Lesson 6:Google Docs & Spreadsheets

Think

Before you began this course, what did you do (or still do) when you need to collaborate with other students on a project outside of class? In other words, what do you usually do if you want to show someone what you have done? What do you do if you need to work on it at the same time? How do you feel about doing collaborative work? Please write a brief description.

I like collaborative work in terms of getting new ideas and advices. Though the work can be good for our study, it is pretty stressful. I did this kind of work by meeting my partner offline before starting this lesson. On that point, we have to manage our time to meet and have to make drafts separate then later we make them together. It actually bothered me much. Only once, I made a discussion which was a kind of outside class work by using chat system belongs to Google groups. That was better than doing the work separately but it was also troublesome. Because we couldn't see the draft. It took time to just point out which part of the document I want to talk about.

Explore
It is easy to learn a new way to create, share, publish, collaborate, and access you work anywhere. The video that follows explains more about Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Watch it a few times, stop and start it at critical points (the narration is fast!), take some notes. Try to identify two or three things about using GDS that could make studying easier for you. Please watch this video.

It says that GDS enables all group members(I mean editors) work on newest version of the document. Also we can share presentation and spreadsheet. These features of GDS are very helpful with our group essay assignments or group presentations in terms of not being confused by old version document. One more good aspect is that we can choose the member to share. We don't have to upload and share all document with people all over the world in order to share with the particular members. The owners of the document can even choose the members only to view their work not for editing. It may be helpful for our study.

Explain
Write a post reflecting on GDS with reference to the four SCICU Key Questions.

1. What are the main skills needed to use GDS?
The main skill needed to use GDS is, I think, just a skill to make an account. Also to think how to use it is important because it can be used in many way.

2. What are the affordances of GDS (what does it make possible, what does it impede)?
GDS lets our collaborate work go well. It is because of the functions GDS has. These enable us work with our own PC, at home. Also GDS release us from troublesome meeting to talk when the group members can meet. It is the waste of time. Many paper copies is one of the cause of trouble in group work. With GDS, we won't be bothered by paper copies.

3. How can GDS be used to network professionally and connect you (& other students) to learning resources?
It can be a strong tool of collaborate work in terms of sharing. We can just send invitation by e-mail to share information. We don't have to see each other in order to write a group essay. Also we can make documents on GDS and publish them to our own blogs(or e-portfolios) through GDS. It is very useful that e-portfolio, which is to store information and past works, is connected directly to GDS, with which we can make documents.

4. What skills and understandings have you learned about GDS that may promote your development as an effective learner in the digital age?

I learned that GDS can be very powerful tool for collaborate work. Also it is useful for our personal work because, as long as we can be online, GDS provide us the documents wherever and whenever. We can easily share documents, presentations and spreadsheets. This must be useful for our learning.