Integrating technology into the curriculum is one way to achieve MSA Student Performance Objective #2, Goal #2 (all classrooms will become collaborative and inquiry based centers for critical thinking that foster excellence in reading, writing and communication). The use of Google Apps in classrooms will inspire students to become critical thinkers in a nurturing educational environment. Participating teacher goals include:

• increased peer-to-peer feedback and collaboration.
• timely teacher feedback.
• increased formative assessment and feedback through the use of Forms.
• using the variety of Google Drive apps (including Drawings) to allow students to express themselves in modes other than writing.
• offline access to ensure uninterrupted productivity regardless of students’ locations.
• all students are able to benefit from and contribute to the learning activity regardless of their chosen device.
• facilitating increased communication and ease of submission by connecting Google Drive to Edmodo and Turnitin.
• managing student assignments and overseeing collaboration.

Students will use their AIS email addresses to create Google accounts.  They will have access to all of the Google Apps except Gmail.

As a Technology Integration Coach and Google Education Trainer, my role will be to provide professional development on teaching methods to support collaboration, inquiry and critical thinking (SP2 Goal #2, Action 1). I will be specifically focusing on SP2.2.1.b (teachers learn strategies that develop critical thinking in the humanities and language arts),  SP2.2.1.c (teachers learn strategies to develop collaborative learning environments), and  SP2.2.1.d (teachers learn to redesign assignments to optimize use of the internet as opposed to controlling its use).