Google+Docs

Google Docs for Today's Students
 * What is Google Docs?**

[|Google Docs] is a web-based document, spreadsheet, form, and presentation tool developed by Google. It offers the opportunity for teams of professionals to collaborate in real-time, on-line and allows 1GB of file storage. That means wherever there is an Internet connection, you can access your files. No flash drives or hard drives necessary. Additionally, besides its storage feature, Google Docs offers the functionality of a wiki by allowing you to create, edit, publish and link (like I have done in this document) to other sites on the web. Share your syllabi, presentations and lesson plans. Create forms, observation assessments and tests using the form builder and build spreadsheets for budgets and department scheduling and organization. Create assignments that allow your students to discuss and collaborate asynchronously. This real-time editing functionality allows you to make changes, track changes and efficiently publish work in one click making versions of the same or old draft documents obsolete. You may also decide to upload file documents from your computer to your Google Docs account for sharing and publishing.


 * How can it help you?**

Google Docs can be an amazing teachers' assistant in both functionality and practice. It functions as a word processor and file cabinet. It also allows teachers in the same discipline or grade level to collaborate on projects, syllabi and lesson plans. Additionally, imagine the possibilities in the classroom with students. Develop a unit that allows your students to pair up to create surveys, analyze the results and share the findings in a evidenced-based presentation with the whole class. All of this and more is possible with this rich web-based system and the best part is that it is free. All you need is an email address to get started. For more information on this workshop, click on this [|Google Docs information link here].