Following up on the last post (which oddly enough, is below this one) I will continue the discussion of word processing software choices. Hopefully you have set up a Google account, because today we will be discussing a great option on the Google toolbar: Google Docs. Google Docs is an incredible resource available to everyone who has a Google account. With this tool, you can create word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, save them online, make them available to others, and allow others to edit and repost. This can be an incredibly useful tool in the classroom and for anyone working in a committee situation (PTA, Scouting, collaboration, holiday planning, etc).
Google Docs allows you to create new documents with the click of a button and a choice of format. The program does not require a download, as all work is completed via the website. A document title can be created by clicking on the bar labeled “Untitled Document”. The save option will save the document to your Google Docs folder online. In order to save the document to your computer, a flash drive, or to the network, a user must choose the “download” option, under the “file menu”. Documents can be downloaded into a Word format, RTF (Rich Text File) format, or an Open Office format. For more advanced users, the system can also convert word processing and presentation files into a pdf format.
Some of the benefits of using Google Docs are several. No more need for the flash drive, especially for commonly needed forms, worksheets, or other documents. Now, as long as you have an internet connection, you can share the resource with the world. Students can upload assignments, and access them as needed. Group work can be made more efficient, as students can edit documents at home, adding to a work in progress. Visibility of documents can run from completely private (available only to the creator), to by an email invitation from the document creator, to complete visibility to all who have the link to the website.
As both a free office productivity package, and as a central resource for project management, Google is making the world a smaller place. Follow the directions below and let me know your thoughts on the possibilities.
Creating a document in Google Docs:
1. Go to Google Docs either by clicking on the link at the top of the Google search page, or by going to http://google.com/docs.
2. You will be prompted to sign in. Please do so.
3. On the front page, click “Create New”, and choose the type of document you wish to create. You can also choose to edit an existing document by clicking on upload.
4. Have fun with it.
Saving your document:
1. Name your document by clicking on the title at the top where it will read “Untitled Document/Presentation/Spreadsheet”. Enter the new name, click enter.
2. Click on the “File” button, and follow down to the “Save” option.
3. The document will be saved to you Google Docs account, not to your computer. If you choose to transfer it to your computer, you will need to click the “Download” button and choose the format style.
4. You will get a prompt window asking if you wish to “Open”, “Save” or “Cancel”. Choose the “Save” option, and place the document where you like.
Google is on the cutting edge of what is known as “cloud computing” or “cloud sharing”. No longer will we have resource intensive software running on our computers. Instead, the software will be accessed over the internet, as needed, and our documents will also be saved online. Fewer resources will be dedicated to creating a central “hard location”, but instead, we will rely more heavily on the internet to share, retrieve, and create. The idea of “cloud computing” is that we go to a central resource online for what we need, and for relatively little cost, rather than loading up our individual computers with massive amounts of software we don’t need. Google Docs is a mainstream illustration of this concept. Enjoy.
Here is a video from another teacher that really hits the nail. It's the Cat's Meow.
http://ushistoryeducatorblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/google-docs-for-teachers-i-cant-say.html
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