Go Google Part One

Google Apps, including GoogleDocs, Gmail, Picassa etc, have "revolutionized how individuals share information and collaborate on documents" (Colette Cassinelli).
The use of Google Apps and of GoogleDocs in particular is spreading fast amongst teachers who are looking for a better way to exchange information and documents (including spreadsheets, presentations, forms for quiz..) fast and reliably.  A growing number of them are using these tools to work and exchange with their students, and students are now setting up their e-portfolios using Google Apps for Education in a range of New Zealand schools.

In this post I will look at GoogleDocs and some of the Apps I use daily.  Hopefully both the first timer and the more acquainted will find something of interest here.

A subsequent post will aim to provide pointers gleaned from my readings for those investigating using the Google Apps for Education at school with their students.

Give things a go for yourself and focus on one tool at a time: it will give you the confidence to transfer your skills to using this tools at school with your students. (either with a Google accounts or through Google Apps for Education)
(NB: the (letters) are reference to the slide on the presentation below, & you can 2x click on it to open it in an other tab)

1- Getting started with Google Docs.

- Create an account.  You don't need to have a Gmail account to have a Google account) (a)
- From the Google homepage  click on more across the top and select Docs and away you go! (b)
- Upload an existing document from your computer. (c)
- Or start creating one (you will be familiar with the editor which looks like Open Office Word or MS Word) (d)
- And then get into sharing! (e)

► Mike Kaechele, who blogs at the Concrete Classrom shares in his presentation how to upload, create and share using Google Documents (f)
► Claire Amos shares an Introduction to Google Docs basics.
► And those great videos will help you Learn more about Google docs (g)
► A must visit, no matter the level of your working knowledge of Google Docs:  Google Community channel on you tube "chock full with tutorials,testimonials and stories by users"

- Say goodbye to USB keys, no more emailing documents back and forth from one collaborator to an other, one computer to an another: there is one copy of the document (or spreadsheet or presentation) available online to you as you sign in your account anywhere and it can be shared (to view or edit), and you can work on the document collaboratively and simultaneously if you wish once you have shared the document. (h)
- You can keep your document private, share it by attributing settings or by making it public on the web. (i)

What does it look like?

Instance 1
At this link : if you follow the Click here link in the entry called 10 free French Ipod and Iphone Apps, you will be directed to a Google document presenting 10 such applications.
Instance 2
At this link, the form is created from Google Docs (j) and the information provided on the form is compiled on the Spreadsheet, both documents are saved as a public page in this instance).
Instance 3
The presentation embedded in this post is made using the presentation tool in GoogleDocs. (k)

2- Getting to know the Apps:

Anyone spending a bit of time online soon finds these complement a lot of activities you carry out on the computer! (There are other online tools doing the same things,  it's a matter of choice and what works for you. I like Google Apps, they are free, reliable, highly compatible and work on any computer)

- Translate (l): amazingly accurate for a word, a phrase or a short sentence. And if you are not happy with it, you can contribute a better translation!
- YouTube account (m): great to upload the videos or screencasts before embedding in a wiki or the website. Some users/schools are concerned about coming across unsuitable content on YouTube. You may want to read about the new safety mode on YouTube and how to set it.
- Google Groups (n): it works a bit like the listserve, mailing lists and discussion groups are created on a range of topics and interests. The great thing is that conversations are grouped in a thread and that you can choose how often you as a member can be updated . One of the groups I "follow" is "Using google apps for eportfolios in K12 education" and while there is some technical stuff there (for the tech people at your school to set up) I learn a lot from the discussions taking place.
- Reader (o): to keep track of my favorite websites and blogs, I add their URL to Google reader and visit it regularly, where all new posts have been added via RSS feed. You can add to your Google reader by either copying and pasting the URL in the "add subscription" box in the Reader itself or quite simply by subscribing straight from the blog or web page RSS feed button.
- Images: to illustrate documents and presentations. Search for images published under a Creative Commons licence and attribute the picture to its author.
- Gmail:  I could not live without anymore and that I use for chat and video calls also
- Websearch: of course! who hasn't Googled something? You can find heaps of very cool search tips compiled on TeachHub.com  in the post called 100+ Google Tricks for Teachers (Thanks Derek Wenworth for directing to it)
And while you are there, scroll down for the author's compilation of Google Docs tips!

I really want to investigate Blogger and Google Sites further and wished they'd been around circa February 2008, back in the day when www.french.ac.nz was redesigned in its present form!

References.

- Everything Google, by Suzie Vesper on her LearningWeb2 wiki
- GoogleFest , by Dorothy Burt
- Richard Byrne compiles in a post at Free Technology for Teachers  presentations to:
- introduce you to wider range of Google tools for Teachers
- create and publish a quiz in Google Docs
- create pages in Blogger
- how to use Google Docs to add links or embed in Wikispaces.

Getting comfortable and a bit more technical? The Googledocs Blogspot may be providing some extra info!

Thanks to all Google aficionados for sharing!