Google+Docs

Google Docs  [|(Click here to go to the Google Docs sign-up page)]

What is it?
Google Docs is a free, Web-based [|word processor], [|spreadsheet], [|presentation], [|form], and data storage service offered by[|Google]. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. Google Docs combines the features of Writely and Spreadsheets with a [|presentation program] incorporating technology designed by Tonic Systems. Data storage of any files up to 1GB each in size was introduced on January 13, 2010. (from Wikipedia: [])     Follow this link to get an overview about how Google Docs can be used in the classroom: [] = =

** Google Docs in Plain English. **  The best orientation for understanding Google Docs (from Commoncraft: []):     media type="custom" key="7198493"       Watch this video to hear what teachers and principals have to say about Google Docs: (The following resources can all be found at the main Google Docs for Educators: [|http://www.google.com/educators/p_docs.html)] media type="custom" key="7198507"

**Google Apps:**
(used with super-friendly permission: http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/Google+Apps)

Resources
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJT3pagjd8s > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRYRbPCHTck&feature=channel > http://www.screencast.com/users/tomliamlynch/folders/Jing/media/6f8455b8-04bd-4631-8144-ed70c574ff61 > http://www.google.com/educators/community.html > http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddv49vkt_5cv7wwfd6
 * Google Apps Quick Tour Video
 * Why Google Apps for Education? Video
 * Introductory Google Apps Video using Jing
 * Google Teacher Community Discussion Group
 * Erosion Lesson Plan Grades 4-6
 * Google Apps: The Missing Manual
 * Google Apps for Educators video
 * Tutorial page
 * [|Google Apps Updates Blog]- see when google adds features to apps

Strengths

 * Free email - Gmail
 * Free messaging
 * Shared calendars
 * Collaborate in real time globally
 * Access documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and sites from anywhere, on any device.
 * Keeps data safe and secure
 * 24 hour help center
 * A unified email, chat, calendar, web docs, word process, spreadsheets, and other features all in one place also with a sophisticated system for sharing with other educators for review or collaboration makes this an invaluable resource.
 * Allows for online, digital portfolios to easily become the norm for authentic assessments.
 * Anti-spam/ anti-virus protection, document recovery, global scalability, and wonderful security are included.
 * Can access anywhere there is an Internet connection, even from Smartphones.
 * Provides 7GB of email storage per user and is free for school, universities, and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

Weaknesses
> User has 5 days to create an account with the same name as a deleted account, which is an issue is the account if mistakenly deleted by the administration.
 * Students who already had their own Google Mail accounts were choosing to use them and not the Apps accounts set up for them.
 * Some students may not have high speed Internet or a computer at home.
 * Documents could be cached by Google even after user deletes them.
 * No means of restoring a mistakenly deleted Google account
 * There is no means of migrating between user domains.
 * Deactivating a Google account bounces email, causing an issue when security requires temporarily disabling a student’s access to email.

Opportunities

 * You can increase your email system storage
 * Provide email accounts to alumni
 * Calendar function can be used for staff purposes, e.g., IEP meetings, counselors' student meetings, literacy meetings,etc...
 * For teachers who assign collaborative projects, it is extremely helpful when students can communicate with one another.
 * Using school email also teaches students that there is a difference between personal email and professional email, and the content of their school email should reflect a different tone and subject matter.

Ideas for the Classroom

 * Tip posters that can be hung in the classroom
 * Lesson plans using Apps
 * Science- Students are introduced to the scientific method through a hands-on activity, using a spreadsheet to record data and report findings.
 * Example: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p6Ytb8Ma1Q8Vxe5Ves-0iTw
 * Reading- Students create a book review, rating, and summary of books they have read on an embedded form on the class webpage.
 * Example book review form: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pDnLaP8zY44zIfA-J53KQNg
 * Google Docs, the word processing application, doesn't just give you access to the same document, it actually allow students to work on the same document at the same time from anywhere in the world.