With Google being a stand out Web 2.0 technology I decided to checkout Goggle Docs, partially because I now have a Goggle account and partially because I need to figure out how it works to post my Portfolio objects in it! I did not master that yet, but I will share it when I do since we all have to create a portfolio.
Anyone with a Goggle account has over 1000MB of storage available to them for free within the Google Docs application. You can create documents - I actually typed this whole post there then figure out that I can paste it into Word but not into the Blog! You can also make tables, forms and presentations. Collections are similar to folders on your computer and you an create several collections - for example one for graduate class work and one for the classes you teach.
There are similarities to Microsoft programs so you will be some what familiar, however if you are very proficient with Microsoft there are some shortcuts and options not available to you here. However it is very friendly to a basic user (I only typed text I did not attempt my Chemistry equations!) The biggest difference of course is that Google doc creations are available to you anywhere you can access Google unlike items created in Microsoft which are stored on the computer you create them on or a USB or school server availability only when logged in to that server. Another neat application within Google docs is that you can share the work with other Goggle account holders (totally public or to select users only!)
The sharing piece is what we will utilize with our Portfolios, we will have to grant access to Barb so that she can view the documents within our Portfolio. This application could also be used next time we are in groups working on a presentation, rather than email the presentation back and forth or leave one person in charge of the creating we could use Google docs where each group member could contribute.
I will admit that I do not see myself using Google docs over my Microsoft programs anytime soon, bu it does have some neat possibilities. It was a little frustrating though because at times I could type and entire sentence before it appeared on the screen - and with my fat finger typo problems that meant a lot of spelling errors!
It may not be preferred for us to use Google docs over Microsoft all the time because we probably have access to our own computer, USB, and software all the time.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for our many of our students who don't have their own computer but are required to save work and hand it in, Google docs is a perfect system. Sometimes, even if they have a computer, they might not have Word (it is expensive) and Google docs allows them to create a report or paper and send it to their teacher without purchasing compatible software. They could also work in the public library, computer lab, or any other location and access their work and not worry about compatibility or accessibility.
Google docs is great for teacher to student communication and vice versa. I think more teachers should use it and get their students familiar so that as they enter college they will be already using it with ease.
I use Google Docs as well, it actually is a very good tool for exchanging information and updating information without the use of email, text, USB Flash Drives, or giving up access to your own Network Space (if your district gives you space to save files to).
ReplyDeleteI primarily use Google docs to store attendance sheets, season workout designs and daily workouts for my swim club and high school swim team that I run. We practices out of 3 separate pools and I have a coaching staff of roughly 12 coaches that all coach at separate pools at different times of the day.
In order for my club to run smoothly Google Docs let me write the daily workouts for my swimmers (individual groups), and make them available to my coaching staff without having to worry about email, or exchanging of flash drives. The coaches at the end of practice can than update the attendance documents for the day (we keep daily attendance for billing purposes) and leave any notes on the workouts for me to see. They can also post any test sets or assessment data (time trial results)so that I may move them onto our webpage so the swimmers and parents to see.
Very cool program!
I use this as a quick tool when I forget my flash drive, or am at a new computer, or somewhere that I can't save it to right away. It is nice for that. I think saving things to it is kind of tough sometimes, but overall a viable option to anyone including students who may not have Microsoft tools at home. I have had a few of my students use it like I do for a quick fix and they seem happy with the results and use it from time to time. It seems to me like it should be more of a last resort type thing. Openoffice.org I think is a little better than google docs features.
ReplyDeleteIn my small group communication class I had a lot of students use google docs very successfully for their group projects. Rather than having one person responsible for the project outline they made it a google doc that each person could edit. That way each student could add their section in the document without waiting around for someone else to finish their section and send it through email.
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