GoogleDocs

I have been using GoogleDocs extensively for the past two years at the high school, more frequently with the juniors and seniors lab reports.

Many of the advantages listed by Wojcicki were evidenced, such as easy peer-, self- and teacher reviews during the writing process (rather than at the end), regardless of location. Students also run out of excuses, as the simple act of creating the document and sharing it with the teacher and peers indicates when the student started to work on the assignment, and monitors every step from then on. It also allows students to realize the benefits of starting their work early, as the earlier the assignment is started, the more support/help the student receives.

In Science, GoogleDocs still has a number of limitations: Google Spreadsheets has a limited number of formatting and formulae options, and the inability to add complex graphs and tables in a Google Document. For these, it is still necessary to have the final product, written in GoogleDocs, to go through a more professional word processor, such as MS Word. The same is true when teachers are trying to create elaborate charts of yearly academic planning, curriculum maps and so on.

Also, as we discuss GoogleDocs and its 'innovative' implications on collaboration between teachers and administratio, no one has been making use of an already available - and quite expensive - platform, which is MS Outlook. Everyone still send emails asking 'when can we meet', even though calendars, tasks and meeting planners are all embedded in the email platform we use daily.