Using Google Docs to Collaborate

Edna AuerfeldLIS 607 Fall 2011

What is Cloud-Based Computing?

Comparing Collaboration Techniques

E-mail Collaboration Cloud-based Collaboration

Wait time while partner

sends e-mail

Manual highlighting of

changed sections of

document

Partners work

individually on

document

Changes must be

viewed per individual

document

Instantaneous viewing

for both partners

Automatically color

codes each partner’s

work

Partners can work

simultaneously

History of changes is

always available

Create a Google account:

◦ Go to https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount◦ Fill out form:

Give your current e-mail address Create a password Agree to terms of service

How to Begin?

Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.

What are Google docs?

Why Make a Google doc ?

To create a doc:

From your Docs list, select "New" from the

upper-left corner.

Select which kind of doc you'd like to create:

document, spreadsheet or presentation.

A brand new version of the doc type selected

will open for you, ready to be edited and

shared.

How Can I Create a Google doc?

To share a doc:

From within the document you'd like to share, click the "Share" tab, in the upper-right corner*.

Enter the email addresses of whomever you'd like to add and select the button next to "As collaborators:”

Click "Invite collaborators." If you'd like, in the window that

appears send an email to your collaborators explaining a little about the doc. Whether or not you send this email, your doc is now shared.

How Can I Share a Google doc?

Things to note: ◦ Color coding of names◦ Instant messaging capability

through the notes section◦ History of changes in the

document. Go to file and to revision history to see changes and corresponding dates as well as who made those changes

◦ Insert a comment for your partner

Collaborate!Work on the Document Together

Go to File Scroll down to ‘Download

As’ Pick PDF Open up your downloaded

PDF by clicking on it at the bottom of your screen

Create a PDF of Your doc

Presentations, Google’s version of Power Point, can be made in the same way as Google docs.

When choosing, go to ‘Create New’ but this time choose presentation.

Sharing is the same for the presentation as for the doc.

Make one now and share it with your partner.

Make changes to the presentation to view the similarities of sharing in each format

Create a Presentation

Was this new? Would you use this with

students? If so, how? Will you use it with

colleagues? If so, how?

What do you Think?

Google (2008). Using Google docs. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcdn7mjg_72nh25vq#Create_and_share_your_docs

Google for Educators (2011). Google docs. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/educators/p_docs.html

Tbonedk86 (2009). Cloud computing: How it all works. YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTNgV0O_oTg&feature=related

References