Jessica Harrison

Blog 3

MWF 9:30

Google Docs for Group Work

Collaboration methods using technology have proven effective for classroom group work.  One method is Google Docs, also known as Google Drive.  Assigned group work has become more effective through the use of Google Docs. Collaboration using Google Docs is most effective in the following three ways; inviting many to the document for revising, using real-time chat, and saving the document.

What is Google Docs? “Google Docs is an online word processor that lets you create and format text documents and collaborate with other people in real time (Google Drive).”  Google Docs has similar features to Microsoft Word such as formatting documents. Similarities consist of adjusting margins, spacing, fonts and colors.  With Google Docs however, other people can be invited to the document for collaboration.   Real time chat is a feature for document writers to collaborate and edit the document. Each member is assigned an editing color that can be seen by others editing at the same time.  If a section of the documents has been changed and does not need to be revised, the writer can lock that particular section.   Google Docs saves after every change made.  A revision history is made for convenience to view any other versions of the document. 

Group work assigned in the classroom can be easily accomplished when using Google Docs.  Work is quickly and effectively done because all members of the group can edit at the same time from different locations.  To ensure that work is not lost, previous or current, Google Docs automatically save the document. For convenience use Google Docs next time a group project is assigned.

Works Cited

Google Drive. 2012. Google. 27 October 2012. <http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=49008>.