Rebuilt Google Docs

If you've tried Google Docs in the past and liked them, but thought improvements were needed before you started using the Docs, it's a good idea to go back and take a look at the new document editor. As of second quarter this year, a preview is available to those who wish to try it. According to the Google team, "You'll notice a huge improvement in the import quality when uploading and importing documents from desktop word processors into Google Docs."

The new Google Docs have many of the improvements you've asked for in word processing and spreadsheets. There's real-time online collaboration, chatting while collaborating, increased speed, and the ability to move images and comments within documents, make tab stops, edit cells from the formula bar, use autofill, drag and drop columns, and scroll seamlessly. There's a standalone editor to add drawings to Google Docs and collaboration is also available while drawing. British teacher Oliver Quinlan reports that even though he's only used the new Docs for a short period of time with student, they "seem to be a triumph for personalisation and assessment for learning in writing."

With Google Docs (new and old editors) you won't download the applications to use on school computers, for the applications are online. What you and your students create is saved online, which makes it accessible anywhere where there's a computer connected to the Internet. The system makes online collaboration easy for you and your students, for classroom interaction, and for student group work. The programs automatically save student work and keep track of each time revisions are made. If you want to get started with Google Docs, check out the Handy Dandy Step-By-Step Guide.

So What Besides Google Docs Can You Do with Google for Educators?

Google Calendar you can organize your life and just about everyone else's, too. Think class calendars, school calendars, sports calendars-you can create whatever types of calendars you want, and you can make it so others can access them.

Geo Education is a place for you and your students to put Google Earth, Google Sky, Google Sketchup and Google Maps to use.  These are all WOW programs on their own, but when you put their tools together, the results are unbeatable. Classroom Ideas are available for you along with links to projects completed by other educators. Take your students on a 3D Tours to one of the cathedrals, historic sites, skyscrapers, or universities-amazing.

In the Book Search area, you'll zoom into the full text of the titles you select from a library of public domain books, out-of-print books, and many popular books, all of which you can search to find the exact pages you want to use. Here you and your students can choose from selections such as: Treasure Island, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Little Red Hen, Peter and the Wolf, The Canterbury Tales, Einstein, How Much Is a Million ....

You may want to sign up for the quarterly newsletter or take part in the discussion area, both of which will help you with ideas related to Google tools. Besides all this, there's Blogger for creating blogs, Groups for getting discussions going, Page Creator for making Web pages, Google Apps for communication, Picasso for editing and sharing photos, SketchUp for 3D modeling ....

Download Posters & Guidesheets

Google provides a series of posters filled with tips for using Google tools. You can download 8.5"*11" or 17"*22" PDF to use in your classroom. There are several to help students, and you, as well, with more effective Internet searching; one to bring history alive through Google Maps, and one specifically to use with younger students.

Why Google for Educators?

Why not? It makes sense.