5.1+Google+Docs

The best synopsis of Google Docs is on the "Google for Educators" page ([]): "[|Google Docs] is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your __students__ to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any __computer__."
 * What is Google docs?**

Simply put, once you have a Google account (through Gmail, Blogger.com, Google+, or other Google __programs__), you have access to __free__, low-end versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Publisher. These documents can be shared, viewed, and edited online by yourself and anyone to whom you choose to give access. Giving access is just a matter of hitting the "Share" button and entering the email addresses of your intended recipients (Google's instructions for sharing: []).

Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration. Not everyone has the same version of Microsoft Word. Not everyone can/wants to download every document you type up. PDFs can't be easily altered. .doc =/= .docx. Switching files from Mac to PC is always, always, always a pain, no matter what they tell you at the Apple store. Google docs allows multiple people to view and edit a document asynchronously or simultaneously from anywhere on the web, making it a very convenient way for a group of people (student groups, faculty committees, teachers and __students__) to work on the same document even if they can't ever meet face-to-face. No matter what browser you're using or __computer__ you're on, as long as you're logged in to Google you can access any documents that you've created or that someone has shared with you.
 * Why would educators use Google docs?**

When two people are on the same document at the same time, they are alerted to each others' presence and even have the option to chat to one another in a sidebar. This facilitates communication and efficiency. Furthermore, each participant's changes appear in real time, with differently colored cursors that make it easy to see who is doing what. Google docs are living documents that change as you watch.

When using Google docs in the classroom, these transparency option give teachers a lot of tools to keep students on task and responsible for their __work__. There are even markers to indicate which contributors have made changes, and timestamps to indicate when, so each individual can be held accountable during group __work__. Google has the down low on that:[]. Students being able to collaborate in this way cuts down on the need for class time (which you may not have time for), and face-to-face discussions (which can be very intimidating for quieter students). The key here is not that Google docs replace anything going on in your classroom, but that it opens up possibilities that might not otherwise exist, and give you and your students flexibility in how to complete and coordinate papers and projects.

As mentioned above, Google docs do not have all of the features that come with purchased software versions of these __programs__. Creating a polished document is still probably best left to a dedicated word processor or spreadsheet program (though Google docs do let you download documents as Microsoft Office files and upload existing Office files: []).
 * What are the downsides?**

Offline work is not an option, because you need access to Google.com in order to get at your documents.

I heartily recommend Google docs - as long as you have a need for a collaborative set of programs. All of the tools contained within benefit collaborative work, and make access & sharing simple. If these are not conerns (say, a student writing a research essay on their home computer), you are simply using a product that has fewer editing and formatting features than most basic word processors.
 * Conclusion?**

--Nick Andrews

I previously wrote this assignment up as a word document, below is the link, and I have also posted in on our class blog. Enjoy!!

Google Docs is a very helpful tool that is becoming more and more common in the classroom today. Before this semester, I had never heard of Google Docs, but have used it in four of my five classes. And along with what Nick said above, it is a great way for collaboration even if you are not able to meet in person, or even at the same time. One feature that has helped me out significantly in the past that Google Docs does is that it automatically saves whenever you update or make any edits. It doesn't matter if you are in the middle of a sentence and you lose your connection to the internet, or if your computer battery decides it is out of energy and turns off, your work will be saved and is available for you when you get back online.

I agree with everything that Nick has touched on above, and I would like to add how simple and easy it is to use Google Docs. The first time I used Microsoft Word, I remember feeling so confused and so lost, but Google Docs is a more simple version of Word, that is more accessible for people who might not be as competent in technology. And another wonderful feature of Google Docs is that it doesn't require you to pay for anything, or even download the files to your hard drive. It is free on the online world that we know as the internet. What more could one ask for when it comes to an online word processing program?

I feel like this can be something that we all implement in our classrooms, and it is something that can allow students to work on projects from the comfort of their own home. I can see this being something that improves the quality of students work as they are more competent working from the comfort of their own home and I plan to use this in my classroom.

Brian Knapp


 * Google Docs** - Added by Sean Crumley

Google Docs is a feature that anyone with a Google account can access. As mentioned above, Google Docs allows for students to collaboratively work on a document, whether text, excel, or presentation style, from any computer. The documents are stored and saved by Google and anyone can be given access to a document.

This resource can be utilized in the classroom in a number of ways. The most obvious way is in a group setting. Groups can work on different parts of the same document while seeing what the other members are working on. This adds greater collaboration and allows the students to work together even if they cannot physically meet. A group can all get online at the same time and utilizes the chat option to discuss the assignment and work together from anywhere.

Google Docs can also be shared with anyone who has a Google account. This means that the instructor can have access to see all of the student's work and be able to provide feedback when needed. Students will be able to make sure that they are on track for the assignment and can even pose questions in the document that the instructor can answer.

While transferring documents between Windows and __Apple__ __operating systems__ is not as hard as stated above, Google Docs does eliminate the compatibility issues between the different versions of word processing software. Often time Microsoft Word has more features and styling tools than Open Office does and the effects are easily lost in transfer. With Google Docs, the version is the same and whatever the students change can be viewed. Since Google is at the forefront of most technology, and is constantly evolving, Google Docs can only get better. The service will stay up to date with new web browsers and operating systems, faster internet will mean quicker and easier upload and editing on the service, and Google will want to keep customers using the service so they wil not let it become outdated.

