As part of the process of becoming more involved in schools and businesses, Google, has acquired and provided to users several Web 2.0 -Web based software applications that they host at a site call "Google for Educators." These applications are free for anyone to use, and eliminates the need for students to purchase expensive software applications to allow them to be able to 'interoperate' with the software that is available at school. These applicationsare available anyplace in the world where you, or your students, have an Internet connection. What does this mean? No more floppies or CD's, no more version or application conflicts and better yet, you can collaborate online in real time.

This is a web based tutorial designed to teach teachers and students on how to use the Google tools in an educational setting. This site is also a wiki, which will allow users to post new uses of these applications in class and create a library of resources that all teachers and students can benefit from.

• Google Calendar
  
• Docs and Spreadsheets
• Blogger
• Google Sites- wiki
• Google Earth
• Google Reader
  
• Search and Advanced Search
• SketchUp
• Picasa / iPhoto

If you create new activities that use these tools as part of your class, please contact me, so that we can share them with other teachers within and outside of our District. The power of the new Web 2.0 tools is that they allow immediate, almost instantaneous sharing and collaboration with others.