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| Courtesy of Google Images |
There is a great deal of buzz in the education community about21st Century Learning, social media and connectivity. Perhaps weshould be looking at one of the world’s most successful (though not perfect)companies to learn their guiding principles.
Google, Inc. wrote “10 Things” and corporate leaders revisitthese ideas every couple of years to see if they still hold true. (There’s arefreshing concept for educators as well.) Here is the first principle:
NumberOne: Focus on the user and all else willfollow.
Since the beginning, we’ve focused on providing the best user experiencepossible. Whether we’re designing a new Internet browser or a new tweak to thelook of the homepage, we take great care to ensure that they will ultimatelyserve you, rather than our own internal goal or bottom line. Ourhomepage interface is clear and simple, and pages load instantly. Placement insearch results is never sold to anyone, and advertising is not only clearlymarked as such, it offers relevant content and is not distracting. And when webuild new tools and applications, we believe they should work so well you don'thave to consider how they might have been designed differently.
Since the beginning, we’ve focused on providing the best user experiencepossible. Whether we’re designing a new Internet browser or a new tweak to thelook of the homepage, we take great care to ensure that they will ultimatelyserve you, rather than our own internal goal or bottom line. Ourhomepage interface is clear and simple, and pages load instantly. Placement insearch results is never sold to anyone, and advertising is not only clearlymarked as such, it offers relevant content and is not distracting. And when webuild new tools and applications, we believe they should work so well you don'thave to consider how they might have been designed differently.
What are the classroom takeaways?
First of all, it’s all about the student.
Are we serving the individualrather than the curriculum, or worse, the test? The 2008 Google Annual Reportstated, “We believe that our user focus is the foundation of our success todate.” When classroom teachers focus on their users they also experiencesuccess.
Are instructions clear and easy tofollow? (See: First Days of School.) Harry and Rosemary Wong offerspecific instructions for teachers for smooth classroom management. A teacherwho puts their words into practice establishes a secure place for students tolearn. Students understand expectations, procedures for learning, workingcollaboratively, and what to do when they don’t “get it.” The result is asuccessful experience for students and their teacher.
New tools and applications are agiven. Students are always curious about the next cool thing. They aremotivated to earn about social connectivity, so why not make that the vehiclefor subject matter?
