Response to Google Apps

Yes I can see how the application of Google Apps could be great for collaboratively writing documents/papers. In trhe past, learning was done individually (most everything). So writing was a solitary activity. This new application could create a wonderful environment for students to see how and what others are writing and to create a piece of writing that many are involved in. I can see how group projects for children also help in aquiring confidence in the process of writing; knowing that the draft is the process and that the final version or product has many lives before it is complete.
In addition, though I have'nt tried it, I can see how the cloud concept can work for images as well. Where one student imports an image, then another edits/draws on it etc. This has so many lessons in it, the most important is to teach the importance of process through "disowning" your work - not being so precious about it. I found lots of interactive drawing/painting sites that do this.
Lesson Plan #1
In the past I used to teach very traditionally, lecturing and then having the students apply the concepts in drawing. The concepts presented were subject to all kinds of factors relative to the environmnet that the students were in. In this lesson, using Google Apps, specifically Google
Earth and Google Site looks at a simple photograph and dissects it, rather the students dissect it by reading about photography, placing it in a timeline in history, placing it geographically and asking and answering questions about the power of the image and it's impact on history.
The students enter Google Earth and create a folder and then Placemark eash of the photgraphs they have chosen from American photographers. Then they can view PBS series about a century of American photographers and learn about the history of photography. Then they work collaboratively on a site that talks about the different photos as they are simultaneously researched. These conversations will be guided by questions from the teacher and therefore the student can immerse themselves in the concept rather than merely listening.
Lesson Plan #2
This lesson is also interactive but I dont think nearly as helpful in understanding concepts. Essentially the student creates a timeline of artists birthdays in history as well as other critical moments in the history of art (Guernica, Sistine Ceiling, discovery of Tang soldiers). The students will link the events to a place on the map. I can see how this lesson could be an introduction to Art History for younger students. The final piece of the lesson is to create a Google Calender with all the events they have found. The calender is linked to Google Maps so the place of birth can be accessed from the calender. Essentially the calender project is an individual one but the other students can access it all the entries made.