Put simply Google applications allow many pieces of the Office Suite to ‘talk’ to each other. What is meant by that is the fact that a student can have on his/her own blog within Google apps a plethora of learning throughout the year. Sounds like an e-portfolio of learning? Precisely what it is and now the ability is there for the learning to follow the student throughout their education.
Google applications consist of Powerpoint (simply titled presentations), Excel (spreadsheet), Word (write) and now Forms. The Forms have been added as an extension of the spreadsheet. Forms enables a student to create a questionnaire online for other people to answer. It can be closed of open questions and the results it provides are enormous.
Forms have the ability to collate, analyse, graph and comment on the data enabling a student to quickly see responses to questions and generate some generalisations about the data.
Simple forms can be created during statistical investigations like “What is your favourite colour?” to more in-depth questions asking the students to reflect on their home-learning this week or review the latest book they have read.
Google Applications is more than a traditional suite. It is freeware, web2.0 (web based and no need to upgrade any software) collaborative and more importantly offers a package that can ‘talk’ to all the other applications as well.
Further research into the Google applications should be made into the effectiveness of statistical teaching and learning for students to conclude if the data and results the application produces can enhance students’ minds and understandings.
Hadleigh Benson
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