Google Docs in the Classroom Pat Hubert ESA2

What is Google Docs?  Like Microsoft Office, but online.  You can create collaboratively in real time Documents = Word Presentations = PowerPoint Spreadsheets = Excel

Google Docs in the Classroom? Advantages Work on docs from any computer with Internet connection Collaboration—multiple editors, simultaneously Changes/edits are seen by everyone immediately Automatically saves Can “revert” to previous versions Disadvantages Some limitations on export formats

Why Use It?  Students can access their documents from any computer with an Internet connection.  No worries about having the right software / version.  Multiple students can be invited to collaborate on the same document.  Teachers can see what students are doing, and offer feedback.  Can download documents onto your computer as a backup, and can upload documents you created in Office.  It’s free.

Getting Documents Out Print Export (save to computer, etc.) Publish

Formats (export/save to computer) Documents: html, rtf, Word, Open Office, pdf, text Spreadsheets csv, ods, html, pdf, xls, txt Presentations pdf

Some Numbers… 10 people can edit a document or presentation at one time, 50 can edit a spreadsheet at one time Limits: 1000 documents per account 1000 images per account Docs: up to 500 KB each Presentations: 10 MB from computer 2 MB from the web 500 KB via Spreadsheets: up to 1 MB

Creating a Google Docs Account 1. Visit 2. Sign into Google Docs: –a. If you already have a Google account,sign into Google Docs using your existing Google account. –b. If not, click Get Started to create your Google account. You can just sign up for a Google account with an address of your choice and a password.

New Users  You can use any address but you will need to confirm  Fill in all of the required form fields, read through the Terms of Service, and click on I Accept. Create My Account.  Log in to your , and clicking on the link that Google Docs sends you

Creating a New Document Part 1: Creating a New Document 1. Click on New on the Menu bar and select which type of file you would like to create. 2. Google Docs will open a new window that will allow you to create a word processed document.

Saving a New Document 1. In order to save your document you just need to click on the Save button. (You can also use the Save and Close button if you are finished working with the document.) 2. You can also chose File on the Menu bar and then Save.

Renaming a Document 1. If you would like to rename your file you can go to File on the Menu bar and choose Rename. 2. Type in the new document name and click OK.

Uploading a Document 1. In order to upload an existing document,you just need to click on the Upload button on the Menu bar. 2. Then you will need to click on the Browse button and find the document that you would like to upload.

Working with your Documents Edit Menu The Edit menu has many different options available. –Copy, paste, cut, etc. Insert Menu Provides you with some options of inserting many types of objects. –such as images, links, comments, and tables. Spell Check –It is located at the bottom right hand corner of your document.

Organizing your Documents Folders –To create a new folder simply click on New on the Menu bar and choose Folder. Your screen will change to show you the new folder. You can change the name by clicking on the words New Folder in the middle window. It will highlight the words and make them editable. Type in the new name. Optional: Add Description/Status link just below the New Folder name and add a quick description of what is stored in that folder.

Sharing, Collaborating, and Publishing a Document Select the document you would like to share with another person by clicking the checkbox in front of the document. Then click on the More Actions button on the Menu bar and select Share.

Collaborators and Viewers Check invitees as either Collaborators – are able to view as well as edit any documents that you share using this option. OR Viewers –are only able to view the document. –They are not able to make any changes to the document. Type in the addresses of the people with whom you would like to share the document. –Separate addresses with a comma. –Click on the Invite Collaborators/Viewers button.

Getting the Message Out Type in your message and click on the Send button. Anyone that receives the invitation can then click on the link within the message to begin viewing and/or editing the document. They will need to log in with their Google Account in order to edit if they are a collaborator.

Example #1 Digital Yearbook Student editors from different sites. Collaborate to collect and organize ~ Get staff, student and parent involvement

Example #2 Classroom dialog and brainstorming One example: edits made in one week. “Students wrote the script, suggested survey questions to ask the entire class. The survey was administered the following week.”

