Facilitate Collaboration

with Google Docs

Julie Chi and Crystal RoseUniversity of Minnesota

Minnesota English Language Program

Minneapolis, Minnesota

MinneTESOL Conference

November 9th, 2013

What is Google Docs?

How can it be used in the classroom?

How can it benefit our learners?

What are possible challenges/considerations?

Essential Questions

o Documents

o Spreadsheets

o Forms

o Presentations

o Drawing

What is Google Docs?

Access

• Collaboration

• Organization

• Presentation

• Sharing Ideas

• Critical Thinking

• Authentic Learning

• Engagement

• Greater Participation

Benefits of using Google Docs

“...the use of Google

Drive...fundamentally change[s]

teaching and learning practices in ways

that [go] beyond simply increasing the

efficiency of information distribution.”

~ Rowe, Bozalek and Frantz (2013)

Student Demographics

International Students

Higher Ed, Intensive English Program

Saudi Arabia predominantly

Oman Philippines Mongolia

China Somalia

Turkey

Japan Korea

Ecuador

Writing

• Peer or Instructor Review / Editing

• Sharing Outlines and Drafts

• Collaborative Brainstorming

• Formatting a paragraph or essay

Reading / Vocabulary

● Vocabulary Building Exercises

● Graphic Organizers

● PowerPoint Presentations Summarizing

Ideas from a reading

● Reading fluency practice

Grammar

• Presentations to assess oral grammar

• Sentence Collection

• Collaborative Error Correction

Oral Skills

• Writing collaborative stories/scripts (to be

recorded)

• Creating listening quizzes

• Developing class goals and expectations at

the beginning of a term

• Creating summary presentation (of videos

and readings) as a class

Results of Survey - Julie’s ClassWhich of the following skills do you think have

improved for you while using Google Docs in your

class?technical skills (ex. computer

skills, online learning)

8 14%

communication skills 6 11%

collaboration skills (working as

a team)

14 25%

grammar skills 5 9%

writing skills 9 16%

speaking skills 3 5%

editing skills 6 11%

reading skills 4 7%

Other (test) 1 2%

Results of Survey- Crystal’s Class

Students’ Praises

“I learn a lot of information about my technical skill. For example before the

making quiz activity, i didnt know how i will do a online quiz on computer. And,

working together is most important benefit for me.”

“to make the writing clear, learn more about technology to be prepared for

academic classes in university”

“...Google Docs is very useful, It can helps to make a main idea about our topic

and clarify questions.”

Students’ Concerns

“Sometimes, time is not enough. Because in the group some people has

different idea and it is hard to do same thing together.”

“take more time than hand writing and I don`t like to use computer it's

complicated for me .”

“...sometimes student copy on these Google document exactly information,

So It depends on what type of assigment is.”

Discussion

http://bit.ly/HMgx68

1) What are some considerations when

deciding whether or not to use Google Docs

(or HOW to use Google Docs effectively)?

2) What are some other potential uses of

Google Docs for the classroom, for teachers

or for programs?

Resources

Rowe, Michael, Bozalek, Vivienne & Frantz, Jose (2013). Using Google Drive to facilitate a blended

approach to authentic learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44, 4, 594-606.

Firth, Mark & Mesureur, Germain (2010). Innovative uses for Google Docs in a university language

program. Jaltcall Journal, 6, 1, 3-16.

Head back to school with Drive: Teacher Edition

Posted: Monday, August 19, 2013, by Google guest blogger Wendy Gorton

Using Google Docs in the EFL classroom

Posted in: Mobile ESL: Learning and teaching ESL using cellphones, tablets and other

mobile devices. Sunday, 14 November 2010, by David Read

Google Docs and ESL Assistant for Writing Well

Uploaded on Jan 18, 2010, by David Woo

Presenters’ Contact Information

Julie C. Chi, M.A. TESL

University of Minnesota - Minnesota English Language Program

Minneapolis, MN

chixx009@umn.edu

Crystal Rose, M.A. TESL (almost!)

University of Minnesota - Minnesota English Language Program

Minneapolis, MN

rosex466@umn.edu

@crysrose28