iGoogle and you can too!

What is the tool?
iGoogle provides a place for students and teachers to collect tons of information from all over the web and put into one spot. This free tool can be customized to include everything from your class calendar and roster, to important websites for projects and study tips.

How can it be used?
This tool can be utilized in as many or few ways as you desire for the classroom. The original homepage iGoogle provides you with links to YouTube, the date and time, local weather, your class Gmail account, CNN.com, and a Google calendar. The simple layout provides an easy canvas to manipulate into a workable classroom homepage. One of the must-have applications that can be featured on a classroom homepage is the GoogleDocs App. This allows for homework assignments, classroom resources, practice tests, study guides, etc., to be accessed by students and parents alike. There are also several notepad applications that can be used to add to the class calendar to notify parents and students of things that can change day to day, or week to week; this can be anything from lunch menus, spelling lists, teacher's supply wish lists, bad weather days, and the list goes on. The "gadgets" that iGoogle is capable of provides an endless array of possibilities for differentiated instruction. There are ready-made gadgets that simply have to be downloaded, like the to-do lists gadget, several educational games, or the bookmarks gadget to help students locate specific resources on the internet. There is also a way for students and teachers to create their own gadgets to tailor to their personal classroom experience. This can include whatever material you want.



Advantages

• Organization: Teachers are able to organize all of the student assignments and place them in one location for the class to access at their convenience. This makes it easier for make-up assignments, and cuts down on the multiple extra copies for the students that missed class.

• Communication: Gives parents a homepage to monitor student activities, assignments, and simply stay in-the-know about the classroom. Having it in print will allow for there to be less discrepancies between teachers and students.

• Personal experience: Allows for differentiated instruction to become a real part of the classroom, and for students to create and use their classroom gadgets for their ideal learning style.

Disadvantages

• Staying Current: Everyone using iGoogle within the classroom would be responsible for checking and keeping up with the homepage for it to be useful. Staying up to date with events, assignments, and communicating relevant information will take a little bit of work, but working with it will be worth it.

• Computer time: This tool takes time to add to and work with, and students would have to have ample computer time to utilize this tool. If the school or parents don't have computers readily available for student use, this would be difficult to reach its full potential within the classroom.

Who is the audience for this tool?
This educational tool can be used by students, teachers, parents, and really anyone else that wanted to contribute. The great thing about this tool is that it is so user-friendly, that really people of any age can use it and be successful.

Where can we learn more about this tool?

iGoogle Homepage

Information about iGoogle

What is your opinion of the usefulness of this tool?
I was not fully convinced when I first saw this tool, but after working with it and seeing all of the gadgets and applications available, I am a big fan. I think that this could really be utilized within the classroom, and make life easier for everyone involved. The ability to offer different assignments and games for students with various learning styles opens up a whole new world for differentiated instruction (for which I am a big believer in). I think that this tool is amazing (and not to mention, free) and I'm sure Google with come up with several ways to improve upon it in times to come.