Demo 1 – Heart Rate Lab  Goal is to collect and analyze heart rate data from a class to see what effect exercise has on heart rate.  Idea is to have students take their resting pulse, then pulse after 10 jumping jacks, then 20, then 30.  Create a spreadsheet, and set up a table:

Demo 1 – Invite People  Once you have your spreadsheet set up, select “Save and Close” from the file menu. Call it something like “Heart Rate Lab”.  Now invite your students to share this document with you. Click the check box beside the document, and click “Share”.  You will need the Google ID of the people you want to share this spreadsheet with.  Once you’ve shared, ask your class to enter their heart rates as they take them.

Demo 1 – Live Graphing!  As your students are collecting and entering their data, you are going to set up a graph that will update live as they edit.  Select all of your columns, then choose “Insert” and “Chart”.  Select a line graph, check off “Use row 1 as labels”, and give your graph a title and axis labels.

Demo 2 – I Am Unique!  This is a good activity to model the use of a shared space and live editing, as well as a good “get to know your classmates” activity.  It can be done in any Google doc type. We’re going to use Documents.  Invite your class to individually work on a single shared Document. At the top of the document, you can put your instructions.  You want each student to type his/her name and then finish the sentence: "I am Unique because...“.

Demo 3 – Provinces of Canada Presentation  Our third demo is an example of how you could have students collaborate on a group presentation.  To get started, you as the teacher probably want to create the overall structure of the Presentation and do a sample.  We want one slide per province. We want students to have the provincial flag, the name of the capital city, and the name of the current Premier. (for this demo… you could have them include whatever info you want of course).  Set up a new presentation with a title slide, one sample at the beginning (I did Manitoba) and then blank slides with the titles of the other provinces (so students know where to put their information).

Images in Google Docs  Three choices to get an image into a Google doc.  Select “Insert” and “Image”:  Upload it (if you have a copy on your local computer).  Enter the URL.  Drag and drop from another browser/tab onto your open Google document. (EASIEST)

Demo 4 – Writing Buddies  Article “With a Little Help From My Friends” – Fall 2006 Weekly Reader.  Students compose their rough draft using Google Docs (or upload it).  Students ask questions in comments and invite their writing buddy to be a contributor to the document.  A writing buddy leaves them feedback on their writing and comments on Google Docs.  Fosters ongoing dialogue about students’ writing.  If the teacher is invited as a contributor as well, they can monitor, assess, participate.

Demo 4 – Writing Buddies  To insert a comment, select “Insert” and “Comment”.  Use different colours for different commenters (right click on a comment to set the colour, and your preference is remembered for future comments).

Demo 5 – Online Quiz  Click “New” and then “Form” on the Google Docs home screen.  Give your form a title and an explanation.  Your first two questions should probably be “First name” and “Last name”.  Start adding questions to your form by typing the question text into the title field.  You can add several types of questions: −Text and paragraph text. −Multiple choice (also used for true / false). −Scale (1 to 10) −Check boxes (select all that apply).  You can also choose whether a question is required.

Demo 5 – Taking the Test  You can share your quiz… −Through s. −By embedding it on a web page (blog, wiki, …).  A sample quiz is up on the PRSD tech committee wiki: works.com/Sample+For m+-+May+12+LwICT works.com/Sample+For m+-+May+12+LwICT

Demo 5 – Getting Results  You can see your responses… −As a spreadsheet of individual responses (useful if it’s for marks). −As a statistical summary.

Know Your Limits…  200 people can collaborate on a single document  Access levels:  Viewers (can only view)  Collaborators (can edit)  Simultaneous editing limits (at one time):  Docs & Presentations -10  Spreadsheets - 50

References / Resources  Teachers and Principals Talk about Google Docs d d  Google Docs in Plain English – Common Craft  Digital Ethnography – A Vision of Students Today  Seventeen Interesting Ways to Use Google Documents in the Classroom  Using Google Docs in the classroom: Simple as ABC  How to Use Google Docs as a Slick Survey Tool – Makeuseof.com tool/ tool/