Kayla Strasburg

EDMT 380-003 Google Documents
Fall 2008

What is Google Docs?
Google Docs is a free web-based program that allows users to create and publish word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for free, users just need to sign up for a free Google account. Files created on Google Docs are saved to an online storage facility so they are easily accessible from any computer with an Internet connection and a standard browser. Google docs works on Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems, but depending on the system requires a certain version of Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox.

The following links are to examples of what I created using Google Docs.
My Google Document - A sampling of notes from my SPED 400 class, relating to Individualized Education Plans
My Google Presentation - A short presentation about integrating art education in the general education curriculum

What Features Do Google Docs and Microsoft Office Have In Common?

• Users can choose to format text by making it bold, italics, underline, highlight, subscript/superscript, strike through, or changing the font color.
• Both Google Docs and Microsoft Word 2007 have a default left alignment but allow the user to change the alignment to center, right, or justified.
• Microsoft Office 2007 and Google Docs share many of the same keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl+B (bold font), Ctrl+P (print), and Ctrl+Z (undo). One Mac keyboards, the users would use the Option key to replace the Control key on PC keyboards.
• Users can start from scratch or use templates to create word documents and presentations on both Google Docs and Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint.
• In both, users can create bulleted and numbered lists; insert tables, pictures, clip art, shapes, headers and footers; change the page orientation to landscape or portrait; alter page margins; and view a word document in various ways such as through print view or full screen view.
• Microsoft Office 2007 and Google Docs include a spellchecker, thesaurus, and word count.
• Users creating presentations created in Google Docs and in Microsoft PowerPoint can add videos and images to their slides.

What Features Differ In Google Docs and Microsoft Office?

• Microsoft Office 2007 offers over 160 text and symbol fonts for the user to choose from, whereas Google Docs has only 12 different choices for font.
• Files created on Google Docs can be published as a webpage without the need of a network.
• Documents and presentations created on Google Docs can be edited online with whomever the user chooses via email address and can be edited simultaneously.
• Google Docs includes a dictionary and encyclopedia in addition to the standard spellcheck and thesaurus used in Microsoft Office 2007.
• Presentations created in Google Docs can be viewed in real time by those in separate locations via an Internet connection. While viewing the presentation in presentation mode, a chat option is also available.
• Images can be added to presentations via a file on the users computer or a URL address of the image.
• Users can add different slide animations in presentations created using Microsoft PowerPoint. Google Docs offers this option though only as an incremental reveal.

Should I Use Google Docs With My Students?
As is evidenced in the similarities and difference of Google Docs and Microsoft Office, Google Docs work well for what they are intended to do. The presentation and document areas of Google Docs are easy to use, especially for beginning level students who may not have much experience with computers and word processing and presentation programs. Students don't need the fancy formatting tools offered by Microsoft Office to create a simple document or presentation and often they spend more time finding an animation, for example, than focusing on the information in the presentation they are creating. With Google Docs, students can not only work on a document, but can at the same time have instant access to resources on the web since they already have an Internet connection. With students, as well as professionals, using Google Docs is a wonderful way for students to collaborate as they can edit documents at the same time as someone else in their group.

As a teacher, you have many uses for Google Docs as well. Google Docs can be a useful tool for teachers in the same school or district as well as around the world. For example, educators can share lesson ideas and collaboratively plan lessons. Using Google Docs takes away the hassel of emailing updated files back and forth. Teachers can also have students create an email account, or use one provided by the school district if that is the case, and put assignments, rubrics, syllabi, classroom updates, et cetera on the web using Google Docs. This way, students can access the information more readily from any computer that has an Internet connection.

As with any new form of teaching and learning, there are some issues to consider before you decide to use Google Docs. First, before having students sign up for a Google account, it is important to inform parents of your intentions in using the web-based programs. This is also a perfect opportunity to speak with students about Internet safety, proper computer equipment usage, and online etiquette. Next, consider what you want your students to produce or gain from the experience of using Google Docs over Microsoft Office or another word processing program. Google Docs does not offer much in the way of formatting compared to Microsoft Office, so decide whether you will assess their work using a computer or a print copy, as this will make a difference in which program you ask them to use. One other thing to consider before adopting Google Docs for use in the classroom is how accessible the Internet is for your students. Since Google Docs requires an Internet connection to run, it is essential that each student be able to access the Internet whenever they are given an assignment in which they have to use Google Docs.

Information and Technoloy Literacy Standards

Fourth Grade Standards

• A.4.2 Identify and use common media formats
• A.4.3 Use a computer and productivity software to organize and create information
• A.4.4 Use a computer and communications software to access and transmit information
• A.4.5 Use media and technology to create and present information
• A.4.6 Evaluate the use of media and technology in a production or presentation
• B.4.7 Communicate the results of research and inquiry in an appropriate format
• D.4.1 Participate productively in workgroups or other collaborative learning
  environments
• D.4.2 Use information, media, and technology in a responsible manner

Eighth Grade Standards

• A.8.1 Use common media and technology terminology and equipment
• A.8.2 Identify and use common media formats
• A.8.3 Use a computer and productivity software to organize and create information
• A.8.4 Use a computer and communications software to access and transmit information
• A.8.5 Use media and technology to create and present information
• A.8.6 Evaluate the use of media and technology in a production or presentation
• B.8.7 Communicate the results of research and inquiry in an appropriate format
• D.8.1 Participate productively in workgroups or other collaborative learning
  environments
• D.8.2 Use information, media, and technology in a responsible manner

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Date Updated November 21, 2008
Any Questions? Contact strasbkj@uwec.edu