcement will be posted, although I will announce them in class as well. I will post grades and assignments through the website. I will do student of the week because I think that would be an exciting thing for students to look up and see. Even though I will be having a website I will make sure all information given through the website will be reported in class. I won't make assignments mandatory through the webpage because of the chance of students being unable to obtain a computer outside of the school. I will give the option for student to submit assignment through the website. I will also allow students to ask questions about assignment, projects, or other questions they might have. I'm excited to develop a website for my class. I think it can be very useful for students and me as the teacher.