Google Drive (Docs)

Google Drive

Google Docs is a free, web-based word processing, presentation, forms and spreadsheets program. This is one of the best alternative to purchasing software, because you do not need any software download and you can access your files wherever you are with an internet connection.

Some Features of Google Docs

Here is a list of some of the best features of Google Docs that teachers need to know about:

It is free and very easy to use
It has a user-friendly interface
It lets you create Google documents, spreadsheets, and other file types and collections
It lets you upload, manage and store files and folders
It allows you to share Google Docs, files and collections
You can preview your docs and files before you open or share them
You can also view images and videos that you have uploaded to your document list
It lets you search for items by name, type and visibility setting
It allows users to collaborate on documents in real time
It also offers a chat functionality for collaborators to use while working on docs.

Tutorials at Learnfree.org:

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googledriveanddocs

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googledocuments

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/googlespreadsheets

Google Docs Templates for teachers

Many Google Docs users are unaware of the fact that they can breathe life into their documents with templates. Google's new templates for Google Docs make it fast and easy to create all kinds of documents. Check out this gallery to find more than 300 templates available for text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. All the templates are free and with one click you can download any one that you want. Just to help you sort out the good ones click here http://smore.com/bk3y to check out some of the best.

Google Docs easy tutorials for teachers

Below are some of the tutorials for you to walk you through the different processes on how to create and manage the different Google Docs services. Click on any title to access its corresponding tutorial :

I- Documents :
Click on any title to read the tutorial

II- Presentations :

III- Spreadsheets :

V- Forms :

IV- Drawings

VI- Work offline

IIV- Use Google Docs with a Screen Reader

How Teachers can use Google Docs in Education

Here is a list of some of the ways that teachers can use Google docs in their classrooms :

Google Docs can be used to promote group collaboration and creativity by having students record their group projects
Teachers can use Google Docs to keep track of grades, attendance, or any other data using Spreadsheet
Students use Google Docs to collaborate on writing assignments
Teachers can facilitate writing as a process by encouraging students to write in real time and also by providing help and insight to them using the comments feature
They can also use Spreadsheets to create quizzes and tests online.
Teachers can use it to create presentations to share with students . They can also encourage collaborative presentation skills by asking students to work together on a shared presentation before presenting it to the class
Teachers can use it to maintain, update and share lessons over time in a single document
It is great for professional development. Teachers, for instance, can collaborate on a document with fellow teachers and use the chat functionality to discuss and exchange views on lesson plans, activities and many more.
Using Spreadsheets teachers can organize cumulative project data in a single sheet accessible to any collaborator at any time
Teachers and students can use it to gather research information, ask for opinions

Read the following slides to explore other ways to use Google Docs in the classroom :

Google Drive (Docs)

Google Drive

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