By Stefanie Olsen, 12 October 2006 08:45
NEWS
Weeks into a new school year, Google has started courting teachers with a resource guide on how to use its applications in the classroom.
Late on Wednesday, the search giant launched a website called Google for Educators. The site includes how-to video tutorials for products such as Blogger; lesson plans for applications such as Google Earth; and links to a training academy to become a "Google certified teacher", a pilot programme for teachers to learn about technology.
According to Google's site: "We think of this site as a platform of teaching resources - for everything from blogging and collaborative writing to geographical search tools and 3D modelling software - and we want you to fill it in with your great ideas."
With the educators' site, Google continues a run on diversifying its business. Earlier this week, the company announced a $1.65bn acquisition of video-sharing website YouTube.
Google's education push competes with similar efforts by rivals including Microsoft and Yahoo!. Microsoft, for example, shepherded the opening of Philadelphia's School of the Future this autumn - a school that boasts a centralised high-tech network for learning and administration.
Google's resource site includes a teachers' newsletter, with tips and features on using technology. It also has links to how-to guides on 12 Google applications, including web search, Book search, Google Maps, Google Video, Picasa photo-sharing and Google Docs, a free word-processing service. Finally, the site showcases examples of how other teachers are using the programs, in partnership with WestEd at Infinitethinking.org.
Stefanie Olsen writes fro CNET News.com
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Dr. Ethel E. Johnson
I think this is a wonderful idea and a great venture!
2. Moira Nonnweiler
I'm a 5th/6th grade SDC teacher for Irvine School District.
I applaud the idea! My children need visuals for learning and I often use my computer with the overhead T.V. screen. Unfortunately, much of what I find on the internet is not very relevant.
3. anonymous
You talked about Google for Educators but did not add any links to it.
4. anonymous
As an educator, I would have checked out a link to the new site. When will that info be posted?
5. anonymous
Here's the link if you couldn't find it:
http://www.google.com/educators/index.html
6. anonymous
How does Google deal with racist or hoax sites that are frequently in a search? We wouldn't want students to access them without realizing what they are.