Tech+Tool+2

**Technology Tool #2: Google Docs**

**How does it work?**

Google Docs is a free, Web-based service that allows you to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations online. From there users can save, share and edit their files. Documents can be saved to the user’s local computer in many formats including Microsoft Word, Text, PDF and more. To avoid loss of data, documents are saved automatically to Google’s servers. An additional feature is that revision history is automatically saved. The free service allows for 1GB of storage. However, there are additional levels of storage that you can receive for an annual cost: 20GB is $5, 80GB is $20, and so on up to 16TB.  What I find to be the most helpful aspect of Google Docs is that it is a collaborative tool enabling users to edit and work on documents in real-time. More specifically, files can be opened, edited and shared by several users at the same time. Additionally, there is no software to download. To access Google Docs, go to docs.google.com and login to your Google account!


 * How can students and teachers use it in the classroom? **

﻿ **﻿ **Google Docs is a collaborative tool that would benefit both students and teachers alike. For example, it would be a fantastic tool to use on group work with secondary students. More specifically, it could be used in cooperative learning where students have to write a paper collectively as part of their group project. Google Docs would allow for all group members to work on pieces of the paper in real-time. Then each team member would be able to make edits without suffering from version control issues. Another way that Google Docs could be used in a school setting is through peer editing. It would promote writing as a process encouraging students to peer edit and make several revisions of their paper. Students could go back and check the revision history to see how their assignment has progressed.

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