Thing 20 – Google Docs ( OH MY GOSH !)

I am going to enjoy discovering more things to do with Google Docs. When I was reading about all the possibilities in the assignment, I was becoming a bit overwhelmed (it does not take much these days). Once I got started, I could not believe how easy it was to at least create a simple spreadsheet and form. After I created the form that I wanted everyone to fill out, Google literally did the work for me in formating the spreadsheet. I decided to indulge my curiosity about how many of our teachers and administrators played (and still play) and instrument or sang in a chorus while they were in school. So I created a spreadsheet with a form that could be filled out called Web 2.0 Music Survey. I think it would be interesting information to present to my students.

I can think of many ways to use this tool, both privately and professionally but I will only put down the three that strike me as being most valuable to my classroom.

!.) Our music library is getting too large to store in my head, so I am going to use a Google Spreadsheet to Catalog it according to skill levels, class level, seasonal,solo parts available…etc.

2.) When the students bring in their personal instruments, I am going to use another spreadsheet to keep a record of the serial numbers and important info about their instrument. Three times last year, we had an incident where one student lost their instrument but rather then tell someone, they kept borrowing other students instruments (without their knowledge). Thankfully, 2 of the instruments were found (not the one lost by the original student) because the parents had a serial number and I was able to trace it.

3.) I would like to expand on the Web 2.0 Survey I am doing now by sending a similar survey to be filled out by my parents.

I will use Google Docs in soooo many other ways like Instrument inventories, DVD/Tape inventories,special lesson activity inventories…etc; just give me time.