Paul+Moore's+Google+Docs

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=What is Google Docs?= Google Drive is a free file storage system provided by Google that has a number of features which makes it a favorite in the educational community. The service offers users a total of 15 GB on online storage space across three different services, Google Drive, Gmail and Google +. The Drive has a suite of productivity applications including documents, spreadsheets, presentations and more.An outstanding feature offered by the drive is the ability of users to access the drive from any computer home or school/work. This is done in that as one works on the Drive their work/documents are saved to the Cloud and synchronized with all other access points. This feature also allows users to choose individuals or groups that they would like to “share” the Google documents. As work is shared the “owner” of the document can choose to allow none, any or all of the other parties with whom the work has been shared editing rights. As such documents/work can truly be shared with throughout a team, school or greater community thus allowing for collaboration in the truest sense of the word.

The suite of free online software includes the following document types which are similar too corresponding Microsoft products although not compatible with them. Google Documents, //Google Spreadsheet, Google Presentation, Google Form, and Google Drawing.//

In addition to these software packages the Google suite also has applications such as Google Calendar, Gmail, and Google+ (a picture sharing/storage service.) Also in recent months, Google has released a line of laptop like computers which run on the Google operating system and give quick and ready access to all things Google. They are finding a niche in many schools because they are inexpensive and lightweight, and as such easy to finance and use for young students.

The Google products also have the added benefit of not requiring software updates or future purchases as the Microsoft suite of software does. Rather this free service conducts software updates in the background without interfering with the online experience of the user.

A major drawback of the service is the fact that while many PC’s operate on the Windows system and Apple products which of course use their own software packages the Google suite is not directly compatible with them. There are applications out there that are in place to allow for translation between Windows documents and corresponding Google documents, but I can not attest to how successfully this is carried out. With these competing systems so deeply entrenched in school communities issues arise when trying to use them in the greater school community.

In the end the suite of Google products seem to function quite similarly and thus adequately for most day to day uses that the typical student or faculty member might have need of. When used in closed system where all users, say on a school's staff, this can be a useful and friendly software answer for sharing documents in a community. Yet compatibility issues are a fly in the ointment when considering how or if to employ this free suite of software in the classroom.

=Link to Google Doc example.= [] = = =Google Doc lesson plan.= Google Docs Creation Lesson Plan Essential Question: Is there a way for a group of people, say a staff or classroom, to use a common software program that allows them to share documents in real time with editing capabilities?

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the lesson the student will be able to create a Google document, save it to their cloud drive and share it with a classmate or teammate.

Items needed: Computers with access to the internet, a Gmail account, and parties to share with also with Gmail accounts.

Anticipatory Set: If you had a computer document that you wanted to share with a classmate what would be the best way to do so? What if you wanted o allow them to edit the document and share it with an even larger community? What is you wanted to work with them simultaneously and collaborate live in creating a document?

Introduction: Google Documents, what are they, what can they be used for? It is a f[|ile storage and synchronization service] provided by [|Google], it allows users to access [|cloud storage] , [|file sharing] and [|collaborative editing]. Google Drive is the home of G[|oogle Docs], a suite of productivity applications, that offer collaborative editing on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. These products work much like Word based productivity application but are not compatible with them. The benefit of using these products is that a person or group of people can work live on the documents, and the are accessible anywhere, and may be shared with whomever you like who has a Gmail account. (Wikipedia)

Gmail account check-in: To get started you will need to check into your Gmail account and check in, if you don't have an account you will need to sign up for one at this time. Assuming you haven't already worked with Google Drive you will see what is similar to the Windows Explorer page on our screen. This is where you will access stored files and folders as well as create new productivity documents as well.

