Well, I'm just super-duper impressed with Google Docs. Now, I'm a pretty positive, easy-to-please person....so it doesn't take much, but seriously, I'm a fan! First of all the ease in which anyone (and if I can do it, then I seriously mean ANYONE) can access and utilize Google Docs rocks. All of my experience with documents has been through Word - and I'll just be honest....once I figured out the minimal basics of creating a document, I didn't try to learn anything else in Word. I've never done a powerpoint, spreadsheet, etc. (don't judge me :) ) I just always got by using what I knew (which wasn't much) - I guess because I didn't feel smart enough to figure things out on my own, and felt embarrassed to ask someone to help me out since I assumed I was probably the only one ever (besides my mama) who didn't already know what I was doing! But now....
GOOGLE DOCS TO THE RESCUE!!!!
I feel confident that I could figure out the forms, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. with ease! Woo-hoo!! Praise the Lord! Add to it that anyone with internet access can utilize Google Docs, and it's just so simple and makes so much sense. Plus being able to collaborate and share documents is SWEET. It saves time and enables cohorts like ours to work together without being together.
And then....all the lesson plans having students utilize Google Docs was just so cool. I mean 4-6 graders sharing documents, making presentations, developing forms, etc....What?! Really?! I mean, I'm just super impressed.....and oh, how I would LOVE for my own kids to do this in school! I really liked the lesson plan on Erosion by Ronna Van Veghel. In her lesson, she had the students research erosion and then create a Google presentation. I liked the layout of the lesson plan because the students had to have each step of the process signed off by a teacher. I just like having the teacher(s) be so involved. I also really liked the lesson plan on Google Sites for State Research by Molly Schroeder. She implemented the use of Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Forms in her lesson. I just really like it that Google Docs can be used by elementary school students with such ease. Utilizing Google Docs also helps teachers make sure to meet NETS standards.
I'm sure there are some downsides to Google Docs - limited internet access, the 13 age requirement, etc.....but for the most part, I'll say it again....GOOGLE DOCS ROCKS!
Yes, there are ways to cope with the age restriction. And, internet access restrictions are dropping rapidly. I will talk more about those issues in class.
ReplyDeleteGood writeup. I am so glad you are liking Google Docs and feeling so empowered!
Thanks :-)