May 15 2009
Deadlines, collaboration and Google docs and spreadsheets
Today a colleague and I were trying to meet a deadline; input was needed from both of us in a hurry, and we were miles apart. Hurrah for Google Docs and Spreadsheets! Collaboration online was a cinch! I uploaded her spreadsheet and sent her the link with edit rights. VOILA! We were both online, editing, and working simultaneously. FREE and in real time! WOW!
Now, educators, imagine the impact on your students who live miles apart but are working on the same collaborative team on a group project for your class! Changes are made in real time; I watched as my colleague changed entries, figures, etc., and the spreadsheet updated for me as quickly as for her. Even students in the same classroom can work collaboratively on their own laptops or desktops to create and edit. There is no need to make changes, wait, email, then wait, update changes and make more, then email, then wait… Work together in real time online! Does it get any better than this? Certainly it will, and Google or someone will find a way to do it and do it even better!