Creation of Google Document: In the upper right part of your screen you will note a tab that is entitled "create". Click on the tab and you will have a list of possible types of files appear. First, lets create a folder to save your work. After clicking on the tab for folder you will see a prompt to name our new folder. Let's type in Google Practice Document. Once you have hit the save button you will see the folder appear in your drive ready to host a document you are about to create. Click on the Document tab and a new fresh document page will appear on the screen. This document will function in much the same way that a Microsoft Word document works as related to functions, prompts, tabs, etc. At this point, turn to your neighbor or neighbors and make sure that each of you have accomplished the step we just worked on. If there are any questions or misunderstandings see if you can help each other, or let me know and I'll try to assist you as soon as possible.

Naming your new document: First thing you will note is that at the top of the page you will see hat this is at this point an "Untitled document". Before going an further we are going to name and save the document into the Google Practice Document folder. Move your curser arrow over the "Untitled Document" area and left click. At this point you will see a prompt to rename the document. Let's type in "Practice Document at this time and hit save. There you've renamed the document. Remember at this time that with Google Drive all of your work is automatically saved on the go in real time as you work on them. At this point, turn to your neighbor or neighbors and make sure that each of you have accomplished the step we just worked on. If there are any questions or misunderstandings see if you can help each other, or let me know and I'll try to assist you as soon as possible.

Moving document into your Google Practice document folder. Before moving on any further let's move this document into your Google Practice Document folder. Near the top of the screen you will find the tab entitled "File", click on it and then choose he "Move to folder" prompt. At this point You will see your Google Drive folders appear on the screen. Choose your Google Practice Document folder and then choose the "move" button. There you've now named, saved and moved this new document for safe keeping moving forward. At this point, turn to your neighbor or neighbors and make sure that each of you have accomplished the step we just worked on. If there are any questions or misunderstandings see if you can help each other, or let me know and I'll try to assist you as soon as possible.

At this point, turn to your neighbor or neighbors and make sure that each of you have accomplished the step we just worked on. If there are any questions or misunderstandings see if you can help each other, or let me know and I'll try to assist you as soon as possible.

Get to work. At this time you may experiment with typing a message on your new document. Play around with various, fonts, styles, and other modifications to the content. As noted before much of what you will find on Google Drive applications is quite similar to Word applications, so this part should come easy if you have any experience with them. After working with the application for a while and moving about the classroom, call the class back to order. At this point, turn to your neighbor or neighbors and make sure that each of you have accomplished the step we just worked on. If there are any questions or misunderstandings see if you can help each other, or let me know and I'll try to assist you as soon as possible.

Sharing your document. One of the most popular and useful features of this system is that you can share these documents with other people who have Gmail accounts. Now that you have experimented with your document and the item has saved automatically you are ready to complete your work and share it with other members of the class. In the upper right hand corner of the screen you will note a blue button. Click on this and you will see the screen which allows you to set parameters of if and how this document is shared and with whom. First note that you can choose a variety of privacy setting. Either you can keep this document for your access only or you may share it with any and everybody. You will also note the ability to share with groups you might be a part of or specific individuals who also have Gmail accounts. when you add people who may access the document you also may choose if they have the ability to edit the document or if you reserve this ability to yourself. To find someone to share with just begin typing their name and if they have a Gmail account, their email address should appear on the screen. Simply choose them to share with, and add as many individuals you wish to. At this point, turn to your neighbor or neighbors and make sure that each of you have accomplished the step we just worked on. If there are any questions or misunderstandings see if you can help each other, or let me know and I'll try to assist you as soon as possible.

Conclusion: Revisit goals: Congratulations you’ve done it. Our goal at the beginning of this session was to create, organize and share a document on Google Drive, which you just did. Of course there are a variety of other applications to explore and learn about as you move forward with these applications. At this point I want you to turn to a neighbor and share with them your impressions of the following questions. 1) What was the easiest thing about the work today? 2) What was difficult or did you not feel you understood at this point? 3) Do you think you might use this application moving forward?

Closing Statement Google Drive is a powerful application that although might not have all of the features of the far more popular Word products, might just be the ticket for your classroom or organization. When considering applications in your classroom take time to consider if this software package with its many benefits might be just the ticket for you and your community.

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