The New Student in our Classroom: Google Home

The Google Home reminds me of a new student in a classroom. Students are not sure where it fits into our classroom culture yet. Some are shy around it and hesitant to ask the Googler of the Day to use it while others find a place for it in their hearts.

After several days of having access to the Google Home I realized a few things.

Students need to think about the words they are using when asking questions. If the question is worded in a way that the Google Home is not ready for, students will get an unexpected answer that the Google Home cannot help them. Sometimes saying it in simple terms gets a better answer. This makes me wonder about the future of AI and how we will interact with robots.

Students are figuring out when is a good time to use the Google Home. Similar to choosing a just right snack time or a good time to go to the bathroom, students are learning when to use Google Home. Students are discovering asking the Google Home a question while others are giving directions might not be the best time. Also if students realized when they have access to the school Chromebooks they do not need to use the Google Home. They have answers at their fingertips. Students also have empathy for those around them when using the Google Home. 

Students are taking responsibility for their actions and building community around the Google Home. Students remind each other how to turn off/on the microphone and unplug the Google Home after each use. One student realized she did not do this and admitted to not following our class Google Home RUP. Therefore she said she would skip being Googler of the Day on her next turn. They are choosing fair consequences!

Students are using the Google Home in various content areas. Students have asked about measurement conversions for a math problem, spelling of words, book reviews, definitions of vocabulary, and examples of concepts. They are curious to know more and see the Google Home as a tool to support learning. I loved learning who the state of matter Bose Einstein was named after and how plasma is formed. Our science book mentions three states of matter, but we know there are more out there. The Google Home extends our learning.

There is an increased use in Google Home even though we do not use it every day. Students used it once the first day and twice the second day. They are now using it up to four times a day on any given day. There are also days we never take it out of its box.

I am curious to see how the Google Home becomes part of our classroom culture as we forge ahead on this journey.