Web 2.0 Learning Tools

K12 learning 2.0:  Tools for 21st Century Teaching & Learning

THING “Twenty” (Session Nine)

Task: Exploring Google Docs…

Google Docs can be used to create shareable documents, presentations, forms and spreadsheets. Here is an example of a spreadsheet that can be shared among users. I created a “sample” that tracks general teacher classroom expenses.  See Collaborative Spreadsheet and feel free to modify and add data.

Google Docs enable students to create spreadsheets without worrying about formatting differences between applications.  If a student creates a file in one program at home and goes to school only to find that their document is not compatible with a different application, this can be discouraging.  Accessing this tool online allows the student to work with the same file at home and at school.

Google Docs has several advantages for your personal finance budget or tracking a project where different people are sharing the costs (if you want to put that type of information out in space).   Following are just a few:

1. Access from anywhere via the internet.
2. Easy to learn & use – Google Docs is not nearly as complex as Excel.  Less features.
3. Free – Google Docs isn’t going to cost you “one red cent.”  Save money.

Google Spreadsheets teach students about data gathering and data organization, as well as for keeping student records, lesson plans, and organizing all types of data.  There are some “cons” to using this tool which includes the inability to create charts and graphs and to print directly from the program.  It is saved first and then can be printed out at a later time.  On the “pros” side of things, it has chat for those that want to discuss their spreadsheet modifications in real time.

Charting with Google Spreadsheets is excellent for students who want to team up with other students and do group analysis of data.

Here is another example of how this tool could be used in the classroom.  The teacher could have students create a personal music inventory.  Each student would acess the online spreadsheet and enter their tapes and cd’s along with type, artist, and rating.  The students could exchange music selections with fellow students.  This idea could be adapted to track other items such as books and magazines.

See Video: Google Docs – Spreadsheet Introduction

See Video: Google Docs – Spreadsheets Part 2

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
eHow – How to create spreadsheet using Google Docs.
ZDNET – 5 Secrets of Google Docs and Spreadsheets
msoffice tutorial training – Shortcut keys for Google Docs and Spreadsheets
Business.com – Guide to Using Google Docs and Spreadsheets
Google Art - Collaborative Spreadsheet Art