Saturday, January 21, 2017

Going Goo Goo for Google!


I became a new Assistant Principal last at an elementary school. I was very excited to begin my new role with the opportunity to bring my passion for technology to help transform our procedures for discipline, walk-throughs, data analysis,  calendars and more.

I love Google and all that is has to offer to help school leaders become digital and efficient.

First let me begin by saying I am not a Google Certified Trainer. My passion and drive gave me the opportunity to learn how to use Google to become a 21st century educator...now leader.

Paperless Discipline Referral - 
I created a Google Form that will be shared with our staff to use for our discipline referrals. Your form can be created specifically for your school's need. The administration team will be collaborators on the form and the results. Be sure to include all of your administrator team as collaborators for both the form and results. When teachers complete the form, we will get an email to notify us that the form was completed. Notification settings is found in the results spreadsheet. Once we have met with the student and assigned the consequences, a letter is generated using the Add on Autocrat that summarizes the discipline form and includes the administration actions. This letter will be emailed to both the teacher and parent(s).  A copy of the letter will be kept on file using Google Drive Folders.

Data will be generated that can be used to help decrease discipline. Pivot tables can be use to organize data for specific needs.

With Google, you can also create a mobile app for your devices using the Add on, AppSheet.


The App
My principal has an amazing Discipline System that has reduced his OSS from about 90 to 20...he will have to share this!  With his system and our Google Referral Procedures, we will be digitally transformed.

The Form

The Letter


Walk Throughs will be done the same way. A Walk through Observation Form will be created using Google Forms. This form will only be shared with the Administration team and our Instructional Specialist. Autocrat will be used to provide feedback to teachers immediately! Although I didn't mention this for the Discipline Referrals, one of the best reason I love Google Forms is for the data! 

And of course, an App can be created for the Walk Throughs too!
The same resources can be used, but once you have done it once, it becomes easier.





The Digital Data Wall
To help us analyze data to drive instruction, teachers will use common assessments and a Google Form to share their results. The link for the form will be provided for each teacher. Teachers will input information such as standards assessed, number of students assessed, and number of proficient students. 

The form and results will be shared with the Administration team and the Instructional Specialist. The data from the spreadsheet will be used to generate educational conversation to help drive instruction and improve student achievement. 

Pivot tables in the result's spreadsheet can be used to help analyze the data. Check out: Alice Keeler's post on Pivot Tables, Pivot This.





To help us all stay organize we created Google Calendars for everything...After School Detention, Bus Duty, Observations, and our (the Administration team) personal calendars. All the calendars can be shown on. Google Calendar has many options...you can share calendars, set alerts and reminders, and more. I love having the Google Calendar App because I can immediately few in on phone for easy access.
Web Version
App Version

So, let me say this again... I am not a Google Certified Trainer! I learned through tutorials how to use Google as an effective tool for our administration team. 

I am grateful to be a 21st Century administrator. When I was in the classroom I used technology to help student achievement...now as an Assistant Principal I am using it for student achievement and teacher growth! 

I will continue to post how I am using technology in my role as as administrator, so be sure to subscribe to the blog  http://fitinedu.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @FITinEDU. 


Written By:
Felecia Young
Assistant Principal 
Hanford Dole Elementary School 
Salisbury NC
January 2017