Using Google Docs with learners for collaborative work

Google Docs and Learners:

Benefits: Google Docs captures learners’ interest and effectively promote collaborative learning. Less able learners are provided support. Learners’ writing skills are developed.

Limitations: Learners with no internet access at home can not use it after school. Low ability learners give less input and depend more on other class members. Some learners initially find it uneasy to share their ideas with their peers.

Google Docs and Teacher:

Benefits: Very less class time is required to demonstrate the working of Google Docs. Teacher can easily design differentiated tasks for learners. History feature of Google Docs enables the teacher to view the contributions made by each student in creating the document. Learners take more interest in homework.

Limitations: Online behavior of the learners needs to be monitored. Gmail accounts of learners below 13 years of age can not be created. Learners may get distracted with its chat feature so they need be guided to use it constructively.

Google Docs and the Institution:

Benefits: Using Google Docs promotes meaningful collaboration among teachers and learners with an educational purpose. Google Docs can be used to work in partnership with other classes and schools. Learners can use it from home and parents can also get involved. Teachers can use this tool to create lesson plans and other teaching resources collaboratively.

Limitations: School needs to be registered with Google Apps for Education to enable teacher controlled online facilities for learners below 13 years of age.

Conclusion:

Google Docs promotes the learning process by encouraging collaboration among learners. Both the institution and the teachers need to cater for learners’ safety and privacy when using this educational tool.