Google Docs and Wikis

March 6, 2012Effective Use of Technology

Sub-Committee (LTO – DMP – Library)

#RUweb20

ObjectivesGoogle Docs:• Understand Google tools (Google Education, Privacy)

• Use Google Docs in the Classroom (Janice Fung, Professional Communication)

• Practice using a shared documentWikis:• Understand what is a wiki• Use Wikis in the classroom (Examples)• Practice using the wiki page

Google• A simple search engine in 1996. • Google began developing new areas of the site, expanding Google’s

capabilities way beyond just searching the Internet, 2001

Google Tools:

http://www.google.ca/options/

Google Docs:With Google Docs, users can create, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can import Microsoft Office files and edit them within Google Docs, or you can create a file within Google Docs and export it as aMicrosoft Office compatible file.

Google Privacy Policy:“The main change in the updated privacy policy is for users signed into Google Accounts,”

“Individuals don’t need to sign in to use many of our services including Search, Maps, and YouTube. If a user is signed in, she can still edit or turn off her search history, switch Gmail chat to off the record, control the way Google tailors ads to her interests using our Ads Preferences Manager, use Incognito mode on Chrome, or use any of the other privacy tools we offer.”

Pablo Chavez, director of public policy for GoogleRead More: http://www.google.com/policies/

Google at Ryerson: Google Apps for Educationhttp://email.blog.ryerson.ca/

• Synchronous collaboration on a single document - The system handles conflicting changes well.

• A history of revisions is kept for all documents

• Each spreadsheet and presentation has a built in chat room for collaborators

• Upload and export most word processing and spreadsheet file types.

Google Docs:

• Design Surveys• Accessibility features• Peer Editing

Google Docs: Examples

Using Google Docs in the Classroom

Go to lto.blog.ryerson.ca

Google Docs: Let’s start

Google Docs: Create Online DocumentClick on “Create New” and select “Document”

Google Docs: Create Online DocumentA small screen “Rename Document” will pop-up write a name and press “OK”

Google Docs: Sharing the DocumentClick on the “Share” link

Google Docs: Sharing the DocumentIn the small screen “Sharing Settings” click on “Change” link

Copy the highlighted link by pressing “Ctrl V”, then press “Done”. Use this link to send to other so they could edit the same document

Google Docs: Sharing the DocumentYou can edit a shared document, add comments, and setup notifications

Google Docs: Sharing the DocumentYou can also view revisions (who did what)

What Is Wiki?

(Ficek, 2009)

Why Wiki ?

(Ficek, 2009; Orlando, 2011)

Wiki at Ryerson: Confluence

Wiki at Ryerson: Confluence

Wikispaces

Other Wiki PlatformsWikispaces

Types and Examples of Wiki Projects

(Ficek, 2009, Hanna, 2012)

Wikis: Create a shared websiteWe will use wikispaces as an example.

Benefits Drawbacks

Wikis maintain a history of all revisions to each page, including who made what changes.

Most wikis also provide a discussion forum for each page, though this is not always a threaded discussion.

Most wikis allow different permissions for different users.

Adding images and files is as easy as adding attachments to an email.

Users can overwrite each others' changes if they are editing the same page at the same time. Wikis are best for asynchronous collaboration, not synchronous collaboration.

Though a history of revisions is available, archives of old content are not easily accessible by category or searching.

Wikis: Design effective Wiki Projects

Don’t Assume They Know!!!

Wikis: Structuring Your Wiki Project

Go to webto.wikispaces.com/

Wikis: Start editing a shared wikiYou can edit the home page by clicking “Edit”

Go to webto.wikispaces.com/

Wikis: Create a shared websiteand add more pages by clicking “+ Pages and Files” on the left navigation bar.

ReferencesReferences: Ficek, R. (2009). Designing an effective collaborative wiki project. Magna Publications Inc. Orlando, J. (2011). Three ways to increase student collaboration. [Blog message]. Retrieved from Faculty Focus. Tharp, TL 2010, '"Wiki, Wiki, Wiki--WHAT?" Assessing Online Collaborative Writing', English Journal, vol. 99, no. 5, p. 40. 

Do you have any Questions?