Google Docs Group Project

The name of our project is creatively named Assignment # 2.  The purpose is to explore Google Docs and how we may be able to use it in our personal or teaching lives.  Here is a link to our group project: Assignment # 2.

This project was my first experience using Google Docs, and I learned a ton. After exploring Google Docs, I used it for one of my home work assignments for Grad Sem. I loved how it automatically saved my work and that I was able to access my projects anywhere any time. 

Google Docs is great to use in education because it encourages collaboration within a group. For example, I may share my ideas and my partners may add onto to what I have written and add their own. 

I worked alongside with Jessica and Kelsie. Both had great ideas and I added to their ideas. I also shared  an example of a table that may be used to gather statistics.

I don’t consider myself an expert yet in Google docs, but so far it has been user friendly and a useful tool that I know I will continue to use.

Blogs in the Classroom

I have never heard of or considered blogging in the classroom. I am fascinated by the posts, videos, and student participation in the blogs I saw (  http://huzzah.edublogs.org/ ).  I think there are several benefits in having a class blog. 

Blog leads to a whole different approach to the student - teacher dynamic. Teachers are able to provide a safe zone for student opinions. Students are able to put time and effort into writing reflective  responses that would possibly not be presented otherwise.  Blogs are beneficial for students that may be timid to share their opinions out loud in the class. People appear more real when they share about themselves.  Students could get to know their teacher and each other better and develop a type of bond, which may lead to more motivation and interest in school.

Blogs encourage writing and reading. Blogs may be helpful for students to increase their vocabulary and spelling. Once a student is online, they have easy access to a thesaurus, dictionary, and search engines. Search engines may also encourage further curiosity and the need to explore. I know with me personally, when I am looking up something on Google or Wikipedia, I tend to research other related topics. 

Blogs are great for sharing class assignments and projects with students and parents.  Parents may feel more involved in their child’s education and are encouraged to participate.  Blogs can promote collaboration between the school, students, parents, and community, which is important for a student’s success.

There can be negative effects to a classroom blog as well. For students that don’t have computers or internet, it could create a division in the class room; between the students that have computer/internet access and the students that don’t.  If a blog were incorporated in this situation, something would have to be done to make sure everyone has realistic equal access to computers and internet.  

I would personally like to have a classroom blog, but I don’t have any great ideas yet about cost effective access to computers/internet. The only idea I have so far is access to the Public Library or school library, but that may be unrealistic for parents that work long exhausting hours. I’m sure I will figure something out when the time comes.

My Bio- post 1

I grew up in the Willamette Valley with my two sisters and little brother. For the first eighteen years of my life I lived cities heavily populated by working class Latino families, including my family. Both of my parents didn’t graduate from high school. I am the first out of my family, including extended family that went to college. 

After high school I moved to Corvallis and started Oregon State University.  I was shocked to see that there were very little Latino college students. I was fortunate to get involved in Latino clubs. My first year at OSU, I observed that all the Latino students knew each other and helped each other. Even the three Latino professors were very involved.  I took a couple amazing Ethnic studies courses were I learned a form of history that was never taught to me before. I was amazed learning about Corky Gonzales and the Chicano movement. I treasured learning that Latinos are not lazy, drunk, beaners that take away from the society.  I learned to be proud of my cultural heritage. 

I still live in Corvallis. I enjoy living in a town that is rated as one of safest small towns in the nation. It is nice seeing people freely ride their bikes at any time of day or enjoy relaxing in well kept parks. I appreciate not having to worry about my house getting graffitied or my tires slashed. I am impressed with the amount of trust the high schools have in their students. The Corvallis high school students can leave campus during any time of day and are trusted to return.  My high school had security guards at both exits making sure we didn’t misbehave.  It saddens me that not everyone can live with such privilege; that not everyone has the same opportunity to live in a safe, collaborative community, or go to great schools. It makes sense how the privileged continue to be privileged and the oppressed continue to be oppressed.

 An older woman once called me a dreamer, but not in a good way; I think she was a pessimist. I believe I am a realist, but I agree, I can be a dreamer.  Hopefully the cycle of oppression will one day end, and everyone will have equal opportunities. But for now I hope to make a dent one person at a time. As  Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

All my life experiences and inspirers have led me to want to become a teacher.  I’m not really sure what grade yet. I’ve been going back in forth with each grade level: Elementary because they are still innocent and caring or high school because they need the extra support and encouragement. Ideally I would prefer teaching all grades. I’m sure in the end I probably will.  If I were to teach high school or middle school, I would like to teach Spanish and Ethnic studies.  In elementary school, I will most likely be teaching multiple subjects. I would like to incorporate information in diversity and oppression, and teach my students to be proud of who they are. 

Currently my hobbies are spending time with my family, partner, and friends. I work full time so I really enjoy relaxing on my days off and watching movies. I really enjoy movies with happy endings and movies that make me smile.  I like going to parks and reading a book on the grass under the shade.  I enjoy cuddling with my dog and cleaning up after his mess, actually not really.  But I do enjoy my dog; he’s a very loving creature. I also enjoy crafts, like scrap booking.  My interests are social justice, but I’m not really an intense activist, but I hope to lead by example and kindness.