Google Docs & Google Apps

Goals

1. Learn how to create, share and edit documents in Google Docs.
2. Become more familiar with the web-based applications (“apps”) offered by Google.
3. Complete Assignments 1-3 (below).

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of online scholarly collaboration using tools such as Google Docs.
2. Describe how Google Docs and one or more of the Google Apps may or may not be applicable to your courses.
3. Provide critical feedback addressing potentials and/or limitations to instructional uses of Google Docs and Google Apps.

Google

You may already be familiar with Google, a search engine that provides an interface for you to seek information, images and more on the World Wide Web. But Google’s search feature is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Google Docs is an online software suite of productivity tools with which you can create documents, spreadsheets and presentations. You can access all the software online; you don’t need to download the software onto your computer. Additionally, you can share editing privileges so that work may be created and edited by teams. (There are several versions of web-based software out there, some free, some not. Examples include Google Docs, SharePoint, and Zoho, among others.)

Assignment #1 – Create, edit and share in Google Docs

(Estimated time to complete: 30-45 minutes)

1. Go to the Google Docs webpage: http://docs.google.com. You can also find it by going to the Google homepage and then clicking on “more” on the top left side of the page.
2. If you have not already done so, log in to your Google account.  You may have created this account when you started your Blogger blog, in which case it will be the same login and password.  If you do not have a Google account, create one now by clicking the Get Started button, and then return to the Google Docs page and log in if necessary.  (You may already be logged in to Google Docs once you create the account.)
3. You should be in Google Docs now. In the left column, click on the word “new” and select “document” from the drop-down list.
4. In this new document, write a brief statement about your experience using one of the previous modules you have completed, or another training experience.
5. Save the document by clicking on the save button in the gray bar at the top or use File>Save. Then, you may exit by simply closing that window (or tab).
6. Back at the main Google Docs window, you can refresh the window to see your new document.  If you are unsure how to refresh, try this: click on Saved Searches in the left column, then click back on All Items and  that should make your new doc show up.
7. Click on your document. Make an edit and save. Close and return to the main Google Docs window.
8. Share the document with someone else who has a gmail account. Here’s how: First, choose a partner from among others completeing  Blue 2.0, or a colleague or friend; be sure to ask that person to make revisions or additions to your document once you send them the invitation. Click on the little box to the left of the document name; then click on share in the top blue bar. Add the other person as a Collaborator by typing the gmail address into the box. Send the invitation. Check back after an agreed-upon time and see the person’s “revisions.”
9. Now publish to your blog.  Click on the little check box to the left of the document name.  Then, click on “more actions” and choose “publish” from the drop-down list.  Choose “post to blog” and provide your blog user name and login.  Note: This won’t work for every blog host, but is seems to work well with Blogger.

Assignment #2 – Google Apps

(Estimated time to complete: approximately 30 minutes)

1. Google has many more applications that you can explore. Go to http://www.google.com/.
2. Click on More at the top of the page, and from the drop-down list choose Even More (the last choice).
3. Under the Search category, click on Google Scholar. Type in your own name and see what you have published or produced that is accessible via Google Scholar.
4. Try another search, this time using a topic of interest.
5. Read About Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/about.html
6. Go back to Google: http://www.google.com/ > More > Even More
7. Choose at least two more tools and explore their possibilities. If you are unsure where to start, here are some suggestions:

• Google Maps (online maps)
• Calendar (online calendar)
• Knol (expert articles)
• Picasa (photo editing and sharing)
• SketchUp (3D modeling)
• Reader (a feed reader)

Assignment #3 - Reflections (Applications to Instructional Settings)

(Estimated time to complete: approximately 30 minutes)

Answer the following questions in your Blue 2.0 blog (or wiki, notes or other reflections tool):

1. What do you think might be the benefits and drawbacks of online scholarly collaboration using tools such as Google Docs?
2. Would Google Docs and one or more of the Google Apps be useful in your courses?  If so, how?  If not, why not?