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EdTech 250 Unit Two:  Weeks Two and Three

What is Web 2.0?

As we start this class, I'd like you to think about the meaning of Web 2.0 and what the difference is between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is a term people have given to the changing of the Web over the past several years. Many people think of Web 2.0 applications as social networks like MySpace, Blogger, FaceBook, YouTube, and dozens of other new Web sites where people visit to interact with other people. This is only part of the meaning of Web 2.0. Web 2.0 also refers to how businesses and other organizations access software. A good example of a Web 2.0 application is QuickBooks Pro accounting software. Like many new business applications, QuickBooks Pro software is accessed through an outside server. The software never is installed on the client computer, which is your own PC. There are many advantages for both the software company selling software, and the purchaser accessing software from an outside server rather from the client PC. Advantages for the software company include charging monthly or annual fees for use of their software, rather than a one time fee. Another advantage is the software company always controls the software, thus taking away the ability for people to pirate software, or unauthorized use of the software. Advantages for the purchaser includes not having to worry about losing data when the computer crashes, automatic backups, automatic updates, and better customer service. Over 50% of all businesses now use a Web 2.0 application like this.

Google Docs is a Web 2.0 type of application. When you subscribe to Google Docs, all you need is a link and password to access the new software. Google Docs never is downloaded to your computer. When you view Google Docs, you are viewing your documents on the giant Google Servers, not from your own PC. As we continue into the Google Docs for Educators course, you will see why Google Docs has many advantages over Microsoft Office or Works, or some of the other office software available. Since Google has other ways of making money through its browser and other advertising tools, Google can offer its software like Google Docs for Free! Why? Google Docs wants to build its market share of users to increase its advertising income, not to make money on software. If more people are using Google's long list of software applications, Google increases its income through advertising, and thus can build and support its software for no cost to the user. Google's unique approach towards software is changing how businesses use office applications, and seriously threatens Microsoft's world-wide grip on business software. Plus, Google realizes how important it is to create applications for the education world, and is just now working more closely with educators to find innovative ways to use its products in the classroom. As we progress through this course, you will see how easily it is to apply Google Docs to the classroom!

Unit Two, Week Two Assignments

Google Docs Help and Web 2.0

Objectives: Define Web 2.0, Server, and other terms related to Google Docs

1. Subscribe to Google Docs

2. Read Google Docs Help - All sections

3. Scavenger Hunt: Terms and Definitions: Search WWW for Google Doc and Web 2.0 terms. Find several Web sites with definitions of each term. Create your own definition based on what you have learned about these definitions. Post your definition in the Week Two Google Docs Word Doc titled "Terms and Definitions". Here are the words or terms to search for:

• Web-based
• Server
• Client
• W3C
• Presentation software
• Word processor software
• Spreadsheet software
• Web 2.0
• Internet
• WWW
• Social Network
• Blog
• Wiki
• Intranet
• Extranet

Like for Week One, do all the work and you will receive the points. When you are finished, please read your classmate's posts about terms and definitions. Honor System! Don't read other student's post until after you have completed your assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to learn the meanings of these terms, which can be very subjective. You will develop your own, somewhat, subjective idea of what these terms mean and/or represent. You will find a wide range of definitions for these terms on the WWW, as well as a wide range of your classmate's interpretation of these terms (50 points).

4. View Video Tutorials for Week Two

Opening a Gmail Account

Google Docs Tutorial for Teachers

Google Announces Offline Docs

Living the Digital Life: Google Docs

Communications 2.0

5. Find other YouTube Tutorials: about Google Docs regarding setting up an account, about Google Docs, or motivational videos about Google Docs. Share at least two with other students by posting links in the Google Docs Word Doc titled: Week Two - Sharing Google Docs Tutorials. Follow bullet points for posting your videos for each week. Respond to one or two other student's video or tutorial post. (Participation Credit).

6. Instructor Question: How do you view Web 2.0 applications as it might relate to the classroom? List advantages and disadvantages. Open Google Docs folder labeled Week Two and find the document labeled: Instructor Question. Post your answer next to your name. Respond to one or two other student's posts based on their response to the question (10 points) (Participation Credit).

