Comments on: Getting Started with Google Docs in the Classroom

By: Using Google Documents when others need paper

Using Google Documents when others need paper — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:25:20 +0000

[...] you want your students to develop collaborative and technical skills. So (perhaps after reading Julie’s recent post?) you’ve decided to use Google Documents. The ability to check the revision history will be [...]

By: Considering OpenOffice? You Should.

Considering OpenOffice? You Should. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:03:27 +0000

[...] see in Microsoft Office. As much as I love Google Docs (and I do), one of the issues I faced when implementing Google Docs in the classroom was the inability of most students to format or spellcheck their document because the tools [...]

By: Working with Creately—happy diagramming

Working with Creately—happy diagramming — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:26:42 +0000

[...] readers, as I think one could easily use Creately in the classroom just as many of us use Google Docs and all the other Google tools. [In fact, if I were a betting person, I'd put money on Google [...]

By: Let’s talk about the clouds… « Scholastic Gamer

Let’s talk about the clouds… « Scholastic Gamer — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:06:11 +0000

[...] why Google Apps in academics? Prof Hacker has a lengthy write-up, but let me sum it up with a few points. First and foremost, it’s [...]

By: 5 Sites Your Undergrads Need to Know - ProfHacker.com

5 Sites Your Undergrads Need to Know - ProfHacker.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:02:54 +0000

[...] we discuss here at ProfHacker apply to students as well. (To pick 4 at random: Mint. ReadItLater. GoogleDocs. A Timer.) But you know what? We’re old. Our mission, while it includes undergrads, [...]

By: Julie Meloni

Julie Meloni — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:35:49 +0000

That is really interesting – I didn’t know that about the feedback expectations (full disclosure to other readers: Chelsey is from WSU as well). You know how I set up my class with the on-demand feedback option (as in, if they asked me, I did it) and very few people worked that option into their workflow, it sounds like your students expected it because of the technology. Is that the case? Could you attribute that to their status as international students in any way? Now I’m fascinated.

Also, you’re right that I completely didn’t address using Gears to access documents offline. But you can do that! And it works!

By: Chelsey Waters

Chelsey Waters — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:28:25 +0000

A good and thorough overview. When I used it this past spring, the only major drawback (besides the insane inline commenting feature) was that my students expected faster feedback than I was prepared or able to give. Next time, I’ll draw up clearer expectations. Oh, and a minor drawback was that Google Docs and/or the Internet was/were down at inconvenient times (curse you, airports without free WiFi!), but using Google Gears to download and access documents offline solves this problem neatly.

By: Julie Meloni

Julie Meloni — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:10:13 +0000

Ah yes, that is a wrinkle. But if they only have to print it out that one time, that’s not so bad. My students did print some individual papers for use in their mid-career writing portfolio because it is still paper-based. But we saved a significant amount of paper and reaped all sorts of other benefits from doing as much of it online as possible.

By: Amy Cavender

Amy Cavender — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:50:52 +0000

Thanks! The one wrinkle for me is that our students have to have a paper copy of their writing portfolios. That's because (a) their portfolios are anonymously reviewed by two faculty besides myself, and (b) they sometimes have to present their portfolios to their intended department when they declare a major.

So I'll still have to have them print things out, eventually--but I still think there are many benefits to be gained from using Google Docs.

By: Tona

Tona — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:30:56 +0000

One of the advantages of using Word or Open Office is being able to use Zotero to create citations. Looks like you can do that with GoogleDocs too.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:54:20 +0000

Great post. I’m using Google Docs for my PhD at the moment, and one other big advantage for me is how easily searchable my documents are there. I’ve taken to using Twitter-style hashtags next to the really important parts when I’m writing up notes or drafting something.

Also good to see you’re using Docs with other people- so far for me it’s been a fairly lonely swim against the tide of MS Office

By: Academic Sandbox (the blog) » At Prof. Hacker: Getting Started with Google Docs in the Classroom

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:18:03 +0000

[...] a note on a new blog post by me: Getting Started with Google Docs in the Classroom at the still-in-beta but pretty darn useful Prof. Hacker [...]