Google Docs

Google Docs is a free online word processor that looks like Microsoft Word but has the ablilities to do much more.  A huge advantage of Google Docs is that you can collborate with mulitlple people in diferent location. Meaning if you are personally working on doc other people who are online can be working on the same document at the same time.Its neat how you can interact with your group members even when you are not around each other.  With Google Docs, you don’t need you team to meet at one specific location to work on group projects.  All you need is Google Docs and you are good to go.

• There are many more sweet features to Google Docs.  With Google Docs your files are saved in a save and organized folder.  While you are working on a single document, your work is constantly being saved in the file/folder you want it in.
• Other features of Google Docs are that you can create math equations with all of the symbols they offer.
• you can insert lines, links, tables, clip art, and pics in your document as well.

Here are a few bullets on how Google Docs can improve productivity and enhance teaching and learning.

• Use with projector for whole class to see
• Ideas that are brainstormed
• A class assignment
• The writing and revising process
• Data in a table (can be edited on the fly!)
• Get to know your students activities (sharing interesting facts, etc.)
• Collaborative writing activities (use instead of charts)
• Multiple revisions on papers
• Peer editing opportunities
• Collaborative activities
• Reading response or Interactive journals
• A spreadsheet for student feedback on a lesson or confirming their understanding

Being able to learn the basics of Google Docs was pretty easy since the documents look exactly like a Microsoft Word document, and have many of the same basic features. However, since Google Docs offers many more options and features than Word I am still learning the some features and how to use them. The features that I am still learning since I haven't played around with yet include: sheets, forms, and drawings.

In our group presentation I was in charge of definition of Google Docs.

Here is a link to our Presentation (Kyle, Bryan, and Rachel P.)

Google Docs Presentation