Team Writing: Google Docs Team Presentations: Google Docs Multi-Stage Writing: Google Docs Publish Student Writing:
Lulu
GOOGLE ACCOUNTS: First thing I do in the year
is to have the students create a Google Account if they don't already have one. Students can use any e-mail address (Yahoo, AOL, school email) to create
an account. If students have Gmail, they can use that as their account. I do this first because their Google Account gives
them access to most Google services like Google Docs, Blogger, Sites, Page Creator, Groups, and Calendar.
STUDENTS UNDER 13: If your students are under 13 and can't create their own
accounts, you can consider creating teacher run student accounts under free Google Apps.
GOOGLE DOCS-INTRODUCTION For Use With: Student essay writing, team reports, slide
shows, group presentations, spreadsheets, project tracking, and collecting information.
Work WITHOUT Google Docs: Students and teachers may struggle to keep track of paper documents.
Students may lose their documents. Students have to coordinate their schedules to meet for a group project, swapping
documents by email or flash drive. Teachers are unsure who completed which parts of a group assignment and when they completed
it.
What is Google Docs? Google Docs is a free online word processor, presentation maker, and spreadsheet
program that allows students to create documents, presentations, and spreadsheets without having to download or buy any software.
It permits multiple students to collaborate in real time on the same document in different locations, or in delayed time.
It makes cooperative learning so much easier.
What use is it to teachers? a) Automatically records all revisions (can’t be erased) every 5
minutes, with a time stamp. Allows teachers to compare drafts and verify progress. b) Revision history color codes the
document to show who did which part of the assignment when there are multiple collaborators. c) Allows students to work
on collaborative projects without having to all be by a computer or transfer files to work on the same document or presentation.
d) Allows teachers to track and comment on student work from anywhere with Internet access. e) Allows teachers
to collect information through online forms that are pre-sorted and easily managed.
INSTRUCTIONS Google Docs Instructions: 1) Go to: http://docs.google.com, you do not have to download anything (Apple users are recommended to use Firefox or an updated Safari browser). 2)
If you do not have a Google Account, you’ll be asked to create one using any email address. Those who use Gmail will
already be registered. Any email address can be used to register a Google Account. 3) To create a new
document, click “New” (make sure pop-up blocker is off for the site). If it's a group project, appoint one person
to create the group document. 4) To rename the document, click the "File" on the menu bar or click title
“Untitled” to rename. Teachers should have students name their documents very specifically, because an organized
file naming system will keep the teacher’s Google Doc account organized (Such as renaming it to be: "Period4Team2RoughDraft"). 5)
To add collaborators/group members, click “Share,” type in the email addresses of the collaborators, including
the teacher's email. Google Accounts connected to those email addresses should be activated prior to inviting those collaborators
(Make sure the teacher has activated their own Google Account). 6) Under the menu bar, "Edit" is where
you find your common work tools and where you'll do most your work. Under the menu bar, "Insert" brings up tools to add images,
tables, page breaks, notes, and special characters.
Importing/Exporting Your Work: To import, go to
your main Google Docs page, click "Upload" on the menu bar. To export, click "File" on the menu bar and you will be able
to save your Google document as a Word document, PDF, or HTML. Clicking "Publish" on the menu bar will export your
document to the web, and it will create an unique web address for your document.
TIPS FOR TEACHERS More Specific Google Doc Lesson Details: When creating group reports, I have the
students use Google Docs to create their written reports and slide presentations. I have them create an outline first with
their names by their respective sections, so they know where to work within a document or presentation. I'll check in with
them by visiting their documents online (since I'm added as a co-collaborator), and check the revision history to verify
their progress. I also leave notes on their docs when needed. They have to print out their written assignments for
me to grade. I grade presentations as they present. To make rubrics online see Rubistar. Know Who is Who: Under account settings, students can type in their full name under "Display
Name," this way their name will pop up next to their username which can be something unidentifiable.
Check Student
Progress: Using Google Docs spreadsheets, share a spreadsheet with the whole class and create boxes for them to
check in their progress on certain due dates.
Prevent Cheating: Ask students to do their typing inside Google Docs and not copy and paste
from an outside word processor. This allows Google Docs to record their progress. The revision history automatically
records and time stamps their work so you can resolve anything unusual. Remember by comparing the histories
of two different revision dates, the color coding will show you who made what changes. Google documents can
also be downloaded to be submitted to Turnitin.com.
Make Team Communication Easier: Students can
leave notes for each other on the top of their doc or on the 1st slide of a group presentation. They can delete their notes
later. If they are logged on at the same time, their name will appear on the side, allowing them to chat.
Save
Time, Use Forms: Google Docs has a very easy form creator found under "forms" that lets individuals
respond to forms online without needing to log-in or have a Google Account. The data is automatically placed in your
spreadsheet for easy sorting/use. I use this to have students send me info for surveys or rubrics. I then have the spreadsheet
sort their names for easy grading. It's saved me so much time. Reminder to see results in chart form, click "Show summary"
under "Form" toolbar.
Designing Presentations in PowerPoint: Design within PowerPoint and import
into Google Docs. Use the imported slides as your template is easier then designing complex backgrounds with in Google Docs.
Making
Presentations Look Larger and Better: Clicking the very small triangle midway on the right side of the screen
expands the viewable area. Presentation remotes work with Google Docs.
To Determine How it Looks on Paper: Clicking the "Preview" button. Then go to the "File" menu on your
internet browser and click "Print Preview" to see how it looks on paper. You can also export or copy and paste your Google document
into a traditional word processor. Having students follow word count limits versus page count limits reduces this problem.
Word count can be found under the the "File" menu. Need an Offline Free Word Processor: If your
students need something free to use that doesn't require the Internet (other than the initial download, it can be burned
to CD). Open Office is an alternative to Microsoft Office that is completely free: Open Office.
Want to share your PowerPoints to a wider online audience: You can publish your slides
under "Share" and share the unique web address Google creates for your site or you can upload PowerPoints to SlideShare or create a audio guided interactive slideshow through Voicethread.
LULU-INTRODUCTION For Use With: Publishing student work so that students, families,
and the community can purchase their work.
Work WITHOUT Lulu: Teachers have to pay upfront expenses to reproduce student work for others. It
would be cost prohibitive to publish student work with the the craftmanship of a real book.
What is Lulu? Lulu is a free website that lets you share work whether it be a book your student
wrote about their family or poster they designed. There is no cost to upload their work. The student will set
a price to sell their work at, which Lulu will take a portion. If anyone wants to buy a copy of their work, they just
buy it, Lulu will produce it, and ship it to them. No upfront cost and no requirement for anyone to buy any copies. Students
work just that much harder knowing their work will be published and will look and feel like a real book.
Video Introduction: not yet posted
Video Tutorial: not yet posted
Lulu Sample Image:
Contact Chris Chiang at: govandlaw@gmail dot com (sorry no technical support questions please)
