Using Google Docs in Education : Using Google Docs in Education Kent Gerber
TLTR Meeting
February 18, 2009
What is Google Docs? : What is Google Docs? Suite of software like Microsoft Office, with some unique features
Google Docs in Plain English
Basic Functions : Basic Functions Document = Word
Presentation = Power Point
Spreadsheet = Excel
Forms populate a spreadsheet
Must Have Three Things : Must Have Three Things Internet access
Email account
Google account (attached to the email address you chose)
Unique Features : Unique Features Stored securely online (Invitation only)
Accessible anywhere with Internet connection
Tied to Google Account which is linked to a specific email address
Multiple people can edit at the same time.
Unique Features : Unique Features Sharing and Editing a Document
200 person limit per document
Access levels:
Viewers (can only see it)
Collaborators (edit and view document)
Simultaneous editing:
Limits: Doc & Presentation- 10
Spreadsheet- 50
How Can This Help? : How Can This Help? Collaborate from a distance and asynchronously
Accessible anywhere, not tied to one computer
Easy to share and control access
editors, viewer, or publish online
Examples : Examples http://mediatedcultures.net/ksudigg/?p=119
Kansas State Professor created a Google Doc to facilitate a brainstorming session
367 edits made in one week.
"Students wrote the script, suggested survey questions to ask the entire class. The survey was administered the following week.”
Examples : Examples Google Document used to create this guide:
Using Google Docs in the Classroom
Some Teaching Advantages : Some Teaching Advantages If Teacher is Owner or Collaborator:
Can give feedback in progress
Can observe work in progress
Can track student participation
Viewer only:
Can track student participation
Can not give feedback
Administrative Uses : Administrative Uses Great for single documents meant for a specific group of people:
Agendas
Handbooks
Lesson Plans (Shared Courses)
In-Class Uses : In-Class Uses Group work
Chat within Spreadsheets and Presentation
One teacher observed higher level conversation in this format
http://www.twentyfortech.com/?tag=google-docs-in-education
Tests or polls for instant feedback
Challenges : Challenges Loss of Internet connection
Invitation emails are automatically generated and can go to junk mail
Good News : Good News Can download documents onto your computer as backup
Notify recipients of invitations to check their junk mail directly from your email account
Questions? : Questions?
Links Used to Create Presentation : Links Used to Create Presentation http://www.diigo.com/list/kgerber/googledocspresentation