Google Docs

What are Google Docs?

To learn more; view this short video – Google Docs in Plain English or read about them on Wikipedia

How can the ACEnet team support your use of Google Docs?

We (the ACEnet team) are sending all ACEnet members an email invitation to view and collaborate in the development of a professional development framework for ACEnet members. You can experience a Google doc prepared for you. You will need to join ACEnet to be part of this opportunity.

Why do people use Google Docs?

• Create, edit and share across time and distance. You can work online with others who are in a different place, whether it is on the other side of the world or in the room next door. You do not have to worry about version control because any changes are immediately viewable by everyone who can see the document.
• Share instantly. Anyone you've invited to either edit or view your document, spreadsheet or presentation can access it as soon as they sign in.
• Edit and present with others in real time. Multiple people can view and make changes at the same time.
• Choose who can access your documents. Just enter the email addresses of the people with whom you want to share a given document and send them an invitation.
• Publish your work as a web page. You can publish your documents online with one click, as normal-looking web pages, without having to learn anything new.
• Control who can see your content. You can publish to the entire world, just a few people or no one -- it's up to you. (You can also un-publish at any time.)
• Edit and access from anywhere. There's nothing to download; you access your documents, spreadsheets and presentations from any computer with an Internet connection and a standard browser.
• Organize your documents and store safely. Easily find your documents by organizing them into folders. Drag and drop your documents into as many folders as you want.
• Multiple people can view and make changes at the same time. There's an on-screen chat window for spreadsheets, and document revisions show you exactly who changed what, and when.
• You can even use it offline now (i.e. when not connected to the internet)

What do you need to use Google Docs?

• Internet connection to share and collaborate (although Google Docs does now has an offline option)
• Google account – username and password

Creating a Google Account

To create your Google account (username and password) visit this link to creating your Google Account. You can use any email address but you may prefer to create an email account that is not your work one, e.g. a gmail account. You can then still use it if you leave your present job. However, if you are unlikely to check a second email account, you may be better off with your work one. The ACEnet team can help you create a gmail account if you wish.

Signing into your Google account

Once your account is created you will be asked to sign in, visit www.google.co.nz and click on the ‘Sign in’ link in the top right hand corner of your window.

Learning how to use Google Docs

eHow blog has a series of 40 videos on how to use Google Docs. The first three videos introducing Google Docs have been linked below for you. If you want to get started now, viewing these three videos will help you on your way to using Google Docs.

• How to use Google Docs
• What you see when you log into Google Docs
• How to upload documents to Google Docs

Your invitation to join the ACEnet team in creating the PD Plan for ACEnet

We decided it would be most helpful to have a specific task to work on for you to learn about Google Docs. So, we invite you to work with us on developing a plan of what PD the ACEnet team could offer. You will receive an email invitation as shown below. Click on the link and join the ACEnet team in creating a PD plan through the ‘comment’ feature:

Message from cjcollier@wave.co.nz:

Click to open: Developing a Professional Development...