Tools

In This Lesson:

In this lesson you will learn how to use some of the tools available in Google Docs.

Key Vocabulary:

ESL: English as a second language.

Dictation: the act of saying words that are automatically typed.

Spelling

Google Docs does have a spell check. It is the first option in the tools tab. The three options it gives you are Spell check, Underline errors, and Personal dictionary. Click Spell check to find spelling errors in your Doc. Make sure that Underline errors is checked if you want a red zig-zag line under spelling errors as you type. If this option seems to not work click it to turn it off and then click it again to turn it back on. Clicking on Personal dictionary will allow you to add words that are correct but show up as misspelled. You can also add words to your personal dictionary when you run a spell check. If you accidentally add a word to your personal dictionary you can go to this feature and delete the word.

Dictionary

Dictionary, unsurprisingly, allows you to highlight a word and look up what it means. It you can also type in a word to look up if the dictionary window is open. To get to it go to tools and then dictionary.

Explore

Explore is a tool in Google Docs that looks for key words in your document, does a keyword search, image search, and Google Drive search all inside Docs. See the video below for more information.

Translate Document

There are times in which you might need to translate a document for a student or their parents. Google Docs has a tool for this. Simply click on the Tools tab, then click Translate document. A box will appear and give you the options to rename the translated document, select a language, and then click translate. The translation is created in a new document so you don't have to worry about messing up your original Doc. The translations will not be perfect but they will usually be close enough for students to understand directions on an assignment. Google translations are well known to have multiple errors, so you should have a document properly translated if you are creating a document that is important.

Note: Although this feature is useful for students that don't speak English, remember that we want ESL students to learn English and therefore it should be used selectively so that they can have experience using English.

Voice Typing

Voice typing is a dictation tool inside of Google Docs. This can be a huge help for students who, for whatever reason, have trouble typing. To use this tool, just click on the Tools tab and then click Voice Typing. A small box with a microphone will appear. Click it and start talking and what you say will be typed out for you. Click on the mic again when you want to stop dictating.

There are a few things to consider before using this feature. If your computer doesn't have a microphone you can't use this feature.; If you are in a noisy room this feature may not work well; If you have trouble enunciating it will not work well.

Assignment 140: Google Docs Tools

Make a copy of your Assignment Template Portrait . (Right click on the file in Google Drive and click make a copy).
Rename it Fake Writing Prompt.
Change Title to Fake Writing Prompt.
Use voice typing to change "directions" to a writing prompt you would give your students.
Use the Explore tool to cite a website related to your writing prompt.
Translate your document into Spanish.

Click the image above to go to the assignment on Google Classroom. If you are not in the Online Basic Assignments Class, click here to request the passcode.

In the Next Lesson:

Learn how to share your documents, make comments, change the mode of Google Docs, and see version history of a document and who has accessed the document.

Previous Lesson Home Next Lesson

Report abuse