BP2_Google Docs

Today I am discussing a Web 2.0 tool that we just started using in our class this month.  This month is our first attempt at incorporating Google Docs into one of our assignments.  One part of our students’ second project is to create an infographic.  In order to help them prepare for this, their first project is to research and analyze existing infographics.  This project is set up to be done in groups, with the members finding what they feel are successful infrographics (and sometimes examples of what not to do) which they then break down and articulate what principles of design are present, making it that good example.  After this work has been done, they compile everything together in a presentation format, and then, as a group, give this presentation to the class.
Up until this point we allowed them to do this using whatever method they chose.  However, we decided it was a great opportunity to look into an emerging technology and trend.  Google Docs are a wide variety of document types, including word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings that are created within a web browser using Google’s web based software, and then saved on Google’s hardware.  This means any computer with Internet connectivity can access them.  Once the initial user has created the document, he can make it public for anyone to view and/or edit, or he can invite specific people via email.  At the point any of these people can edit the document, even simultaneously, with all the users seeing each other’s edits in real time.  This means not all participants need to be working on the same computer, or even in the same room.
We utilize the word document and presentation for use in the project.  The word document allows the students to post their findings for one another to see and discuss with each other.  The presentation obviously allows them to create the actual presentation of the material.  This way everyone is sharing their information as well as taking part in the creative process.  Also, when it comes time for the actual group presentation, it is a rather easy process; the students running the slides can simply log into his Google account from the instructor’s computer, which is already connected to the projector and speakers, as well as being hard wired into the network for a (hopefully) speedy Internet connection.

We had good success with our first run through of the project using Google Docs.  It’s still obviously very early and we only have this one month to go one, but there did seem to be an increase of quality in the students’ work and in their attitude towards the project.  I think Google Docs really helped with this as it allowed the students to work as a group in a more comfortable setting, and also the students seemed interested in learning about something new, as most of them had little to no experience with Google Docs.  One student he found it really neat that one night he added his information, and then when he woke up the next morning there was new content present.  Moving forward, we will continue to use Google Docs as part of this project.  One additional step we are looking into requiring will be to require the students’ add the instructors to the list of people who can view and edit the document.  We are thinking of doing this primarily so that we can access the revision history of the document just to ensure that all group members have taken some part in finding, sharing, and creating content.