Gmailing reflection

What are the main differneces between Gmail nad any email you've used before?

I've been using Gmail as my personal email for a while now and I like it because it's easy and always available, regardless of where I am. If there is a computer and an internet connection, I can check my mail. In fact, I can't even comment on the differences between Gmail and other emails I've used before, because Gmail is the first and only web based email I've used and listing all the advantages of using web based email is crazy, because they're so obvious.

What I like the most about using Gmail is the chat option and of course Google-talk which I use regularly to talk to my friends and family who don't live in Serbia.

What would you like to be able to do with Gmail?

I don't know what I would like to be able to do with Gail because I'm not sure I know what my options are. I definitely want to work with Google documents and learn how to have my students do writing assignments in Spanish (using a Spanish keyboard with all the accents and letters). I'd like to then be able to read their assignments, suggest corrections, or correct their errors myself, all the while tracking the changes I make, as I now do with Microsoft Word documents.

How could one of the tools in Gmail be used to positively impact student or teacher performance at ISB?

I think all the Gmail tools can be useful. I already made a contact group entitled "LS Language B Team" and would definitely make groups for my students by grade level so that I can send them information pertaining to their assignments quickly and easily (reminders, threats of tattling on them to their parents, etc. :) ). The chat option is great for teachers to use to collaborate and get help/advice quickly when planning lessons, or when in class. Also, my students could use the chat to ask me quick question if they need to. I've been using Gmail calendar in my personal Gmail to remind me to send emails, pay bills, etc., and that could definitely be useful. In general, Gmail tools can help improve teacher-student communication and organization.