There couldn't be a better time to be a Google Certified Teacher.
This is turning out to be the Year of the Cloud. I've talked numerously and presented about the Cloud and Cloud apps all year long, and it's just icing on the cake that I get to participate IN the Cloud at the Google Teacher Academy in Boulder, CO this week.
But- why so exciting; why is this year so important?
Last year's excitement about Google was supposed to be Google for Ed Apps, but I think that process of implementing Google for Ed Apps was a wake up call for some. Other topics like cell phones in education and iPhone classroom applications seemed to steal some thunder in the blogosphere, at tech conferences, and on Twitter (no thanks to the esteemed Scott Meech and Liz Kolb). The sign-up process (or implementation) of Google for Ed Apps was not a smooth one, and many of us, including me (and perhaps Google) were thrown off kilter during the process. Improvements were made, the iGoogle frontpage for Ed Apps was thrown out, and we got through it. Now we're ready for more, and- have you seen what's on the horizon for Google Educators?
Google Apps
This is going to be a fascinating year for Google Apps in Education. Microsoft is going to be rolling out Office 2010, finally trying to compete with Google with some sort of Cloud version of Word. It will be interesting to see who wins this war, but I think that MS is going to spend a couple of years learning exactly what Google has already learned: implementing a Cloud system for education has tons of nooks a crannies that are unforeseeable- security, building teaching networks (like Google has spent the past few years already doing), and building a launchpad (like Google Sites) which allow educators to create a starting point. Google Docs is about to get an interface upgrade (see TechCrunch for more on this), presentations, and even Google Sites is getting more rich and more...intuitive. That's an important word for a teacher who doesn't like to click a million times while lesson planning. So much of Google's success relies on their open developer network, and I wonder - does MS plan on open-sourcing Cloud Word? Either way, I am implementing Google Apps in my classes this year, and look forward to develop the teachers in my district with the possibilities that Google Apps can give them.
Google Wave
I'm sure you've seen the video of Google Wave by now, but the possibilities that Google Wave offers educators stands to be enormous and a huge answer to many of our collaborative problems (ever have a group edit one wiki page?). What we see below is more of a digital sandbox than like anything I've seen before.
And like a digital sandbox- the Wave tool looks to be one that can connect students in real time, share files instantaneously from anywhere, and combines a number of already created communication platforms -email, text, twitter. I've always been impressed with Twitter's ability to funnel all of the communication pipes like Facebook and Delicious, but Wave looks to stand even higher above those pipes. I doubt that at Google Teacher Academy we will be able to work yet with this unreleased tool, but being a prolific user of Google Apps gives me confidence that when Google Wave comes out, I will be one of the first teachers using it.
Android
Why is this such a good year for Android, the Google Phone OS? And why should teachers be excited about it? Well, there's a lot to love about Android as a teacher. The synchronicity I enjoy between my Android phone and Gmail, Calendar, Google Voice , and Google Apps- gives me a leg up on the iPhone without jail breaking or creating workarounds (sync iCal and Calender, hello?). That's a deal breaker for a process-oriented teacher. Simplicity; I need time to teach my students- not endlessly look for solutions. Google has already done that for me with Android. In fact, my wife inputs into our Google Calendar, and I get alerts on my Android phone. It just works.Apple is making billions off its App Store, but I've read the tea leaves (other blogs that told me so) and the next year will show not one but twelve more Android phones opening up on various cell carriers. The Android Market is very quickly catching up with the App Store, and many of iPhone's favorite apps are now coming to the Market.
Why is this important for teaching? Well, coming from a digital equity point of view, this opens up the possibilities for classroom phone apps to millions of more students around the world, rather than just niche classroom iPhone/iTouch use. More students mean more possibilities, and I'm dying to see what kind of Apps for Education will be developed for the Android, the iPhone and beyond. Apple should be given its due for paving the street for cell phones in the classroom. Now, it's Google's turn. (Although it's not strictly for ed, take a look at the Google Sky app for Android. Too fun! Embed is below.)
Google Voice
While I don't know if there is a direct connection yet to education through the Google Voice tool in the classroom, how we communicate as educators with our administrations and fellow teachers surely impacts what goes on in the classroom. I'm interested to see how Google Voice may change the way we think about cell phones, texting, email, and communication at home and at the office. I also am curious to see if Google Voice changes the way that phone companies do business. Already Apple has removed its Google Voice app from the App Store (possibly in collusion with AT&T), and this controversy does stand to ratchet up the profile of this, as yet, unreleased tool. Google Voice was the reason I bought a G1, and I thankfully got an invite to GV a few weeks ago. I knew that with the Android phone, I'd be able to seamlessly connect with all my Google Apps, Gmail, Calendar and now Google Voice mail and text. Although the G1 is not a great phone itself, the OS is really what makes it worth it.
Googlify Me
Over the past couple years my motto has become, "teach more, manage less," and you'll see this phrase pop up here from time to time. Technology should allow teachers to do just this, not get muddled in logins, poorly designed UI, and freezing sites. The possibilities that Google offers to reach students from the richest to even in the poorest of districts is awesome. Since I'm such a proponent of digital equity, I have come to champion Google for it's ability to reach out to the masses; if Apple is Darren Aronofsky, then Google is Steven Spielberg. The teaching process is one I protect with vigor, and the intuitiveness that Google's Apps and ideas offer actually make my job simpler.
Teach more, manage less.
There couldn't be a better time to be a Google Certified Teacher.
