Washko_GoogleVoice







Google offers many tools for educators. One of the tools that can be found in the "even more!" section of GoogleApps is that of GoogleVoice. This offers an easily accessible, free to use technology that allows for students, parents and your colleagues to communicate with each other through calls and texts. There are plenty of **documentation** benefits, such as automatic records of //**time and**// //**dates, transcriptions,**// and the ability to keep your own notes on a call, all which is archived in your Google account. Teachers are able to create a local GoogleVoice phone number which allows students access, **at the teacher's discretion**, to **call**, **text** or otherwise get in touch or leave messages for the teacher.

See the video below for a fun introduction from Google of how GoogleVoice can be used. media type="custom" key="25083136"

The next video is a presentation from ISTE 2013 which offers a crash course in GoogleVoice, how it can be used, what the presenter does with it and how well it has streamlined her communication with her students, parents, administrators and colleagues.

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One app that was suggested in the Ohio Foreign Language Association list-serve this year was that of GoogleVoice. For World Language teachers, like myself in Spanish, trying to find time to evaluate verbal skills of our students can be extremely difficult. GoogleVoice offers a great extension for teachers to do so. Once a GoogleApps account is created (which can be done through your school or through your own gmail account), creating a GoogleVoice mailbox is simple. After being given a phone number, students may call and leave their verbal responses to prompts, questions, a reading, etc. The teacher then receives an email with a link to the message. This message is transcribed (although only in English) and archived.

The first thing that is important to know how to do, is how to set up your account. You will need a gmail or GoogleApps account. See my video below to walk you through the process. media type="custom" key="25095214"

For my Honors Spanish III classes, I require all of my 60+ students to call in and record a voicemail five times per semester. Each week students are given a different prompt that they can choose to prepare for. This allows students to have some freedom in what they would like to talk about, as well as keeps them accountable for their verbal practice of the Spanish language. If I did not use GoogleVoice, I would have to find a way to balance the time that it would take these students (30 in one class, and 18 in the other) to sit at my desk one by one, or in a group setting which adds pressure and anxiety, in order to evaluate their verbal skills--intonation and pronunciation.

Below is testimonial from some of my students about what they are assigned to do, how they like using GoogleVoice, and how they go about using it.

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From the teacher's side of things, GoogleVoice can not only be used as a **tool to measure reading, pronunciation**, or other spoken skills, but also a way to document communication. For my uses in Spanish classes, I simply enjoy the fact that I can **save all of the messages**, find them by phone number or the time stamp. If I used this for more interpersonal communication, I could **keep notes**, read **transcriptions**, and keep a **running record** of all communications through phone or text.



Using GoogleVoice in Foreign Languages aligns with some of the **ISTE NETS-S Standards for Students:** GoogleVoice also aligns with many of the **ITSE NETS-T Standards for Teachers:**
 * **2. Communication and Collaboration** **//Students use digital media and env//****//ironments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.//**
 * b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
 * **3. Research and Information Fluency //Students apply digital// //tools to gather, evaluate, and use// //inf////ormation.//**
 * d. Process data and report results
 * **2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments //Teachers design, develop and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes identified in th////e// //NETS-S.//**
 * a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
 * c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
 * **3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning //Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital// //society.//**
 * a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
 * b. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
 * c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
 * **4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility //Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.//**
 * b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
 * c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information



GoogleVoice is completely free! As long as the facilitator has a Google account and sets up the GoogleVoice number, anyone can call to leave a message.



//[|Suggestions to use GoogleVoice by discipline/subject area]//

//[|Step-by-Step PDF for using GoogleVoice]//

//[|Article on using GoogleVoice to contact parents]//

Hearing from a math teacher who uses GV! ||
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