Google Documents

When you are on any google page, in the top left had corner there are some options, and a 'more' button. The fact that I have never seen the more button before both surprises and worries me. How long has it been there? When I click on the more option I get just that. One of the various drop down options is in fact Google Documents.

Google documents is, to me, like a free version of Microsoft word, it is just as simple to use. You do your work (which can include tables and other Word-like features)then save it. It is secure and safe and now can be accessed from anywhere that has the Internet, no need for USB sticks or lugging around stacks of paper, it's all on the google documents database, waiting for you to log back in. That is not the only unique feature that comes with Google Documents, you can also invite other Gmail account users to look at the document. These people can have 'read only status or you could also make it so that someone else can edit and add to the document. No matter what, you are always the creator of the document and can change members' status within the document at any point.

I have used Google Documents during my Technology and Enterprise unit to create a working document that the lecturer checked. First I wrote my own part of a particular document then invited three others to look at the document. I had to change the status of the people I had invited (once they had accepted the invitation) so that they too could edit, in this case add) to the document. Lastly I invited the lecturer to view the final document, he then emailed me his response.

I enjoyed using Google Documents and could see it being both practical and useful in the classroom. When I went on my practicum there, of course, was always the problem of completing work. The children would start typing out a story or a report and would only get to work on it in lab time, or any spare time they could scrounge on the four classroom computers. The work could not be taken home as the children did not have USB sticks and the teacher knew that work done at home could also be left at home. The answer to this particular problem is Google Documents. The children could begin typing out in Google Documents at school, then at home log on with their email and password and carry on. The next day at school the typing could be continued in class computer time. This process could be continued until the typing is complete. Then, if the teacher wanted, the children could copy and paste the whole document to Microsoft word for final touch ups and printing off. Though I am sure that once the children are familiar with it, Google Documents would suffice.

I am excited by the idea of Google Documents and love the direction it takes us in technologically. I will definitely use it in the future and already know of friends and classmates who use it confidently