Google Docs was the most useful tool for the author as it allows easy collaboration on documents with colleagues. Google Calendar is also useful for scheduling appointments and sharing access. Google Maps and Earth provide easy navigation and the ability to view locations virtually. The author found success using Google Docs for collaboration at school, setting up calendars for the new year, and finding online learning convenient and helpful for professional development. The most challenging areas were Google+ and a lack of established groups on Google Groups.

1. Google for Educators
By
Kristin Vaszily

2. Most Useful Tool…
Google Docs
Reasons why this was the most useful:
Using this part of Google is easy to navigate
Ability to develop and collaborate on a document with my school team
Opportunity to share documents with the other school counselors in the
district
Access this sight from any computer

3. Other Useful Tools…
Google Calendar
 It so easy to use and set up appointments.
I can also shade the time slots different
colors related to categories at work.
 I can access the calendar from anywhere.
 I can separate it into different calendars
for home and school.
 I can share the different calendars with
people who need access to that
information.
Google Maps and Earth
 It is so easy to use and navigate around.
 I can start with a map and add things on
it. I can use this for traveling!
 I can view different parts of the world
that I would never have been able to
visit.
 I can see how this would be a useful tool
in classrooms.

4. Successes…
 I explored the different areas that Google has and how I can use it
professionally and personally.
 I was not aware of the many uses of Google and the fact that it has
everything amazes me.
 I can use Google Docs at school with my co-workers and other school
counselors to develop, revise and share documents.

5. More Successes…
 I have my calendar started for this school year. It has all the important
dates on it ready for the start of the school year. It is even color coded for
specific categories of my job.
 I set up a Blog and a Google Site which is something I always wanted to
do but thought it was too hard to accomplish. Google made it so easy to
do this.

6. Challenges…
 I think the section that was most challenging for me was Google +. I had a
hard time understanding it and I felt very confused with the lay-out of it.
It seemed very busy to me.
 I also looked at Google Groups. I like the idea of Google Groups and will
use it but I wish there were already more established groups on there
that I could have joined with for education or school counseling.

7. Feelings About MOODLE and On-
line Learning
• It is well organized and so easy to go through the section/topics.
• Feedback for your assignments is given right away. I emailed the instructor questions and
he emailed an answer back immediately.
• The flexibility of choosing when to do the sections/topic is very convenient. It works with
my schedule. I like that you have access to work on the course anytime of the day.
• The material that I have covered in on-line learning has been relevant to my field and is
helping me grow as a school counselor. I have gotten so many new ideas through them.
• This has been my fourth on-line learning class and all four were positive experiences. I
would recommend them to my coworkers.

8. Collection of My Work
 Google Site: https://sites.google.com/site/counselorkv/
 Google Docs: https://drive.google.com/#my-drive
 Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/mm?authuser=0&hl=en
 Blogger: http://krisvaszily.blogspot.com/?zx=f67616a1752d45c
 Google Calendar: https://www.google.com/calendar/render