Is Google Docs Better?

                                                                                                                        David Nilson

                                                                                                                        Blog post #3

                                                                                                                        2 pm   10/29/12

Many collaboration technologies are very useful in university studies. These programs often include file sharing, screen sharing, instant messaging, and voice over internet features. Google Docs is the example I will highlight in today’s blog. First, I will introduce you to Google Docs. Second, I will share some studies and publications that highlighted the collegiate usefulness of Google Docs. Third, I will list the old methods versus the new methods available through Google Docs and similar programs.

Google Docs is a very popular program. It is quite simple to use, especially for college students, most of whom are technology savvy. It has many uses for a university setting, not least of which is a group project for a class. Google Docs features include: online storage, and real-time creating and editing of documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and etc. by multiple users simultaneously. Files can be saved in multiple formats and Google Docs is supported by major internet browsers.

Much has been said about Google Docs. One writer’s commentary points out a very useful feature of Google Docs - multiple users taking notes simultaneously during class. This college student writing for the Hack College section of the Huffington Post wrote, “As college students, we survive by collaborating. We work together on group projects, form study groups, and share advice about the toughest professors. Despite all this, it occurred to me that nobody really works together to take notes. I'm talking about actually working simultaneously on the same set of notes during a lecture. Google Docs makes it possible to work simultaneously with partners in class to produce a single set of master notes, with more information that any individual could possibly transcribe. This is made possible through Google Docs' excellent live-updating collaboration feature, which lets you watch a letter-for-letter update of your friends' contributions to the document… [it’s] straight out of Harry Potter.” (McAllister)

A study was done in Israel on Google Docs. The researchers wanted to test whether collaboration resulted in different feelings about and quality of assignments. “One hundred and eighteen Open University of Israel undergraduate students participated in an experiment that was designed to test the differences between sharing and collaborating on a written assignment…[S]tudents believe that a document that was written collaboratively might have higher quality than a document written alone. Participants in all groups believed that collaboration improves the document quality. However, evaluation of the contribution of collaboration was asymmetrical - students felt that while they did not exacerbate the document they read or edited, others worsen their document when reading, suggesting or editing it. We therefore suggest that collaborative learning may be improved by encouraging collaboration mainly through suggesting and receiving improvements and less by editing each others' writing.” (Blau, Caspi 48-55)

Collaboration through Google Docs has proven to be useful and beneficiary, in both practical experience and official research. Let me finish this blog by simply pointing out some of the old methods compared to what Google Docs has to offer.

Old: Start files from scratch.

Google Docs: Choose from many pre-made templates.

Old: Email attachments back and forth.

Google Docs: All users have access to the same file, and you may check revision history for any previous versions of a document.

Old: Take notes as fast as you can write or type.

Google Docs: Collaborate note taking, study guides, and brainstorming ideas, any time including during class.

Old: Use different programs for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Google Docs: Contains document, spreadsheet, and presentation abilities.

Old: Communicate over email, phone, or in person about a shared file.

Google Docs: Instantly chat during file access or editing to discuss the shared file.

Google Docs, and its many not quite identical twins, is very useful for university students. It is simple to use. It has proven to be effective in collaboration for group projects. It simplifies and replaces many previous methods of collaboration.

                                                            References

Blau, Caspi, Ina, Avner. "Chais Research Center for the Integration of Technology in Education." Chais Research Center for the Integration of Technology in Education. (2009): 48-55. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://telem-pub.openu.ac.il/users/chais/2009/noon/1_1.pdf>. 

"Google Docs for Students." . N.p.. Web. 29 Oct 2012. <http://www.google.com/google-d-s/college/>.

McAllister, Shep. "Use Google Docs to Collaborate on Class Note Taking ." Huffington Post College: Hack College 03 04 2011, n. pag. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hack-college/use-google-docs-to-collab_b_844192.html>.