My experience using google classroom

Due to the corona pandemic, I heard a lot about Google classroom and saw my brother and sister using Google classroom as their online learning platform where they submit their work and read the materials uploaded by their teacher. Most of the time I helped them uploading their work and reading the materials uploaded by their teacher so I was familiarized with Google classroom as a student.

So I used to wonder how teachers upload videos, assignments, and quiz in Google classroom.

After learning how to create and access Google classroom, I came to know that Google classroom is a platform where students and teachers can work collaboratively to construct knowledge, skills, and concepts enhance their learning.

my google classroom

 I created Google classroom for Social Studies to class VI students with the help from our tutor.  During that, I came across interesting features of Google classroom such as a stream, people, classwork, and grade. I learned how to provide an announcement, assign quizzes, assignments, and reading material on Google classroom. 

the task that I uploaded

As an educator in the future, I will encourage the use of Google classroom in learning apart from the usual class. Instead of providing assignments in the classroom, I will use Google classroom to assign them with the assignment and assign an online quiz along with relevant reading material. Through these, students get exposure to many ideas and knowledge other than the textbook.

     My promotional video on the overview of google classroom

Reflection on situating tool

 From the discussion, I learned that 'situating tools' is the application that helps learners to situate learning in an environment to experience the context of happening. it provides an avenue for learners to experience the real-life situation. The example of a situating tool includes simulation (fight, farming, surgery, environment, driving, History City, Sim City, play station), virtual reality, and CD-ROM.

Graph Calc

There are many situating tools that we can use in our teaching and learning. out of many firstly I learned how to use Graph Calc application.  Graph calc is an application that helps us in plotting graphs and finding a correlation between them. Under this, we did an activity where we plot 4 different types of linear equations and draw the correlation between the graph. After familiarizing myself with this application, I found this application very interesting, engaging, and applicable for the teacher in teaching the graphic concept to the learner. it helps learners think critically to draw the correlation between the graph as well as aid better understanding of the concept as it provides a platform for experiential learning.   So as a teacher we can use graph calc to teach the concept of the graph as it will be easier for learners to find the pattern of the graph and provide a platform for active learning.

map view

Another situating tool that I learned is a 'google map'.Google Maps is a web mapping service developed by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets, real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bicycle, and air, or public transportation.  As a teacher, we can use google map in subjects such as social studies and math to teach the concepts of the location of any place, time, distance and area instead of reading from the text.  Moreover, it provides a 2D and 3D view of a place that we want which builds an exciting curiosity to explore more and provide real-life experience.

Street View of Paro College of Education

The last situating tool that I learned is on simulation. the simulation on different content helps the learner to comprehend the content better as it provides the learner hand on practices learning where the learner can change variable and do an experiment. After going through the PhET simulation, I found out that simulation allows me to feel the real experience of the environment. By using it, I can comprehend the concept easily because I have a choice to manipulate the variables. Also, when we manipulate the variables, it helps to boost the creativity and visualization skills as we need to focus on the simulation.  So as a teacher if we integrate simulation in teaching and learning, it will help the learner in decision-making, boosts problem-solving skills, and manipulates the elements of the model.

PhET simulation