Google Docs

Google Docs is a free application that can be used to create, edit, and documents and spreadsheets online. Anyone with a google account has access to google docs and can import, create, edit and update documents and spreadsheets in various fonts and file formats, combining text with formulas, lists, tables and images.

Step By Step Guide

1. Go to drive.google.com and log into your Google Drive account.

2. Click New, then select Google Docs.

3. Now that you have a document open, you can edit it as you like, change how it looks, and work in it much like you would in Microsoft Word. Docs automatically saves every change you make. There are options to name the document by clicking where it says "Untitled Document".

4. You can share your Google Docs with anyone who has a Google account by clicking Share in the top, right corner. This tool allows you to add others in a document. You can give them the option to just view the document or you can give them permission to edit the document.

5. To print your document, you would click the printer button at the top, left of the screen.

Video Tutorial

Google Docs.mp4

FAQs & Answers

What is Google Docs?
- It is a free Web-based application in which documents can be created, edited and stored online. Files can be accessed from any computer.
Does Google Docs work offline?
- Yes. This feature is available within a Chrome browsers. If you haven't already, give Chrome a try-it’s free and easy to install.
Can I share Google Docs files externally?
- Yes. You can change each documents settings to grant anyone you choose editor, viewer or commenters access.
Can I convert my existing docs into Google Docs?
- Yes. You can convert many different file types into Google Docs format. The original file will remain intact.
What are the supported files using Google Docs?
- Supported files include .doc, .docx, dot, .html, plain text (.txt), .odt, and .rtf.

PROS

-Online availability allows users to work through the internet without having to download any programs or software

-Enables multiple people in different locations to collaborate simultaneously on the same document, from any computer with Internet access.

-The revision history allows you to see who contributed what and when. This is great for group projects or even individual projects. You can see who waited until the last minute, how students progressed through a project and the contributions for specific members of a group.

-No need to purchase any software, this is completely FREE!

CONS

-If you upload an existing document that were created on another software, the formatting will be messed up.

-Although the risks are very small, there are some potential security risks when storing data on a web‑based server.

-Since this is a web-based tool, you must be online to access all of your data. You can still create documents but without Internet access, you won’t be able to share documents with other accounts.

2 Sample Classroom Activities

This link shows a way for teachers to make handouts for students by using Google Docs. The teacher is able to make the document from home on her internet, then she can open it and print it out at school without a hassle.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FlWJ6oAXkXaOtw_h3_QTkqyxEQWeCq6VTI3SkMTp1pA/edit?usp=sharing

The teacher will give the students a writing prompt for a short paragraph. The students will type their paragraph on a Google Doc. Once all students have completed the assignment, they will pair up to do a peer review. They will share the documents where all of the students in the class can comment on their document.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vg8t7juEIHjzT6Jg_VBPQstCNxTD_nUhHw2JfCGSa-o/edit?usp=sharing

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