Google Docs

How to Use Google Docs

Google Docs is an incredibly useful tool for teachers and students to use. It is a free web-based office suite. In school, the most widely used programs are word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets. In this tutorial, I will focus on the word processing program, known as Google Docs.

Log onto Google and click on the icon that looks like a grid. You need a google account (most people use a gmail account) to create or edit a google doc. You can view google docs without an account.

After clicking the grid icon, you will come to the Google menu. Click on Drive.

Next, click on the Create button.

You will then see a menu of programs. Click on document to use word processing.

You will now have a blank document. Click on "untitled document" to name your doc.

Name your doc, click OK and you are ready to go!

Navigating Google Docs is quite easy. Most of the functions are very similar to Word.

To share your doc with others, click the share button.

When sharing, decide who you want to share with, and whether you want others to be able to comment.

When you enter the email addresses of people you are sharing with, you decide if you want them to be able to edit, comment and/or view.

You can send the document any time after you create it. When a document is shared with editing privileges, you may work simultaneously with others to collaborate on the document.

How Can Google Docs be Used in the Classroom?

Since Google Docs is basically a word processing program, there are many ways to use it in the classroom.

• Individual writing assignments (essays, research papers, creative writing, journals, lab reports etc.)
• Collaborative writing assignments (research, creative writing)
• Peer editing
• Teacher editing
• With SmartBoard documents can be used for whole class viewing and/or revising

Limitations of Google Docs

• You need a google account to create or edit Google Docs.

Benefits of Google Docs

Many of the benefits of Google Docs arise from its collaborative nature.

• Allows multiple students to write, edit, comment on, and view documents.
• Students can share documents with the teacher for comments and editing suggestions.
• Students can work on documents from anywhere they have Internet access.
• Documents can also be shared publicly.
• Everything saves automatically. (This could be the best feature - no more "lost" work!)
• Docs can easily be accessed, shared and/or presented on a SmartBoard.

Revision History/Audit Trail

Originally built August 4th, 2014 by Jody Ceglarski, Monica Hayes, and Christel Russman.