Day+5

toc = = =**Day 5: Google Spreadsheets and Forms**=

Prerequisite Knowledge
1. Familiarity with basic spreadsheet tools and functions such as formulas, sorting, and cell manipulation. 2. Ability to generate basic charts and graphs from Excel or Google spreadsheets.

Content
Spreadsheets are not just for mathematical calculations. Language arts teachers can use them to categorize, organize,and sort all sorts of information. With the ability to share and collaborate in Google docs, a single spreadsheet can be part of an activity for an entire class. When combined with the power of Google Docs forms, students can conduct research from potentially wide samples for high quality research projects.

Today we will experiment with just a few of the possible ways to teach language arts material in new ways with Google spreadsheets and forms. As with many of the activities in this course, try and create something you can take right back to your classroom or at least adapt for your specific teaching needs.

Objectives
By the end of Day 5, participants will:

1. Develop strategies and examples for using Google Spreadsheets as a language arts learning tool. 2. Be able to create Google forms for assessment purposes. 3. Develop ideas for using student-created Google forms to collect research paper data. 4. Develop strategies for including spreadsheet and form activities as components of larger thematic units or projects.

Lesson Activities
1. Using a spreadsheet to identify parts of speech Facilitator creates a spreadsheet template in advance with columns showing the various parts of speech (noun, verb, article, conjunction, etc.). Each row contains a sentence at the far left ranging from simple sentences to compound or complex. Participants break into small groups. Each group uses the template and renames the copy for the group. Group members work together to place each word in the sentence rows in the corresponding columns that identify the parts of speech. The first group to complete the activity wins a prize. Facilitator shares another completed version of the spreadsheet as the "answer key" Facilitator demonstrates how to use the //web clipboard// menu available in all Google Docs to copy the completed cells from both the worked spreadsheet and the answer key. Participants follow suit and paste both selections into a new Google document.

2. Create a spreadsheet "genre library". Small groups collaborate to create and share a new spreadsheet. Columns list genres of literature (fantasy, non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry, etc.) Group members brainstorm favorite books or pieces of literature and enter them in the appropriate columns. Facilitator encourages participants to sort columns alphabetically and discuss any revisions.

3. Group discussion about using spreadsheets to sort and categorize information in a language arts context. What benefits or challenges are presented when students can change each other's work? Would adding a column/row for discussion of changes be beneficial? Point out the revision history function and discuss its implications.

4. Collecting Google form data and using it in a spreadsheet. Facilitator sends a previously created form containing 3 simple question illustrating 3 basic question types:
 * Which of the following ice cream flavors do you prefer? (multiple choice)
 * Which of the following movies have you seen? (multiple checkboxes)
 * Rate your summer on a scale of 1 to 5 (scale).

Once all forms are submitted, facilitator demonstrates how form data is automatically converted to a spreadsheet. Spreadsheet is shared with participants, and facilitator guides the class in selecting data to create charts and graphs.

Group discussion on how different types of form questions could be used for take-home assessments, expository pre-writing, and research projects.

5. Participants create a Google form survey of 3-4 questions. Any topic. Forms are sent to the entire class using the contact list. Once data is collected, participants analyze the data, create at least one graph, and formulate a thesis statement for a mock research paper. Participants post thesis statement, embed a graph, and embed the Google spreadsheet from their forms in a new blog post. Participants can comment on blogs if time permits.

Whole group discussion of the potential of Google forms for expository writing.

Additional resources and materials
For an even more robust survey tool, check out Survey Monkey - []

Evaluation
Please take a moment to fill out the evaluation form below about the day's activities.

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