Google Docs

Today’s young people are using a range of digital tools to compose and create in new and exciting ways and it is a game-changing moment for teachers of writing. The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century. That is where Google Docs comes into play, Google Docs is a wonderful free tool for teachers and students alike which allows for the creation of a variety of different text documents, spread sheets, and presentations as well as surveys. The ability to be able to share and comment for collaboration and immediate feedback, for its use as a research tool and the integration of spell checking and reference software makes it a fantastic tool for student productivity.

 Some of the best features of Google Docs that teachers need to know about are that :

• It is free and very easy to use.
• It has a user-friendly interface.
• It lets you create Google documents, spread sheets, and other file types and collections.
• It lets you upload, manage and store files and folders.
• It allows you to share Google Docs, files and collections.
• You can preview your docs and files before you open or share them.
• You can also view images and videos that you have uploaded to your document list.
• It lets you search for items by name, type and visibility setting.
• It allows users to collaborate on documents in real time.
• It also offers a chat functionality for collaborators to use while working on docs. 

Some uses for Google Forms and its applicability in collecting data within the classroom include:

• Having students conduct experiment in classroom and one member goes to teacher's computer to enter data for that group.
• Having students create surveys using Google forms and display on own computer; students travel from machine to machine to fill out the survey.
• Emailing forms to participants to collect data (can embed the form in the email); must know all members email addresses.
• The ability to embed the form in a Google Site, wiki, class blog or Moodle.

Google Docs has tremendous potential for use in the classroom and used in innovative ways is a wonderful tool for learning. For more information have a look at these fantastic posts by fellow pre-service educators Jennifer Walsh and Kelly Frintzilas who examine Google Docs in more detail and a great blog by UK educator Tom Barrett who reports on ten uses for Google Docs in the classroom.