Google Docs

From Library

Google, the company that is nearly synonymous with Internet search, also provides a number of other services utilizing Web 2.0 technology. On of the most exciting is an online word processing and spreadsheet service called Google Docs and Spreadsheets. While Google Docs (word processor) and Google Spreadsheet do not provide all of the functionality seen in conventional products like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, they do offer a number of benefits that Word and Excel do not provide. Google recently announced that they are working on an presentation service much like Microsoft Powerpoint.

All that is needed to use Google Docs and Spreadsheets is a modern web browser and a high-speed Internet connection. You can access your documents from any web connection and you can invite other to collaborate on a document. A cool feature of Google Docs is that more than one person can edit a document at one time, creating a truly collaborative editing environment. You can add tags for help in organizing your collection of documents and for easier searching. You can upload and download Word and other document formats.

1. Log into Google Docs with your Gmail account.
2. After logging in, click on the New Document link to create your first document. Add some content, use some of the various formatting options that are available.
3. Save and close your document. Change the title of your document to Library2.0
4. Click the Share now under the Owner/Collaborators/Viewers column next to the new name of your document in the document list view.
5. In the Invite people text area, enter Jeremy’s e-mail (jnelson@western.edu), making sure that the “as collaborators” radio button is selected. An e-mail will be sent to Jeremy and you’ll earn credit for this course.

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