Workspace Skills is a series of interactive tutorials that helps students and teachers make the most from Google Workspace for Education. Using Workspace Skills interactive tutorials helps students become competent, efficient and confident using Google Workspace and gain valuable transferable skills.
When students are able to make the most from Google Workspace tools, a world of teaching and learning opportunities becomes possible that weren’t even conceivable before. Gaining these skills isn’t something that is going to happen overnight, but here are 5 suggestions to get you going:
1. Step Back
Take a step back with your students in regards to technology. They may be considered to be “digital natives” as they have grown up in the information age; they may know how to swipe, scroll, take pictures and consume content on a device, but this doesn’t mean they know how to use technology to help them learn or create - or even how to copy and paste. Just because they are digital natives doesn’t mean they are competent and efficient using technology as a tool to enhance learning. Workspace Skills teaches how to use Google Workspace tools efficiently and effectively.
2. Purpose
If you want your students to feel purposeful in their projects, consider asking them to create a website to share their process, what they have learned, and to connect with a wider audience. With Workspace Skills, they could learn the skills to do this!
In the Workspace Skills tutorial “Next Steps with Google Sites,” students are taught the transferable skill of inserting an image on a page. This skill can be applied to a Slide Deck, Form, or anything in their Drive!
3. Practice with Workspace Skills
The Workspace Skills tutorial “Getting Started with Google Forms,” takes you through adding different types of questions to a Google Form. Discuss what information you
want your students to collect and explore the different question types. The tutorial “Going Further with Google Sheets,” teaches students how to view responses and create a response sheet. Practice creating Forms to collect data and review subject area content.
Assign tutorials based on specific skills and activities that are connected to lessons; have discussions and encourage students to make connections between the skills covered in the tutorials and the lesson.
4. Gamify
Workspace Skills offers students a fun and interactive way to learn how to use technology more effectively, but why not use the gamification elements to inspire students to step outside their comfort zone? Challenge students to fill up their digital passport or to try and beat their efficiency score. Offer rewards for students who can find a new keyboard shortcut that you didn’t already know or ask them to use their learning to create a quiz about their favourite tool.
5. Praise
Monitor students who have made great progress and be sure to praise their improvement. Highlight “digital heroes” who have used Workspace Skills to improve their digital literacy. Ask students to recognise when a classmate has shown a marked improvement or has used one of their newly acquired digital skills in another subject.
Workspace Skills pin badges, coasters or lanyards are available to give out to students making great progress or showing a positive change in their digital skills.