Today, we looked at ways of keeping track of digital resources and curating content. The resource I am most likely to use is Google Keep, because it is part of the Google suite of apps that I already use. That being said, I tend to use Google Calendar for scheduling and the Notes app on my phone for keeping track random information, so Google Keep and similar software serve to fill a need that I do not have.

Currently, I frequently use Google Drive to hold materials that I have created. I started using this when I was in Korea and was sharing lessons a games that I had created. I posted links to them in the (now defunct) waygook.org forum for fellow ESL teachers to download. I have used Microsoft Copilot for this recently, but I find that the sharing of files is not as easy.

Google Classroom is certainly a tool that I would like to use. It is something that I shall have to look at more closely during reading break. I believe that it will be most useful to me for posting assignments and keeping parents informed. I am a little worried that it might be seen by others as a way for them to have round-the-clock access to me.

This is how Gemini improved what I wrote:

Reflection on Digital Resource Management

Today’s session focused on various methods for tracking digital resources and curating educational content. While exploring several platforms, I found Google Keep to be the most practical option due to its seamless integration with the Google Workspace apps I currently employ. However, since I already utilize Google Calendar for scheduling and a native mobile application for miscellaneous notes, Google Keep occupies a niche that—for my current workflow—is already largely addressed.

Current Workflow and File Sharing

Presently, I rely heavily on Google Drive to manage and store my instructional materials. This practice originated during my time teaching in Korea, where I shared lesson plans and educational games with the ESL community via the waygook.org forum. While I have recently experimented with Microsoft Copilot for similar tasks, I have found its file-sharing capabilities to be less intuitive than those offered by the Google ecosystem.

Future Implementation: Google Classroom

I am keen to integrate Google Classroom into my professional practice and intend to explore its features more thoroughly during the upcoming reading break. I anticipate it will be an invaluable tool for:

  • Distributing and managing student assignments.
  • Maintaining transparent communication with parents.

Despite these advantages, I do harbour some reservations regarding work-life boundaries. I am concerned that adopting such a platform might inadvertently create an expectation of “round-the-clock” availability to students and their families.

Here it is in Old English:

Hæbbun wē tōdæg scēawode hū mann mæg his hord gegaderian and his bōccræftas wel healdan.

Þone cræft þe ic mæst lufie is Google Keep, for þæm þe hē is dæl þæra tōla þe ic ǣr gearwode.

Swā þēah, ic brūce mīnes dægrīmes tō tīde weordunge, and ic wrīte mīne lytlan ǣrendgewritu on mīnum sēolfontācnunge; for þon ne þearf ic þone nīwan cræft tō þissum þingum.

Nū brūce ic Google Drive oft, þǣr ic mīne lār-timber healde.

Ic angann þis tō dōnne þā ic wæs on Corealande, and ic dælde mīne lāra and mīne plegan mid ōðrum gōdum mægestrum on þæm brādum folc-stede Waygook.

On þissum dagum hæbbe ic Microsoft Copilot fandode, ac mē þyncþ þæt þā gerynu nē synt swā ēaþe tō dælenne swā on þæm gōdan Google.

Google Classroom is sōðlīce tōl þone ic wille lurnian.

Ic sceal þæt gēorne scēawian on mīnre ræding-reste.

Ic gelīefe þæt hit biþ mē swīðe gōd tō rædenne þā weorc þāra cilda and tō cȳðenne þone mægeþ-rǣd þæm fæderum and mōdrum.

Ac mē is sum lytel drēdrǣd on mōde: þæt mænigfeald fole wēne þæt hīe mægen mē findan and mid mē sprecan on ǣlcre tīde, gē on dæge gē on nihte.