JOURNAL ENTRY #8: ONLINE RESOURCES THAT ARE TOTAL LIFESAVERS

Hey, guys. This week I've taken a few extra training sessions at work about some other online tools and today I want to share with you some resources and extra tips to step up your game in the online classroom. Now, all the following tools are from Google, which means that they are completely free and available when you need them, and, despite they may seem pretty basic, they can be wonderful and save you a lot of time and trouble:

Google Docs:

It can be used to teach live or just assign tasks and homework when needed
Different levels of interaction can be applied (individually, in pairs, in teams)
Excellent for writing skills development, even though it can be used for other purposes
Good for collaborative and communicative tasks
Gives students a space to develop creative and critical thinking

Google Slides:

Good for presentations and even mini projects
It can be used for teaching and learning
As Docs, this app is also built for collaboration
Compatible with PowerPoint
Offline edition is available
Slides can be changed to PDF format to make it look more appealing for students

Google Forms

Very useful to apply quizzes
Self-grading option is always an advantage
Several setting adjustments can be done according to the teacher's purpose (quiz, worksheet, assessment)
Notifications of every student's performance can be received through Gmail
Results are shareable

REMEMBER:

Have a moment to make your classes as engaging as your face-to-face sessions
Decide if you will have a Synchronous class (teach live in established day with the whole group present) or Not synchronous class (send students content through a platform or email and agree on a day to review it all together once or twice a week) according to your class' needs.
Materials are supposed to be aids for the lesson, not the lesson itself; therefore, don't rely entirely on them all the time
Keep it simple as students may have a hard time adapting to every single online resource
Look for permanently accessible tools
Don't use any tool you don't understand or have trouble managing
Before including any resource of this type, think about how they can be beneficial for your students

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