Google Docs - Basic Training

This workshop is a 'basic use' training for the Google Docs tool set. One can spend several days getting fully trained in the many Google gadgets, applications, and docs tools. But for this workshop, our goal will be to learn to access and manage the Google account and use word/spreadsheet/presentation documents.

Hints for success today: Right Click/Cntrl Click when opening link will let you open in new window or in a new tab.  This will leave your original windows open and make it easier to go back and forth between web pages.  Right Click/Cntrl Click will let you copy and paste text you have onscreen, thus helping you by not having to retype onscreen text.

Sign In

1. Go to google.com/a
2. Click the top right link:
3. Write 'austinisd.org' in the domain box and click 'Go'
4. The login screen will server two purposes. As a new user, you will need to create a free account using the 'create' link at the bottom. After that, you will type your district email id (everything but the @austinisd.org) and the new password you chose when you created the account.
5. After logging in, you will see your new Google Apps homepage.

Google Apps Homepage

This page yours to use as you wish. You can alter the page as you wish.

To get back to the home page, you can type the web address, http://partnerpage.google.com/austinisd.org. Alternatively, you can just type the 'google.com/a' address to go through the login again.  Once logged-in, you should see a link to your 'start page' near the top left.

Google Documents

 Word Documents: Hello World

• Create a template for a parent letter, class newsletter, letter of resignation, whatever you wish. Use at least 5 different tool bar buttons.
• Add a graphic. Insert with 'more options' to reduce the size of the image.
• Look at the File menu before saving. There are many options to save this document.
• Share this document

Spreadsheets: Weather Graphing

• Create a new spreadsheet
• Create this temperature spreadsheet and graph it:

• Monday	103
  Tuesday	98
  Wednesday	99
  Thursday	102
  Friday	83

• Another great use for Google Spreadsheets is the form.  Info Survey
• Create another blank spreadsheet and make this one a form by clicking the 'form' tab above the rows.

Creating the forms:  Start a new spreadsheet and click the 'Forms' tab. Click 'Create a form' to bring up the form creation tool.

The Question Title is the actual question you wish to be answered. The Help text is an optional guide that may help the user.  You have a number of different Question Types that you can choose from.

Click +Add a question to, well, add a question. When you are done, Save will save the spreadsheet into your main document viewer. You can open it later to edit if needed.

Choose recipients allows you to email the form to people or share it via a web link.

After clicking the 'choose recipients', you will see the http link on the right side. Paste that link onto your webpage or wiki and any user will be able to take your survey.

To edit the form later, open the spreadsheet and click the 'More Actions' link to edit the form.

Presentations: Blog Workshop

• Create a new blank presentation document. Make a 4 slide teacher introduction or lesson reteach. Insert a picture from either your computer or an online grahic.
• You can share the presentation. 
• We can insert this presentation into your blog or wiki by 'Publishing' it, copying the embedding code in the Publish tab, and pasting it into your blog or wiki.  *Make sure that if you have the "Viewers must be logged in..." message that you uncheck it. Otherwise your wiki page with the embedded code will automatically redirect to your Google Docs page.
•  

Sites:  This is a website hosted by Google.

Google Templates: Templates

     There are over 300 new templates available to you to use with your Google Docs. Find 4 templates that you feel could make a positive impact on your classroom instruction and open the template and save it to your docs home.

Additional Google Resources:

Google Educators: Collaborative Revision with Google Docs Is a great resource for teachers who want to use GoogleDocs with their students.

July 21, 2008 - Fulmore Middle School

Roster: Melinda Barati,  Betty Butler,  Susan Curtis,  Fredrick Morris,  Chana Moses,  Erika Pesek