Google Documents
Documents are part of the Google Apps available to students through the Gmail account. To access you Google documents, log into your Gmail account. Click on the Documents link at the top of the page as shown:
These files will be accessible anytime you have access to the internet. This is a great place to backup your current project or homework. You have over 1 GIG of space to store documents that are not Google Docs. Documents that are Google Docsformat do not take up any space so you can store as many of those as you like.
If you have trouble editing in Windows 7 and IE 8 try this:
Change settings in IE8 –> Options –> Security –> added the Google Docs site in the Trusted Sites zone. https://docs.google.com
You can create word processing, spreadsheet, form, drawing or presentation artifacts in Google Docs.
All Google Docs files can be shared for collaboration with other students in collaborative projects or for feedback.
• Documents are the standard word processing files, where you can create online, or upload from an existing Microsoft Word or Open Office word processing file.
• Spreadsheets are the standard spreadsheet applications which can be imported from an existing Microsoft Excel or Open Office spreadsheet file.
• Presentations are the standard slide show application which can be imported from an existing Microsoft Power Point or Open Office presentation file. Other people can be sent the URL for the presentation, and they can view the presentation in real time.
• Forms are created in Google Docs and distributed through Gmail. Responses are returned to a spreadsheet in your Google Docs account.
• Drawings can create flow charts, design diagrams and other types of drawings. It is recommended that you use the Google Chrome browser or download the Chrome frame. I found that the frame works fine with IE.
You can upload any type of file. Be sure to unclick “Convert documents, presentations, and spreadsheets to the corresponding Google Docs format” (see below) if you do not want to change the file’s format. Google formats are not exactly the same as the Microsoft Office counterpart. You may lose some of your formatting if you convert. NOTE: There is an advantage though. Google does not count files converted to their format when it calculates how much of your storage you have used. So, they are free uploads.
Creating Docs:
Click the Create New button, and select the type of document from the drop-down menu you would like to create. As you’re working on your document, click the Save button in the top right corner of the document, enter a name for the document in the window that appears, and click OK. Then, you’ll see your document in your Docs list.
If you’d like to save and close a document, click the Save & close button.
For specific instructions on each type of document, click on Help in the upper right corner of the Docs window and search on the type of document you are interested in. There are video tutorials and written instructions.
