Google Jockeying!

This post is written by Taruna Goel

With so much up the Google sleeve already, here's another related news to use.

Google jockeying! This is an interesting technique by which selected participant(s) in an online classroom google (search) for terms, definitions, and ideas related to the concept being taught. The search is also displayed alongside the classroom content and is expected to provide enhanced learning opportunities to all other participants! While the name suggests ‘Google’, any search engine would work too!

Now, isn't that an interesting way to build some real-time learning opportunities?

But like all things in life - there are two sides to the Google jockeying story too.

What works:-

• participants can learn how to acquire Internet searching skills. In most classrooms, the jockey changes with every class. So every participant gets to search!


• participants gain immediate access to online search – which they may or may not have access to – at a later point


• facilitator can implement the A and R (Attention/Relevance) components of the ARCS model through jockeying and by displaying relevant content


• facilitator can make the class more interactive by discussing the search results in the context of the concept taught

What may not work:-

• an online search along with classroom content could be distracting for some – use of split windows is not easy for all
• much depends on the skills of the ‘jockey’ to perform a relevant search – bad search –> bad discussion –> poor learning
• the jockey and the facilitator need to be mind-mapped – good coordination and communication skills on both sides is important too

Here’s an interesting article from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) that provides some more details: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7014.pdf

Another good link is here: http://www.citt.ufl.edu/toolbox/toolbox_googleJockeying.php

What do you think?

Can we leverage such a technique in the courses that we develop for universities and colleges? Or even internal classroom training sessions?

What will work for us and what will not?