From the TCMS Media Center

Before this course, I didn’t use or encourage the use of Google docs.  Why?  To be honest, I am not sure.  I like the ease of Google Docs.  It gives each person with whom you collaborate easy access without multiple digital copies hanging around on your hard drive, jump drive, on in your inbox.  I will strongly encourage our teachers to utilize Google docs with our students.  I have lost count the number of times students come to me with floppy disks (yes, some of our students still use those) or USB drives on which they have saved a document or presentation, but the saved file can’t be opened.  With Google docs al least the student could get to the saved file and turn in the assignment.  In my view, Google Docs is a great Web 2.0 tool.
Recently, all of the media specialists in my school system were asked to give input on revisions for the system technology plan.  Each of us were emailed a copy of the tech plan and then we revised that copy and emailed it back to the originator and just like that 8 copies of a document that is not totally up to date were created.  Collaborating via Google docs would have saved the digital space, but foster more collaboration through the participants as well.