No Series: Google Docs in the Classroom

ELA.W.9-10.6

Common core State Standards

  • ELA:  English Language Arts
  • W:  Writing Standards 6-12
  • 9-10:  9th & 10th Grades
  • 6: 
    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update
    individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology'\x80\x99s
    capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and
    dynamically.

Download Common Core State Standards (PDF 1.2 MB)

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ELA.W.11-12.6

Common core State Standards

  • ELA:  English Language Arts
  • W:  Writing Standards 6-12
  • 11-12:  11th & 12th Grades
  • 6: 
    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update
    individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback,
    including new arguments or information.

Download Common Core State Standards (PDF 1.2 MB)

Google Docs in the Classroom

Lesson Objective: Write collaboratively using Google Docs
Grades 9-12 / All Subjects / Collaboration
2 MIN
ELA.W.9-10.6 | ELA.W.11-12.6

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Discussion and Supporting Materials

Thought starters

  1. What skills do students gain by using Google Docs?
  2. How does Ms. Wessling foster the development of these skills?
  3. Imagine using Google Docs in your classroom. What issues might arise?
  4. How could you address those issues?

66 Comments

  • Private message to Kyle Napier

Kyle Napier Sep 24, 2022 1:16pm

A google doc is a key way to create teamwork.  They can all see what each other writes down and bounce off each others ideas.  A teacher can leave feedback on the document as well.  It eliminates confusion with a bunch of different papers rather than having it all in one central location.  

Recommended (1)
  • Private message to Beth Kimbel

Beth Kimbel May 27, 2020 3:53pm

I teach K-2 Life Skills. I am not sure how I would use this in my classroom. I will have to think on about it.

Recommended (0)
  • Private message to Asela Guillén

Asela Guillén May 27, 2020 11:48am

It provides students with exposure to an online learning system, it fosters collaboration, it eases communication with the teacher and other students. They have access to the documents and write simultaneously.

She makes comments to the work they are doing, and she sees which students are contributing.

I used it in my classroom before. Once the students learn how it works, how to upload files, everything was easy. Sometimes it was too slow, but it built up their patience.

Recommended (0)
  • Private message to Judy Martin

Judy Martin Apr 10, 2020 12:57am

I used Google Docs in my discussion and lessons on civil rights as part of our US history lesson. The students chose how they were going to share the knowledge. We read articles on the Negro Leagues and the students created "newspaper articles" to share with others. 

Recommended (0)
  • Private message to Melissa Warren

Melissa Warren Mar 21, 2020 7:00pm

She used it with older children and their writing to collaborate. I am not sure what it would look like in first grade

Recommended (0)
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Materials

Transcripts

  • [00:00]
    Interviewer: One way that I like to foster collaborative group work is by using the collaborative writing function of

    View More

    [00:00]
    Interviewer: One way that I like to foster collaborative group work is by using the collaborative writing function of a Google doc.

    You have the computers here. I’m going to ask you to compose this on Google docs.

    A Google doc is an online document in which all of the authors can share access that document, so they can write simultaneously.

    And you want to share it with me and the people on your team, so that if you don’t finish in class, what are you doing tonight?

    One of the standards in the common core is to use technology, including the internet in order to foster collaboration.

    Interviewee: It starts with me saying good [inaudible 00:47] I desire a better acquaintance, then what?

    Interviewer: It is a standard because we know that our students are going to have to be able to manage these skills in productive ways, and they’re going to have to learn some of the etiquette.

    Interviewee: What if we all rough drafted some stuff, and then went around and shared it?

    Interviewer: Anyone who has ever endeavored to write collaboratively knows how difficult this really is. The reason it’s so tough is because writing is so personal. We all have a very idiosyncratic process. I actually think that Google docs supports a recursive, healthy writing process because you have the ability to draft and to change whenever you’re ready to.

    Interviewee: This is a good point to start because it kind of goes to abstract concepts.

    Interviewer: As a teacher who wants to give feedback, I can use the comment editor feature. I can leave comments for students. They can make those changes right away. It actually takes out a lot of the maneuvering of the documents and of the papers.

    So one thing you could do here is if you wanted to you could just make like Viola one color of font.

    It’s also really useful—as soon as they share it with me; I also get to be an observer of their process. So I can see which students are contributing. I have a greater insight into the actual writing process.

    Interviewee: That’s good.

    Interviewer: One of the best parts is that Google docs are free.

    [End of Audio]

    View Less

School Details

Johnston Senior High School
6500 Northwest 100th Street
Johnston IA 50131
Population: 1668

Data Provided By:

greatschools

Teachers

Sarah Brown Wessling
English Language Arts / 10 11 12 / Teacher

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