Well, googledocs assignment down - and it wasn't that bad! I used a document to discuss an upcoming science department meeting which I shared with Mary and Emily. I definitely see the possibility of composing department agendas using googledocs as well as having actual meetings using googledocs. I know this is already being used by department chairs and by district administrators for their meetings. My question to Sandy Sommer at our inaugural class meeting was "what makes googledocs so great - why can't you just email everyone with an attachement?" Although Sandy provided an admirably enthusiastic pro-googledocs answer, I wasn't completely convinced until I watched the googledocs tutorial and saw for myself what a real mess Word documents attached to emails can be especially when sent to multiple people.

In the class googledocs sandbox someone had suggested that they can be used by pen pals - what a fabulous idea! I saw where Luke and Cheryl are using googledocs in their classes so students can edit one another's work. Bravo! There are endless possibilites to this application alone. Someone halfway across the globe could edit your work (and be your pen pal all at the same time!)

Erik and Mike said they were considering using googledocs for class group projects. Imagine being in school assigned to work on a project with someone and not even having to be the same building at the same time with them to do the project. No more meeting at the library on Tuesday at 6 pm (and one partner not showing up). Now there's no excuse not to participate in a group project. I wonder, is there a way to log how much time each person in a group puts into the project that a teacher can check? That would be invaluable, not to mention it would eliminate those arguments between group members about who did how much work on the project.

Surveys(Maggie)and quizzes(between cooperating teachers?) would also be a great use of googledocs. I believe some teachers are also using the calendar documents as well (good for members of a group trying to work on a project too).

Myself, I'm still mulling over how to use them in my courses. Any ideas from all of you out there are welcome!

Ah, the sweet smell of success! Emily and I finally got a copy of the Time Log to print last night. High-five, Emily! Also, I finally found my electronic copy of the time log on Googledocs which I am now filling out. (So much for figuring out how to print it!) So happy to see some of you have commented on my humble blog. Keep the comments coming. Maybe we can work this technology thing out together, huh?

I am now bashing and banging about ideas for the screencasting assignment due December 13. I am thinking about conversion factors/picket fence/factor label method of solving algebraic equations in Chemistry. Since I feel like I explain this a million times every year to my students, I might as well put it on a webcast and hit "play", right?

Mary, if you are out there reading this and mulling over ideas yourself, maybe a webcast on how to stain microscope slides properly, eh? (A little Canadian humor there, don't ya know.)

21st Century Skills course

This is a very intense experience. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed as you all probably are. Will anyone feel sorry for me if I suddenly burst into tears?? I do see wonderful possibilities in using this blog. I'm looking forward to Skype-ing some of you over winter break as well.