Google Docs is an excellent resource that needs to be utilized more in classrooms and for assignments. The ease of use and accessibility make Google Docs the best option of similar services.

-Sean Crumely


 * Google Docs for Thought**

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This was the first year that I really experienced Google Docs, having to use it in the majority of my classes. Despite this, Google Docs was very easy to learn how to use and anyone with a Google account can access Google Docs. A person can a make Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or simply share pictures and Google will save it for them. The creator of the file can limit or allow anyone access to these documents and the files automatically save every couple seconds. If the internet connection suddenly went bad, nothing the person was working on would be lost.=====

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With technology being used more and more in classrooms, Google Docs can be a very useful resource, and it can be used in many ways. Documents can be shared and worked on simultaneously with other members of the class, making ideal for group projects. As the students work on the same document, at the same time, they can watch as their group members change text and add pictures right before their eyes. This allows students to work together at any time; all they need is a computer and an internet connection. This can be a very resourceful feature, especially if the group is not able to meet in person. While online, they can use the chat box on the right of the screen to comment to each other while they work on the document together. And because Google Docs can be shared with anyone who has a Google account, this allows the teacher or professor to have access to their students’ work and give them advice or help them to proceed further.=====

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The best part about Google Docs is that it is always free, and the Google site is constantly updating and developing. This means that Google Docs will only continue to improve, making it an invaluable resource that can be used in classrooms, the workplace, or anywhere! Because people can now work together on anything from the comfort of their homes in their pajamas, I can see this becoming an ever more popular resource.=====

~ Katie Feldkamp
Google Docs- Jonathan Yasutake

I have had a similar experience to Katie. This semester is the first time that I used google docs to any extent, and this is certainly the first time that I have really understood how helpful they could be. My first real experience for how useful google docs could be was while I was doing a group project. I was in the library working with my group and I added something to the google doc we were using and the girl sitting next to me noticed a spelling error and I watched as it was corrected. This made me think of how easily a google doc could be used in place of a blog or a wiki, giving students the ability to revise or add on to things other students have added.

Another great use that I found this semester was using google docs for studying purposes. In one of my classes students used a google doc to create a study guide for the mid term and final exam, and it really helped me a lot. This could provide a much better study tool than simply giving students a study guide or telling them what to read. For example, students could show the different ways that they found to solve a problem and other students who might not understand one way can simply look at other ways to solve the problem. Having students helping each other learn gives many new perspectives, as well as a more interactive way of learning.

Thinking of google docs in terms of how I would use it as a teacher, the first thing I would do is use it for group projects. I have used google docs for 6 separate projects this semester, and it has made the whole process much faster and more convenient. This could be a huge help for students who can't drive. Many students have no way of getting to group meetings outside of school, and google docs gives students a way to work as a group without actually having to physically be together. With the wide array of functions like word documents, powerpoints, web sites, and others, google docs provides all the tools that students would need for free.

Another great use that I would use it for is class discussions. I think that having the ability to go in and underline a section of text that a student is talking about gives google docs a leg up on blogs. I used a blog last semester for class discussions and i didn't like having to relate to someone two or three comments up, and the ability to add something in parentheses or directly underneath would have been great. I also think that students would really enjoy actually seeing other people writing on the doc in real time. It would make them feel much more like they were having a real conversation with someone.

Overall, google docs are a terrific free recourse that all teachers should use. - Jonathan Yasutake

Google Docs.

Online Office Suites have become more prevalent in the world today. This service is available to any person with internet and it allows people world-wide to work on projects. For instance, you and a friend are working on a new project, only problem is, your friend lives hours away. This example is great for people to use Online Office Suites because with this service, the friends will still be able to work on the project even though they do not live in the same area. There are many companies that give online office suites service. First starting off with the most used, at least here in college is Google Docs and Spreadsheets. This online service is very useful for people who have different schedules throughout the day. With this service people are able to share documents, spreadsheets, powerpoints and more. When writing papers a person can share their documents with others and choose if the person can comment on the document or even edit the document.

These services are great for teachers to use within the classroom. For intense projects in the classroom, students might need to work on them outside the classroom a well. This comes in handy if the students can’t meet face to face for certain reasons. Even on a college campus, professors use this service for students who schedules conflict or when teachers want to be able to view their student’s progress but can’t fit everyone into their schedule. I myself have had many great experiences with Google Docs and this school year was the first time I have ever used it. To be honest, I find myself using for almost every project, paper, and activity i have to do for school. In another class we have recently been working on manuscripts to send in to a journal and to get feedback from teachers and peers we uploaded or papers to Goggle Docs so people could be able to give advice and suggestions whenever they had time to view it.

Lastly, I encourage teachers to also let their student use this services for more than just sharing papers. As I have stated above, this service allows you to do spreadsheets, powerpoint presentation, makes sites, etc. Personally, for me this was awesome because I don't have programs such as Microsoft office powerpoint on my computer therefore, for FREE I can use Goggle Docs to make powerpoints for classes.

Helen Jones