I was speaking yesterday with @cuevash on Twitter and he mentioned that he was trying to get foreign language teachers to use Google Voice. This got me thinking about how we can integrate this service.
- Pronunciation Practice. This can be excellent for foreign language and ELL students. If they call your Google Voice number, they can speak or read a passage, which will be saved to your voicemail. You can, one-on-one or as part of a whole class activity, review the students’ recording and offer guidance. Also helpful, students can call their own Google Voice number and use it for their own reflection. All this can be done without expensive microphones.
- Homework Hotline. Not every student has access to a computer at home, but almost all have access to at least a land-line phone or a parents’ cell phone. This can enable them to have access to help when they need it. I am not suggesting that you have your students call your at 1 in the morning (I noticed that as the time most work was turned in on Moodle two years ago.). Google Voice has a nice “Do Not Disturb” feature that you can turn on in the settings. This will send all calls to voicemail. You are then able to respond as soon as you are able. What might be more helpful, though, is to have a department or grade level Google Voice number. For example, if any student has a problem with English, they can call the English Google Voice number. On Monday, that might go to my phone. On Tuesday, it could go to another phone. With 1 number, any amount of students could have access to help.
- Notes/Reminders. This one is difficult as it requires cell phones to be allowed in your class/school. I do not see any reason why students cannot dictate some notes, especially in a science class, or leave themselves reminders, which would be transcribed for them and waiting in their email and/or Google Voice inbox.
What am I missing? I know that there are other good ideas. How else might we be able to implement this powerful tool to make it useful to students?
