Blog post 1

1. Give some specific ideas of how you could incorporate Blogs in your classroom. What are the advantages and disadvantages to using this technology in your classroom.
     Blogs can be incorporated into the classroom in many ways. One possibility is to have each student create their own blog to use as a journal, or a reflective piece for any subject that the class may be learning. Another option to incorporate blogs in the classroom is to have all students comment and discuss their ideas about a question or topic that the teacher has posted. Students can also view videos, pictures, and use podcasts to enhance and explore ways of learning outside the classroom.
     One major advantage of using this technology in the classroom is that everyone in the class is capable of viewing the blogs and then adding their own ideas. The students in the classroom can be connected beyond the classroom and therefore can learn from each others opinions. Also, it is a great way to organize new information. Students will always know where to find information that the teacher has posted. Another advantage is that students will be more enthusiastic about learning because they will be able to work with technology. We now live in a generation that is filled with television, music, games, and all different types of technology. Blogs are just another great way to engage the students.
     Although blogs have many advantages they also have a few disadvantages. For example, not every student is going to have access to a computer outside the classroom. So, if the teacher assigns the students homework using a blog format, some students will not be able to participate, or they will have rush to do the assignment during class time. Also, some students may not feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas with their peers so they will not have thoughtful responses.

2. What is your opinion of Google Apps? What are the advantages/disadvantages of using google apps over traditional office apps? List as many as you can.
     The first time I had used Google Apps was in class on friday, and I really liked it. I thought it was really interesting to see how easy it was to send, edit, and share information with others. One clear advantage to using Google Apps is its unique ability to be interconnected with other people simultaneously. This would be a great tool to use for college and even grade school classes.  The advantage of using Google Apps in college and grade schools would be how easy it is to share your documents with many different people, and those people also have the ability to edit and add their own thoughts and ideas to the paper. Instead of sending private e-mails back and forth everyone can see the document at the same time. One other advantage is how user friendly it is. Although I have not mastered it I quickly obtained a general understanding of how to effectively use it. Also, you can save your work and it will readily transfer to any standard office application.
     Some disadvantages to Google Apps are some of its applications. The traditional office apps have been around longer and have had time to develop and have more options, unlike the google apps. For example, powerpoint has many different slide layouts to pic from while google apps only has about five. Also, not many people have Google Apps accounts, or the knowledge of how to properly use it.