Laura+Hoegh's+Google+Docs+Page

EDUC553--Google Docs Web 2.0 Investigation

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Google Docs is a tool that allows users to create multiple mediums such as documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms and drawings. Google Docs is an "all in one" source that automatically saves, offers options to share with other users, and creates an opportunity for others to collaborate on the same document. This tool is operated through a Google Drive; therefore, in order for users to have access they must create a Gmail account.
 * Description of Google Docs**:

Features:
 * Blank documents on which to type (similar to Word)
 * Presentations (similar to PowerPoint)
 * Spreadsheets (similar to Excel)
 * Forms (create quizzes, polls, interest surveys)
 * Drawings

Possible Uses:
 * Writing a paper and sharing the document with others for:
 * Peer revising
 * Teacher feedback
 * Creating lesson plans and student presentations
 * Creating surveys, polls, quizzes

Benefits:
 * Automatically saves as users create documents
 * Creates a list of designed documents for easy access
 * Allows users to share documents with others


 * Sample Google Doc**:

Reading Survey


 * Using Google Docs in the Classroom**:

__Surveys__: Creating surveys on Google Docs is a quick way to get to know students' interests, discover prior knowledge in a specific content area/over a topic, and use for quick formatives. This web tool provides immediate feedback and can lighten the grading load. Also, teachers can easily group students for reteaching based on student responses.

__Quizzes__: Along with "lightening the grading load," Google Docs grades student answers for the teacher as long as an answer key is provided. Also, after students take a quiz and the answers are being reviewed, the graded student responses are reflected in a spreadsheet to see how they all did on all the questions. From here teachers are able to identify if a majority of the students missed the same question and perhaps reteaching needs to be applied to whole group.

__Peer Revising__: A teacher can require students to type papers through Google Docs and share with the teacher and selected students to revise. One of the features of the blank document is being able to type comments. The teacher can select certain students to peer revise each others' papers. After the student types comments on the document the student can share his comments with the teacher through e-mail.

Google Docs Link

I am very interested in using Google Docs in my classroom. I teach 120+ kids daily. Is there ways to organizes classes or drives for certain classes without students being able to alter other peoples work? I'm still googling more and more to learn more but just curious if you already knew? Becki Brown

The district I work at uses Google Docs for everything. All of our team meeting agendas, lunch counts, and pretty much anything we need to know is on a Google Doc. Our principal has also used it to create polls for us about our opinions on certain things at school. I like that you included that all users are able to share these documents. One thing to consider adding is to make sure, when sharing documents, that the permissions are changed so others can add to the Google Doc if that is necessary. Such a great tool to use!!