I Told You Google Would Take Over the World

Well, maybe Google isn't taking over the world, but we sure better invite them into our schools and classrooms with open arms! 

After attending today's 'Ohio Goes Google' conference  (#ohiogoesgoogle), any doubts one might have had about the usefulness or ability to implement Google into K-12 education should be subdued!  Despite our lack of useful Wi-Fi access within the conference (ironic for a 21st Century Skills type conference!), the sessions and networking opportunities have certainly given many of us useful ideas, wonderful links, and fantastic insight that can be instantly taken back to our schools and implemented for increasing student achievement. 

Obviously, I am a Google user (Googler?)... I maintain multiple Blogger blogs, cram Google Docs down the throats of my staff, and upload ALL of my pictures to Picassa.  In fact, I also use You Tube, Calendar, Reader, Gmail, and Maps, and I have a Droid powered by the Google Android Market.  What don't I do with Google?  Very little.  As I said about a year ago (to a small circle of people!), Google is taking over the world.  If you don't believe me, imagine one hour without Google...

But what does Google mean to education?  For most of us, this is a game changer... there are so many ways to be innovative and to engage learners in (and out of) the classroom using the Google Tools.

Here are a couple of resources shared with me today... check them out:

• bit.ly/hby9jO
• goo.gl/eQmom
• goo.gl/u5LHD
• visit http://www.ohiogoesgoogle.org/ for more

So, if Google hasn't taken over the world yet, Ohio should at least brace itself for a take-over after the Ohio Goes Google conference.  This is a great step for education in Ohio.  Its great to see over 700 educators talking about 21st Century Skills... sorta feels like we are beginning to head in the right direction!

What's the next step?  For me, its all about passing this information on to my teachers.  Beyond the many ways I discovered today for sharing and collaborating, I also host 'Tech Tuesday' to share ideas with others -- every Tuesday we discuss a different tech tool that can be used in the classroom.  We also share and collaborate on a staff blog and through Google docs. 

Please share your thoughts on Google, ways you spread the word, or links you took away from the Ohio Goes Google conference.

If It's FREE, It's For ME!

Blogging (with my iPad) from the Smart Ed Free Tech conference (#SEFT) in Toledo, Ohio.

I was not able to make it to the Smart Ed Free Tech conferences last year, but all feedback I heard was extremely positive. Today I was able to experience this great FREE conference first hand. Thanks to Smart Ed for putting on this conference -- free of charge!

And speaking of free... In today's 21st century world, we have so many great FREE resources at our disposal. Sure, there are still many cost-prohibitive or just expensive tools for the classroom, but with some resourcefulness and effort, there ARE so many ways we can teach and learn for free. So many web 2.0 tools are free (check out my free tools tab above), but more importantly, there are so many great ways to learn and get professional development for free. Beyond this free conference, try reading blogs for ideas (especially freetech4teachers), using Twitter, or even talking with colleagues in your own school.

For resources like what blogs to follow or how to use Twitter, look for links on the tabs at the top of this page.

If It's FREE, It's For ME! What free tools have you found in education?