7. Start thinking about your final project, which will be to create a classroom template for each of the Google Docs applications: forms software, presentation software, word processor software, and spreadsheet software. These templates should apply to your own classroom or educational situation. If you are not yet a teacher, create templates that relates to your future classrooms or a business.

Total Points Available for Week Two - 60 points

Find Google Docs Videos - Week Two

Search YouTube, Google Video, the WWW, or any other video hosting sites and find two videos or Web-based tutorials that have to do with Google Docs regarding setting up a Google Account and Google Docs, the Google Docs Interface, Web 2.0, Google Docs file management, or a motivational video about using Google Docs. Try to find videos or tutorials that have to do with education or are created by educators - sometimes this can be hard to find. Use the video hosting site's search engine or one of Google's many search engines to find videos or other tutorials. There are hundreds and hundreds of videos and tutorial-based Web sites out there; try to find good tutorials that can benefit all the students. Find the folder labeled Week Two, then open the document titled Sharing Google Docs Tutorials. Post your links next to your name. After students begin posting their links, go ahead and start responding to their tutorials. Here is a list of video sites where you might find Google Docs videos:

Unit Two, Week Three Assignments

Google Docs Interface

Objective: Define Google Docs File Management Commands

1. Set up Google Docs file system: Look at future assignments and set up documents on your Google Docs start page, or interface. Create file names based on future week's assignments. You can just label assignments like forms template, spreadsheet assignment, etc.... Create several blank documents for each document type just for practice, and organize your file system by creating folders and placing documents in the correct folders named Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five, etc... When you are finished, email me the link to your site along with your password information (25 points).

2. Read Google Docs Help - Re-read sections that apply to this week's assignments. Read section on "sharing".

3. Instructor Question: List and describe: How would you apply Google Docs to the classroom based on what you know now? List advantages and disadvantages to the Google Docs. List different uses for Google Docs software in the classroom. Respond to one or two other student's posts based on their response to the question (10 points) (Participation Credit).

4. View Week Three Video Tutorials

Google Docs - 2 Share and Collaborate

Get Google Documents and Spreadsheets

Work on the Same Document from all Four Corners of Earth

Intro to Google Docs

Google Docs Tutorials

How to Use Google Docs

5. Find other YouTube Tutorials: about Google Docs regarding file management, sharing and collaborating, the interface, toolbars, or motivational videos about Google Docs. Share at least two with other students by posting links in the Google Docs Word Doc titled: Week Three - Sharing Google Docs Tutorials. Follow bullet points for posting your videos for each week. Respond to one or two other student's video or tutorial post. (Participation Credit).

6. Terms Quiz: I will email each of you a link to the terms quiz. We will use Google Docs Forms Software to take this quiz, which is a great way to use Google Docs in the Classroom! There will be 10 multiple choice questions based on last week's scavenger hunt terms (50 points).

When you receive the email link, you have one week to take the quiz. Don't forget to click on the submit button when you are finished answering all 10 questions.

7. Keep thinking about your final project, which will be to create a classroom template for each of the Google Docs applications: forms software, presentation software, word processor software, and spreadsheet software. These templates should apply to your own classroom or educational situation. If you are not yet a teacher, create templates that relates to your future classrooms or a business.

Total Points Available for Week Three - 85 points.

Find Google Docs Videos - Week Three

Search YouTube, Google Video, the WWW, or any other video hosting site and find two videos or Web-based tutorials that have to do with Google Docs regarding the Interface, Web 2.0, sharing and collaborating, file management, or a motivational video or Web site about using Google Docs. Try to find videos or tutorials that have to do with education or created by educators - sometimes this can be hard to find. Use the video hosting site's search engine or one of Google's many search engines to find videos or other tutorials. There are hundreds and hundreds of videos and tutorial-based Web sites out there; try to find good tutorials that can benefit all the students. Find the folder labeled Week Three, then open the document titled Sharing Google Docs Tutorials. Post your links next to your name. After students begin posting their links, go ahead and start responding to their tutorials. Here is a list of video sites where you might find Google Docs videos:

General Rubrics for Google Docs for Educators Assignments

©2008 By Mark C. Frank, Master of Educational Technology Student @ Boise State University