(adapted from a handout I used in the Teaching in Computer Labs workshop in August 2010)
Google Docs is a free, web-based alternative to Microsoft Office. All you need to use Google Docs is a Google Account, which you can set up using your regular colorado.edu address. (In other words, you don’t need a Gmail account.)
Sample Uses:
Course Materials: Create a folder for your class, set the sharing settings so that students can view the contents of the folder but not edit them, and post all your course materials there (syllabus, calendar, assignments, etc.) This could take the place of posting materials on CULearn.
Drafts: Create a folder for your class, set the sharing settings so that students can view and edit the contents, and ask students to post drafts to the folder. They can create drafts in Google Docs or they can use Word or another word processing program and upload them to Google Docs. Once the file is in their All Items list, they can drag it to the class folder to share it.
Peer Reviews: Ask students to comment on drafts by opening the files in the class folder and using the comment bubble tool. (Go to the Insert menu and drag down to Comment. Then type comment in bubble that appears along the right margin.) Students can use this method to comment on drafts created in Google Docs or uploaded from other word processing programs.
- All comments are available on one page. (No more keeping track of multiple copies of drafts with comments)
- Reviewers can add their comments to those of others, creating a dialogue about the draft
- Comments are available for everyone in the class to see. (No more asking students to photocopy peer reviews and turn them in with the final paper.)
Collaborative Writing: Groups can work together to plan, draft, and revise a document.
- Students always have access to the most recent version of the document wherever they are
- Students can work on the document when it suits them (no need to get together in person)
- Students can use the side chat feature to discuss the document as they write
Handouts and Activities: Create documents in the shared class folder to use for in-class “on the fly” handouts and activities. (See the entry on Computer Lab Activities.)
Share Resources: Create a document in the shared class folder and ask everyone to post relevant material to the page. They could just post links or also include brief descriptions. Here are some examples:
- Links to relevant web sites or videos
- Citation information for articles
- Bits of advice they come across on writing
- Examples of writing assignments from other classes
- Links to digital tools their classmates might want to try
- Annotated bibliography entries (compiled by whole class or by groups working on a particular issue)
Publishing Final Versions: Students can set final version of a paper to be viewed as a web page (by anyone). You can publish relevant course materials so that they’re available even to those not logged into Google Accounts. (Might be useful for materials in the first few weeks of class.)
Rubrics: Create a spreadsheet for each student that has boxes to check for competency areas on each class project. Share the document with the student only. As you grade each project, fill out relevant sections of the rubric. Students will know to check the document for your feedback. (The file name will also become bold, to indicate that it has changes since the last time the student viewed it, and it will move to the top of their files list.)
Sign-up Sheets: Create sign up sheets for project topics, conferences, presentation days, and so on.
Surveys: Create surveys to gather student input or show students how to create surveys to collect data for their own projects.
Store Other Files: Create a folder and post your PowerPoints, PDFs, images, and more (private or shared with students). Useful for saving backups and for storing files related to a group project in one place, where all group members can access them.
More Information
For more info on using Google Docs, browse the handouts under Using Google Docs on my digital writing support site.
