Connect, Organize, and Empower: Google Apps for Supervisors and Teachers

Heidi Laidemitt

and

Katie Dutcher

Monterey Institute of International

Studies

Outline

1. Audience Poll

2. What: Our IEP's use of Google sites, calendar, docs

3. Benefits: Connection, Organization, Empowerment

4. How: Using these tools • Small group discussion of current uses and needs• More detailed “how to”

All participants will receive... Our site template

Detailed tutorial for creating Google site

Do you currently use Google apps?Gmail

Docs

Calendar

Sites

Previously...

Too many different tools

Difficult for staff and faculty

Non-participation

Move to Google apps!Site combining calendar, docs,

and more…

Homepage

Quick access to most important, most used components of the site

• Announcements• Blog• Activities• Calendar• Sidebar

Announcements

Short posts

Anyone working in the program can post

Respond to posts

Blog

Same type of page as announcements

Used for longer posts...mostly meeting notes!

Anyone can post and reply to posts

ActivitiesSame same type of page

as announcements

Posts by activity coordinator

Advertise activities and invite instructors

Attach fliers

Comments to RSVP

Program Calendar(with class schedule)

Classes set to repeat until end of session

Activity coordinator adds activities as they are planned

Graduate assistant adds student, instructor, staff birthdays

Coordinator notes holidays/vacation days

View on homepage, make changes on main calendar page

Links (and Embedded Google Docs)

Link to other sites

Resources and tools for the team

“One-stop-shopping”

Have a document and want to link to it?

Embed a Google doc

Sharing the Site

Add email addresses of team members

Gmail accounts work best

Set permissions

View vs. edit

“Subscribe to site changes”

Maintaining the SiteNo maintenance

during session

Between sessions…

update sharing

add/remove staff profile pages

update class offerings

BenefitsConnection, Organization, Empowerment

Connection

Communication between team members working different hours

Stay in touch anywhere

Include entire team in ongoing conversations

Organization

All tools in one place

Google apps work together

Result: better participation

Record of information and decisions (archived)

Email inbox not overloaded with saved emails

Transparent: everyone has access to all info

Shared decision making involvement, satisfaction, commitment(Christison and Stoller 1997)(Bolman and Deal 2002)

Ability to raise discussion topics encourages autonomy

Empowerment

Conclusion

Initial transition time

Change for the better in our program

Team members better informed

Increased collaboration

How…

What tools do you use in your program/classes?

What are you considering doing with Google apps?

What would you like further assistance with?

Follow-up…Make sure that we have your email

address!

We’ll send links to

customizable site templatepresentation

detailed tutorial evaluation of presentation

Our contact information:

kdutcher@miis.edu

hlaidemitt@miis.edu