I found Google-docs to be of great value. Gone are the days of saving, copying, and uploading attachments when using this tool. The creator of the Google document has full control over who gets to view and participate in the document. All participants get to view the document in real time, at the same time. They can also view drafts of the same document. The document is automatically saved and can never get lost. The only prerequisite to create a Google document is to go online and sign up for a free g-mail account. Then you are set to go.
As with every tool, there are some negative aspects to using Google-docs. Google-docs does not allow you to load pictures into folders unless the picture is within a document. Additionally, Google-docs can mess up pretty basic formatting if you upload existing documents. The best way to use it, is to originate the documents themselves within Google-docs.
As a resource room teacher, I found Google-docs to be a fascinating tool among the other tools that Google has to offer. Google-docs would allow me to coordinate students' schedules with classroom teachers and related service providers. I would be able to collaboratively create and organize schedules so that I can take students our of their general education classrooms in an optimum time-slot. It will also ensure that I don't overlap services with other providers. Google-docs can also help my students learn cooperatively. They can collaborate on the same assignment in different settings. Students can take pride in their work when their final document is presented to the classroom in presentation format using an overhead projector.
All in all, I feel that Google-docs is a fascinating tool that can be enjoyed by many people in all different types of circumstances.
I am still trying to figure out how to use google doc. I have become fluent with the basics. I did notice a mistake on my lesson plan and I wanted to edit it. I couldn't figure out how to edit it. I think that once one is very familiar with google doc's features, the benefits in the classroom and in education are endless.
ReplyDeleteI, too, struggled a bit until I got things right. The more I experimented with google docs, the more I saw its value in using this tool as a resource room teacher. But you're right, Miriam. It was a bumpy road.
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