Tennessee School for the Blind Uses Gaggle to Support Learning
In 1998 Jeff Patterson created a system for teachers and students to communicate and to navigate the Internet in a safe and monitored environment. Jeff’s company, Gaggle, has grown into a widely successful network of electronic communications geared towards K-12 students and educators. In 2007 the Tennessee School for the Blind implemented Gaggle’s monitored email services into its classrooms. Tennessee School for the Blind, the only state school specifically designed for visually impaired and blind students, has an enrollment of around 150 Pre-K to12th grade students whose “ability levels [range] from life skill students who struggle with every day skills such as dressing and toileting to academic students that are preparing for college or are currently dual enrolled with the local community college.” Sheri Scott, the current Gaggle Administrator, came to TSB after she received her vision certification and, despite her 60 mile commute twice a day, she loves her job. In fact, “There are at least 15 teachers at this school who commute more than 30 minutes each morning and afternoon because of the atmosphere at this school. Especially for teachers of students with special needs, it is a joy to work in an environment where the students matter more than the ease of administrating the school.”
Gaggle Adapts and Integrates
Since Tennessee School for the Blind adopted Gaggle to supplement their learning program 5 years ago they have had great success with the product. Sheri cited the ease of Gaggle’s compatibility with adaptive software for the visually impaired, like JAWS or ZOOMTEXT, as one of the most appealing aspects of their joint venture. TSB has been running a version of Gaggle “that is technically outdated. The newer versions were not as compatible. As new features are added to packages, they often ‘bump heads’ with the adaptive software.” Sheri asserts that this hasn’t been a problem for the school as, “students are familiar with the current setup and are satisfied with missing some of the particular bells and whistles. This is my first year in the adaptive tech lab and I’m daily learning new things. As I become more familiar with the adaptive software, I’m sure we will use more new features.” The Gaggle they are familiar with allows the 120 students currently using the service to send electronic copies of their assignments and provides them with an online “locker”, thereby assuring that they have a record of their work and a safe, private place to store it. When asked about the most beneficial aspect of Gaggle, Sheri said enthusiastically, “Teaching students to use technology within a safe environment …We use grading software that allows the students to message, but not to outside emails. That access is vital to functioning in our society. The tracking of sent and deleted emails is a plus as is the storage feature. Message boards are interesting and good from an instruction viewpoint but not as functional as some of the other features.”
Making the Classroom of the 21st Century Safer
Steven E. Sanders, Director of Operations and Technology for TSB, adds that “Gaggle works perfectly for allowing the teachers to monitor any inappropriate content that may be sent to a student. We really like the storage locker and the blog. Several teachers have implemented the use of these features into their class curriculum…This has been very beneficial for the students and the Tennessee School for the Blind.” Overall, TSB appears to be more than satisfied with their Gaggle experience and plan not only to continue their use of the service, but to utilize much more of it in the future.
Gaggle Expands Their Services
Though Gaggle is most commonly known for their Student Email (a monitored e-mail service), the Gaggle experience has recently expanded, adding services beyond Student Email to now include a wide range of applications. Designed to be “a suite of safe online learning tools that will propel your students and teachers into the 21st century” the new apps include the more traditional apps used by Tennessee School for the Blind. These vary from filtered blogs and homework drop-boxes to less traditional apps like GaggleTube and even Gaggle safe widgets.
•Zoho Docs & Spreadsheets: Filtered online docs and spreadsheets powered by the award-winning Zoho office suite. Zoho features online presentations, spreadsheets and word processing with simultaneous editing and group collaboration.
•Gaggle Social Learning Wall: Similar to the most popular social networking experiences providing profile based connections with sharing of content, text, and communication.
•Integrated Calendars: Individual and shared calendars integrated with Gaggle’s email and homework drop boxes.
•Filtered Blogs: Provide a place where students can share their thoughts, ideas, and creativity in a secure environment. Teacher blogs can be shared with parents for easy home-school communication
•Homework Drop Boxes: Provide an organized, paperless alternative for collecting homework assignments. Students can submit assignments anywhere, anytime.
•GaggleTube (filtered YouTube access): YouTube access for your schools while still allowing your district to block direct access to YouTube content. All YouTube access is logged, filtered, and monitored and can be controlled at the teacher and student level.
•Safe Student-Teacher Mobile Texting: Provides safe teacher and student mobile texting, with all incoming and outgoing text messages filtered and logged thru the Gaggle SMS Gateway. With the Gateway individual cell numbers are protected with Gaggle’s number displayed only.
•Gaggle Widgets: Drag and drop interface allows users to easily customize content and tools.
•Digital Lockers and Collaboration: Provide online file storage for students and teachers, with the option of sharing documents and files within the school or district. Files are filtered for appropriate content and accessible from school and home.
•Gaggle Safe iPod Touches: Safe text, filtered web browsing, calendar and email for iPhone and iPod Touch integrated with the Gaggle web desktop.
