Profile in Leadership Tom Verdi

Profile IN LEADERSHIP

History Teacher Shares Technology Innovations at AP College Board Conference

Digital technology and STEM education are a natural fit for classroom integration. Bringing that technology into text-driven humanities courses is not quite as easy. At Notre Dame, faculty and students are using the power of Google technology to collaborate in a dynamic learning space that extends far beyond their classroom walls.

History teacher Tom Verdi recently spoke about the use of Google Classroom technology to enhance instruction at the 60th annual College Board AP Conference held in Anaheim, California. Educators from across the country attended his session titled, “Transforming AP Instruction with Google Classroom.”

Google Classroom integrates all Google apps, including Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar in one software platform. Google Classroom allows teachers to organize resources, distribute and schedule assignments, communicate with students, and assess progress. “I was excited to show other educators how Google Classroom can be used instructionally, and not just as a tool to organize work,” said Verdi, who participated in a pilot test of the program before its release in 2014. “The AP US History class I teach is fast-paced and heavily content-driven. With Google Classroom, students can work on notes communally, prepare group presentations that can be shared with the class and archived, and access videos and other learning resources from any device, anytime, anywhere.”

Using Google Classroom, work is saved on the students’ Google drives and teachers can view their work and provide feedback as each student progresses through assignments. Verdi compares this opportunity to provide real-time feedback to his experience as a Notre Dame varsity golf coach. “Google Classroom turns teaching into coaching,” said Verdi. “I can interact with my students before their work is completed and leave comments and suggestions. Turning in assignments isn’t as high stakes and students can produce their best work.”

“The conference was a great opportunity to share teaching experiences and learn how our colleagues around the country are using Google Classroom,” said Verdi. “I hope the educators who attended will be inspired to use this great teaching tool in their own classrooms.”