Google Docs is a web based productivity suite similar to Microsoft Office or OpenOffice with some distinct features. The files can be accessed and edited from any device with an Internet connection. Not only can files be shared with or easily copied to others but can also be edited live by several users during a single session. Other advantages include safe online storage with an auto-save feature, there are several options for importing and exporting various file types that are highly compatible with other software programs, and files can be attached and emailed using Google’s Gmail application. Aside from easy access, another advantage of web-based software is that there isn’t any software to install or update on your local computers.
The best part is that all these resources are free. For me this means that most of my students will be able to access and work on projects at home eliminating many of the standard I left it on the table or my dog ate it excuses.
The other advantage is that my students are very active on social networking sites, such as MySpace, BeBo, and Facebook, I see the collaborative aspect of Google Docs as a way of tapping into that social nature. Students can work on assignments together at home or in the classroom and I can log in, monitor progress, make suggestions, and facilitate their efforts. As students make changes the revision is recorded and I can see what’s been changed, when it was changed, and who made the change. At any point files may be selectively shared or kept or made private.
Google Docs contains a word process, spreadsheet, presentation tool, and a forms tool with literally thousands of premade templates available for use. There are writing tools, calculators, calendars, cards, essentially something for every classroom.
Google provides great resources for getting started (http://www.google.com/educators/p_docs.html) and there are teacher communities for collaboration, sharing resources, and problem solving.
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