Google Docs

I could not get along without my Google Docs account, both professionally and personally. I first used Google Presentation in the spring of 2008 as a collaborative tool for a group project for my first master’s class. Since that time I have accumulated 100 items in my Google Docs account. Because it is web-based, I often type in it since I can then work on it at home or at school.

As a school librarian, I push Google Docs and Google Presentation for student use, especially when they have to collaborate with others on a project. Since it is a free online word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program for creating, storing, collaborating, and sharing, it is very useful in an educational setting. When students collaborate in Google Docs, the teacher is able to see exactly what each student has done by checking the revision history. The website Google for Educators has many helpful ideas for using Google. http://www.google.com/educators/index.html .
Check out the following pdf. which explain many uses of Google Docs in the classroom:http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en/us/educators/learning_materials/necc_docs_spreadsheets.pdf

Professionally, the librarian in another building in my district collaborated with me to rewrite our school library manual using Google Docs. Also, my library aide and I share a budget spreadsheet and lists of books sent to our alternative school.

Personally, I have used it to help my son run for the North Dakota State Legislature. I showed him Google spreadsheet. He then set up spreadsheets for the campaign budget, addresses, and yard signs and shared them with various people.

Another personal collaborative use is for my daughter’s upcoming wedding. She created her address list as a spreadsheet and then shared it with my husband and me and with her future in-laws. Since we all live in different states, this was an easy way to get the invitation list. She also used Google Docs for nine other wedding items including her wedding budget and RSVP list.

Reference
(n.d.). Google for Educators. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/educators/index.html