Google Classroom vs Google Sites
Lets face it... we are all going digital weather we like it or not. \xa0Everything about our relationships, professions, family, and now even our classrooms is digital. \xa0Due to the fact that we need to look at a screen for any piece of entertainment or knowledge these days it's time to redefine what exactly is and isn't in the world of educational technology. \xa0Lets first go back in time together.
Here is a question I want you to think long and hard about. \xa0What is the machine called that sits in your schools main office that generally gets kicked, poked, and cursed at on a minute by minute basis?\xa0
Correct Answer: It's called a Copy Machine!
Wrong Answer: It's called a Xerox Machine\xa0
What's the difference? Back in "the day" I remember teachers telling their students that they just "Xeroxed" the days assignments. \xa0I can even remember working in the "copy center" at Staples where customer after customer would come up and ask for a "Xerox" of their latest and greatest. \xa0The point I'm trying to make here is this. \xa0Lets call things by their proper name and identify what is ... and what isn't.
What Exactly IS a website again???
Today, most school districts require teachers to have websites. \xa0There seems to be a grey area in this. \xa0What is a website? \xa0What isn't a website. \xa0In one of our recent posts, we examined the difference between three of Google's free online content curation tools to see what is a "website" and what the definition of a website should be. \xa0The blog post featured 3 highly respected educators each examining the in's and out's of Google Classroom, Google Sites, and Google's Blogger platform. \xa0The answer was a unanimous obvious conclusion that Google Classroom and Blogger are not "Websites" they are other things completely. \xa0The only "Website" tool of the three was Google Sites.
This of course created much outcry from the Google Community with questions such as "What do you mean Classroom isn't a website?" \xa0and "What do you mean I don't have a website?"
The Typical Teacher Website
For many teachers they are given a "webspace" from their district where they put up some information about their class including contact information and a syllabus. \xa0For many teachers, they never touch it until the following summer. \xa0As one principal recently asked me "Isn't that a website?" My response was "No... that is a poster." The principal then asked me what my definition of a "website" really is. \xa0I explained that if an acceptable teacher "website" is a place where they can post basic information about their class including contact information and a syllabus... then they could easily setup a Facebook page, or a Twitter account with only 1 tweet, or perhaps take a photo of their desk and post if on Instagram and call each of those things their official class website. \xa0They don't tell any more or less information about the class than a general welcome page would. \xa0A website, when used and created properly served as your digital book from which your lessons and actives would be tied to. \xa0A website is an interactive, living, breathing part of your classroom. A Website is not a blogroll and it is not a document management center.
Does this mean that I don't like Google Classroom? Does this mean that I have a bounty on Blogger? \xa0Of course not. I use Google Classroom every and I have created several for the projects I'm using in my district this year. \xa0I think it's awesome and amazing. \xa0I am even lobbying for the option of embedding the Google Classroom stream ON a website such as Google Sites of WordPress.... just think of the possibilities for total digital harmony.
What do you think educators?
On this episode of Ask The Tech Coach, we examine exactly what a website is and what a website isn't. \xa0Join Jeff and Rob as we discuss this hot topic of digital learning. \xa0What does that mean??? Hit the play button and check it out today!
Topics Discussed
Sites vs Classroom
Types of Websites
What should be on a class website?
Why we love Google Classroom
Additional Resources
The Great EdTech Debate: Classroom vs Blogger vs Sites
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