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Google Workspace tools have made a real difference in my 5th class, even though I’ve only used them a small bit in the past and wasn’t very consistent with them. Having a basic setup in Google Classroom showed me how handy it is for keeping resources in one place, but there’s so much more I can get out of it.
Looking ahead, I want to use these tools much more intentionally. Classroom will give pupils a clear, reliable spot to check assignments and catch up if they miss a day. Google Forms will be brilliant for quick end-of-lesson checks and homework quizzes that grade automatically, saving time and showing me where kids need extra help. Plus, features like voice-typing in Docs and collaborative Slides will help every student work together and build confidence. Moving forward, sticking with Workspace will make my teaching more organised and help the kids become far more independent learners
My Google Slides Digital Story is about the Renaissance as it is a topic we cover in September. It also includes a Google Form to help plan what we may do for art based on this lesson.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1sjLdwmuHg27UQ9_fkCgA04CowZB1mj7fvMirx6Po_50/edit?usp=sharingAfter reviewing William’s (2014) paper, the idea of a Captains Log to encourage self regulated learning was a tool which stood out to me as one I could use with my 5th class to develop both AOL and AFL. Having a child, or children, summarise the lesson at the end would encourage them to focus on what was being taught and could also create discussion on what was learned (AOL) and what future lessons could look at for the topic (AFL).
With this in mind, I have created a Google Form for the first maths topic of the year which is Place Value. I would have the children fill out the form during and at the end of the lesson, and anyone who would feel comfortable sharing their opinions, learnings and insights could share them out loud with the class. This would help me and the students get an insight into what they have actually learned and what the future learning during the week will begin to look like.
I agree that using Exit Tickets on Google Forms can help us to gain quick and important insights into the learning which has taken place.
In my 5th Class History and Geography activity—where the children create a poster for Glendalough—using Google Classroom makes a huge difference for inclusion and engagement. By giving everyone a set Doc with pre-loaded links to Discover Ireland, all pupils have a solid starting point, and letting them choose between Docs or Slides gives them the freedom to show their learning in whatever way suits them best.
Features like Voice Typing are brilliant here, as pupils who struggle with typing or spelling can simply speak their thoughts to get their ideas onto the page without getting stuck. It also makes giving real-time feedback easy, as I can leave live comments on their Docs while they work, with the next step being a quick Google Form for self-reflection before they submit. When it comes to SSE, tools like Voice Typing show how we are actively removing barriers to learning through Universal Design for Learning (UDL), while Google Forms and shared Drive folders make it easy to gather pupil voice and collect work samples to track our digital targets as a school.
Using Google Slides is an excellent way to cover a topic which could be very text heavy by creating Slides which use clear images and bullet points. A great idea for children who find the class books difficult to read and understand.
I chose the topic Learning From Ancient Sites for 5<sup>th</sup> class History and incorporated that into creating posters for Geography. After learning about Glendalough the children will be challenged with creating a poster to encourage people to visit the site.
I have used Google Classroom to set clear instructions on how to plan their poster, find information online and piece it together on Google Docs. I was able to attach links to similar Discover Ireland posters and websites and created a Doc for each student to complete their work on.
The creation of Docs and adding links to the Google Classroom supports clarity of where they should make their design, what is expected of them and similar ideas they can use as inspiration.
One adjustment I would make would to provide multiple Google platforms as ways to create their posters. Instead of limiting it to just Docs, Slides could also have been given as an option for those who are more confident in using it.
Although I did not create anything for documented feedback, the children could present their posters and through peer questioning I could gather an understanding of what the children have learned for my own reflection on the lessons.
Using Google Docs for writing genre is a great idea, I used it with my 5th class last year and they really enjoyed seeing notes left on it or when I would change things in real time. I would sometimes put passages up on the board for everyone to see and they loved reading eachothers stories when they were presented this way.
As a 5th class teacher, I have used Google Workspace tools such as Docs, Forms and Slides, but only sparingly and not yet to a consistently high level. This is an area I would like to develop further, particularly as our school is fortunate to have access to Chromebooks, which we can consistently use with our classes twice a week.
One resource I found particularly useful is the Google Applied Digital Skills activity https://edu.exceedlms.com/student/path/1606074/activity/3184816 I think this would be a good activity to use at the beginning of the school year to help my pupils settle into the new class and become more familiar with one another. I would adapt the activity for my 5th class by ensuring that no pupils’ names are used initially and turning the task into a game or challenge. This would make the introduction to the technology more engaging while also encouraging collaboration.
I would also use the activity as an opportunity to introduce pupils to Google Slides, as I am unsure how much previous experience they have using it. The Google Applied Digital Skills resources have already given me ideas that I can use when planning for September.