Google Docs for Teachers

Endless emails? Too much time spent looking for a certain message with an important attachment? Maybe you can relate. I know that upon entering college I started to have many group projects in which we communicated our information to one another through email attachments. While this method worked, it could sometimes be a hassle to go through my inbox and collect all of the data without misplacing anything. Not to mention, it was rather time consuming. By watching the Google Docs introduction video I learned about a neater, more efficient, way to handle group projects.

You can check out the video by following this link: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=49008&cbid=-1ictoi5gxjc7d&src=cb&lev=topic

Google Docs is provided FREE of charge after creating a Google Account. It allows the user to upload or email documents into their Google docs system, which can then be accessed by the user and those the user invites. This allows users to compile their information and only have one place to look. Google docs makes it very easy to access a group document. It appears that in addition to editing documents this way groups can also share spreadsheets and presentations! I think that this sounds like a great resource for group projects. Since I have never actually used it, I would definitely like to try it out on my next group project and then let you know about my experience with it. I am wondering if it really is as easy to use as it sounds and if I would like it or not.

Google Docs can be used not only for group projects, but in numerous ways for teachers! You can check out Google Docs for Teachers by following this link:
http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=158149

While looking around the Google Docs for teachers website I came across a link that takes you to a chart full of keyboard shortcuts. Some of the shortcuts were familiar to me while others, especially ones used for spreadsheets, were not. One of the new shortcuts I learned was: Ctrl A = select all. I think this will be a good one to remember because sometimes I find myself just scrolling down a long document to select all of the text.

Google Docs for teachers allows teachers to share lesson plans. This is beneficial because teachers tend to teach the way that they learn best. If you find a teacher that's primary learning style is different than yours then you can share lessons with them, therefore hopefully reaching more of your students learning styles. There is also a feature which allows you to create a classroom site! I think this would be a fun option to explore for my future classroom. It allows you to post pictures from field trips, post assignments, and keep parents informed. Another feature of Teacher Docs is a service for students that can help them stay organized when working on a research project that takes place over a long time span. There is even a site that can be made for school administrators to access to stay connected on student progress, policies, and upcoming events. I think these sites are all excellent ideas! I love how they are already prepared for you, so you don't really have to know all the codes behind making a website to be part of these. Google Docs can even do your grading for you and help provide feedback on cohesiveness for group projects!

So whether it is a group project or a student evaluation Google Docs has got it all! I am so glad to have learned about Google Docs for teachers because it seems to be a hidden treasure! I am really looking forward to applying its many uses in my teacher education classes! I hope you can find some uses for it too!