Google Docs in the Classroom
Google Docs is a great alternative to the old way of writing papers for English class using Microsoft Office. Gone is the need to purchase their software for your computer at home, emailing documents back and forth, using flash-drives or even floppy discs that always seem to be where you are not to save files to (do you still use floppy disks?), and all of the other hassles associated with keeping track of and using those files. All you need is a connection to the Internet, and your files are there.
Today we'll take a look at how you can use Google Docs for your classwork - for English and for any other class. I'll also show your teacher how she can make template files for you to use, and how you can use them, to eliminate the need for all of those dead trees and copies of class assignments. Here's the Google Docs QuickStart Guide, and we'll learn more about Google Docs in the following presentation and video.
(download)
If the above video space is blank, you can watch it here.
Here's an example of a Google Form - Please take the quick Pop Quiz!
To submit a template to your domain template gallery, just follow these steps:
- Log into your Gmail based email (Ironmail.org today).
- Click on the 'Documents' link near the top left of the page to view your Google Docs home.
- Create a new document with the information or format for the assignment (if you have not done so already), save it and close it.
- Click 'Create new' --> 'From template'.
- Click Submit a template on the top right of the templates main page.
- Click Choose from your Google Docs and select a template from your Google Docs that you'd like to submit.
- Click Select.
- Enter a short description, pick one or two categories for the template, and select a language.
- Click Submit template.
Note: Contact your domain administrator to add some new template categories for you or for your subject to make the organization of the templates a little easier for your users.
To use a teacher-created template, just log in to your Google Docs home and click 'Create new' --> 'From template'. Choose the template category, select from the main list, or search for the template that your teacher made using the search field near the top of the page!
