Transcript: Hi my name is Krisztina Domjan and this is my mind map called Engaging Learners Equally: Googling Your Way into a Learning-Centered Environment. You may ask why would I Google my way into a learning centered environment? Digital Citizenship is a term that I have heard and read about frequently on many platforms dedicated to teaching and education. Websites of middle schools and high schools explain how they prepare students for safer and practical internet use, responsible behavior regarding technology use including using Blackboard and Google apps for educational purposes. Therefore, this new generation learners or digital natives can be fully equipped with such skills as they enroll in colleges and universities of their choice. These students might as well expect us, educators, to employ a teaching style that relies on Blackboard and Google apps. In my courses I use Google Docs and Forms as teaching tools, and my strategies are linked to student success because they not only allow me to reach out to diverse learners but also to increase the levels of student learning, and personal development. The innovative teaching strategy, which I advocate and promote implementing, uses two Google Drive tools (docs and forms), a Google Chrome extension (Screencastify), and a Google Marketplace app (Mindmeister) - all cost free:

Google docs can be more than just a word processing tool: use Google document as a learner's course portfolio for efficient assessment and personalized feedback. I ask students to copy the course portfolio template, which I provide, on day one as they create a new document. The template is formatted already with several headings for easy document navigation. Students type and store brainstorming material, grading rubrics/checklists, first/zero drafts and revised/final drafts throughout the entire semester. Students can work with faculty who can provide guidance and ensure progress and mastery for each. In this learner-driven environment students who complete their coursework in the interactive Google document (called Course Portfolio or Digital Notebook) are able to see their progress and find my/instructor feedback: in the interactive grading rubrics, my notes, references and video tutorials in the margin, and my video messages which provide an overview of their work each week.

Google docs can be the perfect tool to turn a holistic or analytic grading rubric into an interactive single-point rubric which also serves as a comprehensive checklist for students. These engaging rubrics or student checklists will help direct the format of one’s learning, or may help clarify assignment goals that students understand to accelerate knowledge retention and promote growth mindset.

The Mindmeister Google Marketplace app is a mapping tool for students to brainstorm, gather and organize information, a platform for collaboration, and with a simple click it can become a presentation tool.

Screencastify, a Google Chrome extension is a screen recording tool for personalized video messages posted in the learner’s Google doc course portfolio, weekly class messages for online students, or a crutch for anxious students to record their presentations. I use it to explain a mind map or a road map, leave feedback in student portfolios, leave weekly messages for my online students as I introduce the upcoming weekly tasks.

I use Google Forms as I take attendance in a f2f class. At the end of each session, students sign it by typing their names and date, but they also have to answer 2-3 questions about the session. These questions are similar to exit tickets: name one thing you learned today in class or name one thing, a concept, a rule or an idea that still remains confusing. This way the attendance sheet becomes a simple diagnostic tool which helps instructors become agile and mindful listeners. Google Forms are good for midterm and end-of-semester student self-evaluations to reflect on one’s progress and the tasks, assignments, tests, tools used and completed.

This new approach will positively impact the rigor of one’s course and add to its thoroughness and transparency. The implementation process depends on each faculty member - how many tools, and to what extent, you are willing to add to your courses each semester.

To conclude, students of any age and social or cultural background are clearly ready to embark on this new adventure of using engaging and useful interactive tools, and instructors, who might need initial instructional support, could easily implement them: both sides would become confident digital citizens. The simple measures that come with the implementation of this innovative way to enhance classroom effectiveness can make several courses greener, and it gives teachers an easier approach for grading, feedback and data gathering. Skills gained in my classes via using these tools can and will transfer to other classes and in one’s personal life/work as well. A small change regarding where and how the written work is typed, stored and shared will make a big difference for every participant without having to compromise the learning goals of your course or the learning needs of your students.