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Google Wave |
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Paulo Nacianceno |
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"The Wave is not just another application; it's a whole new way of using online information... The Wave takes collaboration to a whole new level," says Maish R Nichani. Martin Koser writes, "Google Wave is poised to reshape (rewires I say) the nature of communication (yes, more face-to-face real-timelineness communication), improving the web experience." Google Wave is "a personal communication and collaboration tool" announced by Google on May 27, 2009. It is the next generation of internet communication. Google Wave is a web based service, computing platform, and communications protocol which merges e-mail, instant messaging, wiki, and social networking and incorporates gadgets such as maps and videos. It focuses on real-time collaboration and includes numerous applications such as spelling and grammar check as well as automated translation in 40 languages. Waves which are described by Google as "equal parts conversation and document" contain a complete thread of multimedia messages which are located on a central server. Collaborators who can be added or deleted at any time can share and edit these waves in real time. [1] [2] [3] |
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Danial Kharaghani |
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The following guide will provide an in-depth overview of some of the features of Google Wave and will discuss details information on Google Wave applications (i.e. the Twitter wave application). Google Wave has a lot of innovative features, but here are just a few:
Another brilliant feature about Google Wave is its Extensions incorporated within this clever Web 2.0 tool. Much like Facebook, these mini-applications gives users the ability to play games and other apps while using Wave. Incorporated within Wave are two main types of extensions: Gadgets & Robots. A Wave Gadget is a fully functional application, which is built on Google's OpenSocial platform. Users can take advantage of live interaction with multiple users within Google Wave. Similar to Facebook & MySpace, active users can participate in an online game and can also take advantage of your friend's network to make games, quizzes and other applications more meaningful and useful. Gadgets belong to everyone within the wave, rather than to specific users, which contain no titles. For this reason above all, it makes integration better with the actual conversation. Some of the Gadgets already built include Sudoku, Bidder (turning wave in an auction), and Maps for allowing collaboration on a Google Map. [4] Robots are the other type of Google Wave extension. Wave robots are automated elements that can be added to Google Wave as participants. They're programmed for specific tasks. Robots can do all sorts of things, such as:
Some of the robots already in service include Debuggy (an in-wave debugger), Stocky (which pulls stock prices based on stock quote mentions), and Tweety (the Twave robot, which displays tweets inside of a wave). [5][6] |
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Danial Kharaghani |
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Google Wave has its own language, so you are going to have to learn a few definitions if you are going to really understand this new communication platform. Acquiring knowledge of these terms will help you understand more about Google’s newest project.
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Paulo Nacianceno |
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As with any other online tool, you need to be mindful of issues such as; Cyber bullying: supervise, supervise, and supervise. Child Security in chat rooms: remind children to remain anonymous, do not reveal personal information such as their name, address or phone number or school etc. Never agree to meet anyone without parents present. Tell an adult if anything that is said that makes them feel uncomfortable. Unsuitable images/videos: Use software available such as net nanny, how this affects Google wave is still yet to be known. Spam email with unsuitable images/information: Use software to restrict unsuitable material, but remember that this is not 100% reliable. As with any new software, Google Wave may come with its own hosts of software issues and bugs which can take some time to iron out. There is a potential for lost work and software crashes which can result in very frustrated students and teachers. Most importantly there is an obvious potential for security issues. Organisations do too little to drive the necessary core changes to make it even possible to use tools such as Google Wave. This is especially true for many educational institutions who can at times find it difficult to keep up with technological innovations, not just in hardware but in teacher skills and capabilities. People, unlike tools, bring change. Extending further on the previous argument, people not just organisations must want these changes. People, including educators must see the benefit and needs of Google Wave, and then learn how to use it to then be able to incorporate it in their classroom. . To address these points, the governing school body needs to keep up with current technologies and give teachers adequate support and training to be able to use them in the classroom. The teachers themselves must also be willing to learn and try new things. New tool, many bugs. As with any new software, Google