Google Docs Assignment

Objectives:  Create a Google Docs account  Generate a quiz, survey, or online worksheet that you could use with students in your classroom  Generate a collaborative activity for students in your classroom.

Part 1: Create your own Google Docs account.

Part 2: Create a quiz, survey or online worksheet; just like the technology survey you completed during the first session of this course. Basically all of these fall under one term within Google Docs; it’s called a “form.” The reason this is so valuable is because you can create the questions, embed the form onto a website (like your wiki or other teacher website) and then students can access it from any computer with Internet access. Also, all of the results are organized into a spreadsheet and are stored for you to view at your leisure. You will soon see that this is both an efficient and effective way of doing business!

1. Once you’re signed in, click “New” and “Form.”

2. Now decide whether you would like to create a quiz, survey or worksheet. I don’t use many surveys at all in my classes, but I have used this resource for quizzes and worksheets. 3. Generate the form. I’m not giving any minimum criteria because you are the expert of how this resource could be best applied to your own unique teaching situation. Just create something you can actually use. Consider how you could use it for an upcoming lesson or unit. 4. Once you’re done, click on “More Actions” and “Embed.” 5. Now copy the entire code that appears. 6. Create a new page on your wiki called “Google Docs Form Assignment.” Click “Edit this page.” Now paste the embed code for your form on this page and click “Save.” 7. On your main wiki page under “My Assignments,” create a title for “Assignment 1: Creating a Google Docs Form” and insert a hyperlink to the page containing your embedded form.

Part 3: More advanced Google Docs Applications

At this point we’ve only scratched the surface. This is because the major value of Google Docs is contained within its collaborative power! Perhaps in your classes, students do research and create presentations. Maybe they even use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to do this. Imagine that you are doing a research and presentation activity in your class. Students will be working in groups of three. Students need to meet minimum criteria described by you and they need to create a PowerPoint presentation containing at least 2 spreadsheets, tables and/or graphs with supporting data. Also, they need to create a Word document outline to use during the presentation. In addition, they need to create a “works cited” page. The amazing thing about Google Docs is that all of this can be accomplished collaboratively. That is, if each of the students has a Google Docs account, all of them can work on each of the project elements simultaneously, or on their own, 24-7 from any computer that has Internet access. Is Google Docs a magical solution to all of the obstacles that teachers encounter during presentation activities? Heck no! But it does give us great project flexibility. As a part of this assignment, you need to create an activity in which students use Google Docs effectively in your classroom. This activity should be a word document like this one providing students with directions describing the objectives, directions, etc.

NOTE: Your activity should NOT include the directions for students to create Google Docs accounts. Instead, assume your students already have accounts. Create an activity that is at least 2 pages in length and is something you can actually use!

When you’re done, place the activity document on the same page as your “Google Docs Form Assignment” using this button on the “Edit this Page” toolbar. You need to browse for the document, upload it, double click it once, and SAVE.

Don’t hesitate to email me with any questions. Good luck!