GoogleDocs

I have used this application in the past to collaborate on curriculum for a summer program. The application allowed everyone participating to add information to the document, while at different locations. This was extremely valuable and much easier than replying to numerous emails. One feature that is very helpful is that the revisionist history is saved. This allows for those in the group to see who changed what to the document, so that additional questions can be directly addressed to specific members. The program is also very valuable in that it fosters the use of tables, images, and graphic organizers (shapes). This makes it simple to create a very clear, visual, and elaborate document alongside other individuals. There are some frustrations that come along with the use of the application. If the internet connection is lost, the changes to the document cannot be saved. Additionally, there are advanced features of Microsoft Word that are not included in GoogleDocs, such as voice, pdf conversion, and other formatting options. Lastly, your changes can be lost and the program can become very complicated if two individuals are editing the same text at the same time. Nonetheless, the application is a great tool considering all of its pros.

This application would also be a wonderful tool to use in the classroom. In order to use this software, students would need to know how to use the basic features of a word processor, which the majority of students do. This would be a useful tool because one document can be edited by a group of students, thus demonstrating their individual and combined understanding of the material. A document can easily be shared by checking the box on a list of the documents, and inviting others via email.

This is something I would strongly considering using for a Social Studies lesson. I am a strong advocate of asking students to form stances on political issues. Using GoogleDocs, students could work in groups and add information to the document supporting a position. This would allow for the students to each contribute to the final consensus, and allow me as the educator to retrace who contributed what to the document. Projects and group papers would work great with GoogleDocs.

In order to help students collaborate with this document, a teacher should address certain things. A teacher should go through the process of setting up, sharing, saving, and editing a document. Although most students are computer savvy enough to figure out the software it would behoove a teacher to demonstrate for those that may otherwise become lost. Additionally, a teacher should consider that it is his/her responsibility to monitor what is written in the document. The revisionist history should be reviewed to make sure that there is no “cyber bullying” or inappropriate material being temporarily published along the way. If the teacher is able to organize the use of this application in a safe manner, then the students could collaborate in a unique manner.