Google docs presentation

Google Docs: An ACE* in the Classroom

ITBE Conference 2012

Marcia Luptak

*Active learning, Collaboration, and Engagement

Benefits of Using Google Docs

• not program specific (Word)

• not computer specific (PC or Mac); can even be accessed on a

smart phone!

• continuously saved to the cloud

• revision history – can see who did what and when

• two or more students can work on a document at the same time

• allows students to be active, collaborative, and engaged

Setting Up a Shared Document

1. Set a personal account at docs.google.com. You can use any email.

Setting Up a Shared Document2. Click on “Create:” This will cause a menu to drop down. Click on “Document.”


3. Click on “Untitled Document.” This will allow you to rename the document. You will want to name the document before sharing.


4. Click on “Share.”

5. You now have the option to share the document with your students. Enter their emails and let them edit, comment, or view. Click “Share and save” and students will receive an email invitation to the shared doc.

Setting Up a Shared Document6. Have students go to their email. They simply have to click on the invitation to have access.

Setting Up a Shared Document7. Students can work on the same document at the same time. I usually set up separate work areas when writing collaboratively.

Shared Document – Revision HistoryOne of the most valuable tools for me is the revision history. This is located under “File.”

Shared Document – Revision HistoryI can go back and see when and how my students revised their essays. The revision history is color-coded.

Individual Document – Revision History

This is also beneficial when a single student is working on a document.

Printing and SavingYou don’t have to save with Google Docs. It saves continuously while you work. You can either download the file and print it or just click “print.”

Disadvantages of Google Docs

• It is not as “rich” as Microsoft word. It has the same basic tools but does not have items such as spell check and thesaurus.

Disadvantages of Google Docs

• It has the occasional glitch where it doesn’t let students erase certain text. This seems to be computer-related.

• It does take some time for teachers and students to adjust to using a new program.

• It doesn’t interact well with course management systems such as Blackboard and D2L.

Ideas for Documents

• collaborative writing

• group review and comment

• individual writing assignments

• Others?

Setting Up a Spreadsheet

Setting up a spreadsheet, you go through the same steps as with setting up a document. Spreadsheets work like Excel.


Again, this is an abbreviated version of excel, but many of the features are the same.


Spreadsheets do have a type of spell check, but they do not provide spelling suggestions.


One interesting tool not available in Excel is adding a gadget.

Uses for Spreadsheets

Reader response spreadsheet.


Word forms spreadsheet.


And of course, math.


Other ideas?

Setting Up a Form

Again, go under “create” and “form.” This screen will pop up.

Setting Up a Form

Write the question and decide which type of response you want.

Setting Up a Form

You can add as many items as you choose.

Setting Up a Form

And you can choose different themes.

Setting Up a Form

Then set up your sharing options.

Using the Form

Students will be sent an invitation and it will open up looking like this…

Using the Form

Have them click on “Go to live form.”

Using the FormAnd now it will look like this…

Using the FormHave them give their responses and “submit.”

Using the FormNow the chart looks like this…

Using the FormClick on “Summary of responses” and you will get this…

Forms Can Be Used for

• Get to know you surveys

• Class response to a reading (or predictions)

• Class response to a video (or predictions)

• Quizzes

• Others?

Setting Up Presentations

Again, go under “create” and choose “presentation.” Rename the document, but do not share it yet.

Setting Up PresentationsAt this point, I create multiple slides so that the

students have something to work with.

Setting Up PresentationsDepending on the project, I might label the

slides so that it is easier to assign them.

Setting Up PresentationsI then share the document with my students.

Adding Images to PresentationsThere are two ways to add images to Google Docs’

presentations. Sometimes one works better than the other.

Adding Images to PresentationsFirst. Go to Google images and select an image

Adding Images to PresentationsDouble click on the image; then click on full-size

image.

Adding Images to PresentationsAt this point, you can do one of two things. First,

you can save the image by right-clicking on it.

Adding Images to PresentationsMake sure students know where they are saving it!

(This is trickier than it sounds.)

Adding Images to PresentationsThen go back to Google Docs and go under

“Insert” and “Image.”

Adding Images to PresentationsThen select “Browse” and find the picture and

double click on it. Then click “OK.”

Adding Images to PresentationsNow the picture is in the document and ready to be

manipulated.

Adding Images to PresentationsA second way to insert an image is by taking the

full-size image and copying the URL address

Adding Images to PresentationsThen go back to Google Docs and go under

“Insert” and “Image.”

Adding Images to PresentationsChoose “specify an image in URL,” and paste the

address in the space. Click “OK.” Now the image is ready to manipulate.

Adding Images to PresentationsYou can now manipulate the picture by clicking it

or you can resize it by grabbing the corner.

Adding Images to PresentationsBe sure to practice both ways of copying images as sometimes

one way works with an image and the other doesn’t.

Using PresentationsOne of the projects I do with students is a

vocabulary presentation.

Using PresentationsI assign each student a word or two, and then

students do the rest!

Using PresentationsAnother project was demonstrating participial

adjectives.

Using PresentationsMore participial adjectives….

Using PresentationsPrefixes project

Using PresentationsIn my reading classes, the students put together

presentations for different reading skills.

Using PresentationsFor these projects, I give the minimum requirements

and a rubric, and the students do the rest.

Using Presentations

The best thing is that students decide who is going to do what. I tell them I can see who did or didn’t do the work by looking at the revision history.

Using PresentationsI have even used Google Docs to co-develop

presentations with colleagues.

Using Presentations

Other ideas?

Q & A

Any questions or comments:

Marcia Luptak

Elgin Community College

[email protected]

*I will do onsite training if requested.

mailto:[email protected]

Using Google DocsAn ACE* in the classroom

Active learning,

Collaboration, and

Engagement

Education

Google docs presentation