Using Google Docs at your school

Google Docs - CADA Area C Advisor Conference
December 2011

Cloud Technology

• Creating your work in one place and saving to the Cloud
• Access anywhere you have an Internet connection
• Access on a desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone

Types of files we can create, edit, print, upload, and/or download

• Microsoft Office analogs
• Document
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation
• Form
• It’s not EXACTLY Office, but it's 95% of everything I need

It gets even better!

• Auto-save and revision history
• Sharing files
• View-only access
• Edit access
• Publishing to the web
• Working simultaneously - collaborate with other educators and students!
• Chatting within a document
• Tracking changes
• Never sending attachments again
• It helps manage your time, and you can take on more valuable work

Taking it to the next level

• All your ASB, yearbook, drama applications can now be created using form
• Student of the Month/Character Counts nomination form
• Tracking tardies
• Adding images is as simple as drag-and-drop
• Convert PDF files to word documents
• Great for personal use (birthday lists, holiday lists, …)
• Spell check
• And Google Docs continues to add new features all the time!

Security

• Eliminates floppy disks, USB/flash drives, CD drives
• Greater security, no virus risk
• You don’t know where that student’s flash drive has been!

Using Google Docs with your students

• Equity for all students - need to make sure all students have access
• Students sharing documents with the teacher, teacher can post comments
• Why Google Docs beats posting to a blog - the Kimball High School story