Google Drawing

Google drawing is a great addition into the google drive applications. It has many of the same drawing features as the draw feature in Microsoft, but again Google has added several features that allow for a stronger connection to artistic design. You can add shapes and colors just like in paint, but drawing allows you to collaborate like the other google applications. For instance, you could be working on a project and be able to share that drawing with your teacher or partner or perhaps just a peer to ask for feedback and the chat feature allows them to give you real time feedback on whatever you are working on. Another neat feature of Google drawing is that you can save it as a PDF! Also, you can easily insert a google drawing document into a google docs document. All of these allow for great collaborations, creativity, and communications.

The lesson plan listed to look at was a great way to explore the use of google drawing in a classroom setting. It was an elementary language arts lesson called book buddies. The lesson paired younger students with older students and asked them to develop a book together. This lesson utilized the drawing feature of google by asking the students to digitally draw the setting of the story and some sketches to base the story upon. The students then were asked to write their story about the sketches they developed in the google drawing application. This lesson plan incorporated technology, writing, creativity, and grouping in a fun, engaging way.

Even though the lesson and most of google drawings application would benefit an elementary classroom, I think that I could somehow develop the same lesson plan with more complexity for high school age students. Especially, given that many high school age boys would prefer to sketch in their notebooks than actually take notes about the subject they are learning. This could work great for a Shakespeare project that the students could draw the different stagings for each act of the play of Julius Caesar or Romeo and Juliet. There exist hundreds of possibilities for this application. I hope to use it someday!