Google Drive…Specifically Google Docs
By Jamie Guillaume

While at a conference this past summer, I was introduced to Google Drive and to be perfectly honest, I was a bit intimidated until I dove in and started attempting to manipulate this tool.  Along with help from experts, I have learned many useful attributes Google Drive has to offer for the classroom.

          What’s so great about Google Docs?  On the opening day for teachers this year the tool, “Google Docs” was mentioned repeatedly; so what’s all the hoopla about?!  To put in basic terminology, Google Docs is the Google version of Microsoft Word with additional web features.  My favorite attribute of creating a Google Doc is that the program saves all of your content automatically!  Since Google Docs are created through your Google account, you always have access to your drive from any computer, at any time, as long as you are connected to the internet. 

          Of course a 21^st century skill we are constantly trying to help our kids develop is collaboration.  Google Docs is perfect for practicing this skill because it has a share feature that will allow you to share (send) your document to anyone else with a Google account.  The owner/creator of the document can specify the rights of the individual receiving the document.  The feature actually makes it possible for two different people, on two different computers, to work on the same document, at the same time!  Then Google saves and logs the changes every step of the way! 

          Granted Google Docs is only one of about a million features of Google, but it is certainly worth exploring and utilizing in the classroom.