SASE 316: Revising/Collaborating: Google Docs

Rating: 5/5

Google Docs is a web-based editing program that allows its users to create, upload, edit, and share documents. Docs offer users different fonts, and the option to insert images and links. Word documents can easily be converted into Google Docs and vice versa. Docs can be shared with friends or classmates. The user sharing the document chooses whether people can edit, comment, or only view a document. There can be multiple editors and commenters working on a document at a time. Also, changes made in a document are automatically saved. Google Docs offers a chat window for users to communicate while working on a document. Offline editing allows users to work on Google Docs when they do not have Internet. Google Docs also has a variety of add-ons that allow users to do more in Docs. Google Docs is free to anyone who has a Gmail account and can be accessed from the web, Apple app, or Droid app. Access to Google Docs may be limited if there are not enough computers or tablets for all students in the classroom.

An English classroom can benefit from Google Docs because students will be able to revise each other’s papers using technology. For example, a teacher can designate a day for students to revise each other’s papers. Students will share their papers with their classmates and teacher using Google Docs instead of bringing a hard copy to class. The teacher can randomly assign peer revision groups and oversee that students are actually revising each other’s work. Google Docs allows someone’s paper to be circulating amongst many people. Therefore, the teacher and another student can both be revising one paper at a time. Students can also continue to peer edit each other’s work when they leave the classroom and school if they have Internet at home. Also, Google Docs can facilitate student collaborations on group papers because of all its features. Overall, I believe that students should know how to use Google Docs and all its other Google products.