Wave may come with its own hosts of software issues and bugs, and can take some time to iron out. There is a potential for lost work and software crashes which can result in very frustrated students and teachers. To address this, schools should not enter new technologies as they emerge, but wait a suitable time until they have been tested and stable. Real time collaboration? What a nightmare! It can be argued that real time collaboration can be nightmare and may bring up issues of trust and honesty. For educators, this means it would be much harder to monitor real time conversations which can lead itself to abuse of the technology. Without any form of supervision this can manifest as online bullying etc. To combat this, the teacher must be vigilant in reading and keeping up with all messaging and set clear guidelines and rules. A tool for one part of the world/society, what about Bandwidth issues. Google Wave is media rich which means it needs high speed internet. In a perfect world everyone would have access to broadband internet. Most educational institutions do have broadband; the problem is when students take their work outside of school hours and need to continue their online collaborative work. Not all students will have access to fast internet outside of school. This is a hard challenge to overcome, so time must be put aside for students to use during class. Also the resource centre must be available before and after school. [9] [10] Useful References & Article http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Could-Google-Wave-Replace/8354/ |
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Paulo Nacianceno |
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"I'm happy to put myself on record as having said that all of you who are reading this will use this product in some way, whether it is to conduct classes, arrange social events, or manage your digital footprint," Joe Corbett, Online community manager for the International Society for Technology in Education. Google Wave is a collaborative tool which can be used in any year level in which the students are capable of using a computer and the internet. Especially useful for middle primary and senior year students, it can be used for tracking conversations between members in groups and for the teacher to review work done and by who. It can be used in group projects for any strand in the SACSA framework. This tool may also be useful in setting, revising and marking online homework or assignments. How will Google Wave change Education?
Ideas on how to use Google wave in the Classroom:
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Paulo Nacianceno |
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Podcast interview with Matthew Berry a pre service teacher on how to use Google Wave in the classroom: |
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Paulo Nacianceno |
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[1] http://www.crisscrossed.net/2009/06/17/google-wave-real-time-trouble-and-the-persistent-belief-in-tools/ [2] http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10002763/google-wave-like-real-time-e-mail-on-crack/ [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Wave/ [4] http://mashable.com/2009/05/28/google-wave-guide/ [5] http://code.google.com/apis/wave/extensions/robots/index.html [6] http://google.about.com/od/g/g/google_wave_robot.htm [7] http://www.waracle.net/news/google-wave-a-guide-for-dummies.html [8] http://mashable.com/2009/05/28/google-wave-guide/ [9] http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10001911/google-wave-crashes-over-microsoft/?tag=content;selector-perfector [10] http://www.crisscrossed.net/2009/06/17/google-wave-real-time-trouble-and-the-persistent-belief-in-tools/ |
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Comments
Thank you Paulo and Danial for adding this section to the CEGSA web site. I am impressed by the potential of Google Wave and think that you have done well to assemble the limited information that is available. I found this page has some good information and this is probably where people can keep track of new developments.
Readers should feel most welcome to contribute to this page as the tool becomes available in beta stage. I think that your video from the preservice teacher will prompt some discussion!
excellant well presented page with alot of information on it. This would have been incredibly hard to do as you didnt have access to the actual program and i commend you for the research you would have put in. I really enjoyed the links and information on the page as I had not even heard of Google Wave and you have got me excited and looking forward to using and experimenting with the program. I dont think that the educational possibilites of this program will become evident until it is out however there is so much possibility. I have applied for the testing stage and am hoping to get included sooner rather than later, congratulations your webpage and workshop has inspired me to further research this valuable tool
Scott Mcculloch
Last Modified 2009-11-13
Hi guys,
I was invited by Google to join the beta testers for Google Wave and I (finally) managed to embed my first wave into my edublog. The wave is my 'report' on the application and is I guess my review of my first experiences with it.
http://lillibet.edublogs.org/
Cheers,
Elizabeth
P.S. I can invite 6 people to join me on the beta testing, so if you're super keen, email me at dona0081@flinders.edu and I'll add your email address so you can have a play with Google Wave.