This document is designed to help teachers design, plan and implement a collaborative social media project using Google Apps. 

Project Planning

Step #1: Choose a theme -

Choose a broad theme from which to design your project.  It should be something you are interested in studying and that applies to your class.  Your theme should be broad, to allow for a number of different topics under that theme.  Having a number of different topics to choose from allows students to study one of their passions within a the context of your class syllabus.  It also provides room for teachers from other disciplines and schools to collaborate.  Some themes I have done are immigration, marginalized children, alternative energy, clean watersheds, and expedition literature.

Themes can come from:

a.  major news stories

b.  units in your text book

c.  College Board special topics

d.  personal interests

 
To help you choose a theme check out Google News.
a.  You could look at the stories under the major categories provided by Google News, such as World, Business or Sci/Tech
b.  You could look in the archive section, which has a time line showing which topics were the most popular when.

 

Try to pull your topics from a number of subject areas.  Consider adding components from literature, social studies, science, technology and mathematics.  You might think about creating a concept map of the theme and the topics that can be studied within this theme, such as the simple one below which I did on immigration.  During the course of the class, students can add to the concept map, which will help them to see connections between various topics and academic disciplines.

 

 

 

 

Essential questions are broad questions that cross disciplines and ask students to research an issue in order to make connections between academic disciplines.  These questions can be used to determine your learning objectives.  During this stage it is helpful to share your document with other teachers who can add information to your planning document.  You could share your document with other members of your faculty, email your friends at other schools using Gmail, or start a Google Groups and post a message with a link to your document. You might also consider posting a message to the Google Certified Teachers group.

Some examples of essential questions are:
a. What do different human migrations have in common?
b. What online websites, databases and research tools are available to me?
c. How can technology be used to visualize these migrations?
d. What are the immediate and long-term affects of these migrations?
e. How can I raise awareness about this issue by using social media?

 Step #4:  Decide what data you want to collect -

You can use Google Forms to create a form to allow students to collaboratively collect and share their data with others in their group, in the class, or with other schools.  Remember to check out the templates Google has.  They can add some color and personality to your form.  This form can be embedded in a Google Site so that everyone on the project can access it easily.

Step #5: Decide the deliverables -

Deliverables are the products you want you students to give you to demonstrate their learning.  Some suggestions are -

a. A paper that was written collaboratively using Google Docs
b. A spreadsheet and charts that help the reader to visualize how data has changed over a period of time.
c. A collection of photos that represent the issues using Picassa Web Album
c. A drawing in SketchUp to visualize a 3D structure
d. A map that shows a tour of a city using Google Maps.
e. A personal journal using Blogger.
f. A series of annotated bookmarks using Google Bookmark.
g. A web site with a number of embedded elements using Google Sites.
h. A layer and video tour in Google Earth.
i.  Produce a movie and upload it to Google Video.
j.  A multi-media presentation using Google Presentations.

Step #6 Create a rubric for each deliverable -

You can use Google Docs to create a basic rubric for each deliverable in your project.  It's best to create this rubic early on, so that both you and your students know what is expected of them during the project.

Step #7:  Create a planbook / curriculum map for the project -

You can use Google Spreadsheets to create a simple planbook to map out what you will do on which day of the project.  I suggest leaving at least 1-2 days for each technology tool you want the students to learn.  Also provide some time in the computer lab for students to work on projects.  This planbook can be embedded into the Google Site so other teacher who want to participate know what is due each day. 

Step #8.  Create a calendar for the project -

Set up a Google Calendar (separate from the planbook) for due dates for assignemnts and projects so that students from each participating class know when field tirps will occur, homework is due, or when online chats will occur between students to discuss their data. 

 

You can use various Google Apps to research your topic and provide students with a reader for the course.  These blogs, podcasts, websites, books, journal articles and other PDFs can be assigned to students on a weekly basis as background reading for the project.  Links to these items can be set up in a page on your project site.  Don't put up everything.  Students can be assigned to add items to your reader as the project progresses.  You can also use this opportunity to talk about the validity of sources.

a.  Use Google News Archive Search to learn more about recent or historical events.
b.  Use Google Search to find websites on your issue.  You can even use Advnaced Search to limit your serach to countries, states or certain news papers.
c.  Use Google Blog Search to find blogs on the issue.  Make sure to discuss with students how to determine the validity of the blog and its relevance to your project.
d.  Use Google Books to find books on your topic.  Many of them have samples chapters and are complete.
e.  Use Google Scholar to find peer reviewed journal articles on your topic.

Step #10.  Create a web site for the project -

Create a Google Site and add the items necessary for students to complete the project.  Some items you might consider:
 
Main Page: 
Image
Introduction
Project Goals
Basic Steps of the Project
Deliverables
Link to Final Project
How to Navigate the Site
How to Get Involved

Sub Pages:
Problem-Based Scenario (Google Document, Sites - Web Page)
Data Entry (Google Forms, Sites - Web Page)
Calendar of Events and Due Dates (Google Calendar, Sites - Web Page)
Student Directions (Google Document, Sites - Web Page)
Disucssion Questions for Books and Films (Google Documents, Sites - Web Page)
Rubrics (Google Documents, Sites - Web Page)
Templates for Student Reports (Google Document, Google Presentation, Sites - Web Page)
Concept Map (Google Documents - Insert Drawing, Sites - Web Page)
List Pages for Students to Link to their Documents (Google Sites - List Page)
Project Reader (Google Sites - List Page)
Project Documents and Images (Google Sites - File Cabinet)
Student Video (Google Sites - Dashboard)
Picassa Web Album of Field Trip Pictures (Google Sites - Dashboard)
Student Bibliography (Google Sites - List Page)

For the Teacher:
Daily Planbook (Google Spreadsheets, Sites - Web Page)
Curriculum Map (Google Spreadsheets, Sites - Web Page)
Lesson Plans (Google Documents, Sites - Web Page)
Rubrics (Google Documents, Sites - Web Page)
Teacher Notes (Google Documents, Sites - Web Page)