Docs/Slides
What are Docs & Slides?
Google Docs and Slides are a free Web-based applications in which documents and presentations can be created, edited and stored online. Files can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection and a full-featured Web browser.
All Docs and Slides are stored in Google Drive which make them easy to share with anyone. When you share a Doc/Slide, you can choose what editing rights each person has - you can give them full editing rights, viewing rights, or rights to only make comments.
Click this link to try out some features of Docs. You will be forced to make a copy.
Ways you can use Google Docs in your Classroom
Peer Editing
If someone shares a Google Doc and allows you to comment, there are two ways to add feedback.
- Select any text and Insert > Comment (or use comment icon), which appears in the margin
- In the Suggesting mode, type directly into the document, which appears in a new color
In either case, the Doc owner may accept, reject, or respond to your comments and suggestions. If you wish to receive credit for your comments and suggestions, make sure you are signed into your account when entering them, or else they will appear anonymously.
Research
Using Google can make research easy. Click the icon above to learn about Google tools that you can use together for researching projects and papers.
- Google Docs
- Google Chrome
- Google Bookmarks
- Google Keep
- Bibliographies
- Citing Sources
HyperDocs
HyperDocs, a transformative, interactive Google Doc replacing the worksheet method of delivering instruction, is the ultimate change agent in the blended learning classroom. With strong educational philosophies built into each one, HyperDocs have the potential to shift the way you instruct with technology. They are created by teachers and given to students to engage, educate, and inspire learning. It’s not about teaching technology, it’s about using the technology to TEACH.
-exert from the https://hyperdocs.co/about_hyperdocs website
Choice Boards
A choice board is a graphic organizer that allows students to choose different ways to learn about a particular concept. Choice boards are set up in a grid, generally with 9 squares. You can include more or fewer activities, but I’ve found 9 to be a good number.
In addition, you can require that students complete items from the choice board in a specific way, such as choosing three choices in a row, or you can let students choose at random. The level of difficulty of the activities can vary or stay consistent.
Comments when Grading
As a teacher, when you are grading papers, do you find yourself making similar comments over and over? Using Google Keep when you are grading student work online can streamline that process.
You can easily create Keep lists of frequently made comments and you can even include links to suggested websites or videos that can help the students. When you are grading online Docs, it is easy to copy those comments from Keep.
Click on the icon above to learn more.
Chat or Discussion
You can use Google Docs as a discussion or chat room. Just create a doc and share it with two or more students. Each student chooses a color font and must give a key of who has each color.
Students chat/discuss on a subject or questions that you post. You can add comments to the discussion and you will have a transcript when they are done.
Ways you can use Google Slides in your Classroom
Collaborative Presentations or Collections
One of the most amazing features of using any of the Google Tools is the ability for collaboration. Slides is no exception.
Slides can be shared with a group of students or the whole class. You can even share a slides presentation with someone in another state or country. Collaboration can be everyone working together on the whole presentation or slides can each be assigned to different people.
eBooks or eZines
Believe it or not, you can use a Slides presentation to make a very nicely laid out eBook or eGazine. Watch the video attached to the icon above to see how. Plus because it's Google, you can have students collaborate to weave their ideas together.
Choose your Own Adventure/Ending Stories
Eric Curts posted directions for using Google Slides to create a choose your own adventure style activity. Using hyperlinks within a Google Slides presentation, build a story or tutorial that asks the viewer to make decisions. Google Slides is an awesome collaboration tool. See what your students can collaborate on and create!
Back Channel
Google Slides has added a new tool to make your presentations more interactive. It is the new Audience Q&A feature. Basically you can have a backchannel for any of your Google Slides presentations. Click here to see how it works or watch the video attached to the icon above.
Task
Take a look at the examples above.
Pick one you'd like to implement in your classroom in the upcoming weeks. Create a Doc/Slides for your subject and grade.
When you're finished, be sure to set the Share settings to "anyone with a link" and then follow the info on the slide below.
Use the arrow to open the Slide for editing. Then choose the "gear" and "Open Editor".
