Google Docs & Spreadsheets

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Contents 1 Type of application / System Requirements 2 Purpose 3 What it does 4 How can it be used for creation of OERs 5 How can it be used for consumption of OERs 6 How can it be used for reuse of OERs 7 License support 8 Standards / Compatibility 9 HOW TO USE IT 10 Links / examples / Who is using it 11 Sandbox 12 Comments / Discussion

Type of application / System Requirements

Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a web-based office software suite.

Users need an online connection and a standard-compliant browser to use Google Docs but no special plug-ins or client-side software. User has to enable Javascript in the browser to use Google Docs. To use this service it is necessary to register with e-mail and password. But it is not necessary to have a Google mail (gmail) account.

Purpose

Google Docs & Spreadsheets supports the online creation of text documents and spreadsheets. It is therefore an alternative to a client-based Office suite like Microsoft Office, Star Office, Open Office or iWorks. Users do no longer need to create and edit documents on their own computer but do this now in the web. It is easy to share those files with other users, to edit them together and to export them to standard formats for further use.

What it does

All basic features of a client-based Office suite are supported:

• Creating text documents, spreadsheets and presentations
• Editing documents, incl. formatting and inserting images, links, comments, tables, bookmarks, header and footer
• Revision control (list of all revisions and possibility to compare)
• Print, copy, delete document
• Export as HTML, RTF, Word, OpenOffice, PDF, Text document
• Word count
• Find and replace

Additionally it supports sharing workflows for cooperative working:

• Invite people...
  • as collaboratotors
  • as viewers
• Collaborators may invite other too
• RRS feed of document changes

Google Docs & Spreadsheets allows to publish the online created document:

• Publish to the Internet under a unique google.com address
• Publish document to a blog (Blogger, WordPress, ...)

How can it be used for creation of OERs

Google Docs & Spreadsheets can be a first step in creating OER. It can be used to create a document that is later changed into a learning module. Or it can be used as an alternative to a wiki for cooperative text editing.

How can it be used for consumption of OERs

The tool can be used for consumption of OER as long as it is a Google Doc or spreadsheet. But from usability aspects this is not a recommended way. It seems to be appropriate to export such documents to PDF and use them as print-out or read them on the computer.

How can it be used for reuse of OERs

The tool can be used for reusing OER based on Google Docs & Spreadheets. But it is not possible to import an existing document in another format and re-use it.

License support

There is no built-in support for licenses or license requirements.

Standards / Compatibility

The tool supports export to several formats for Office documents:

• HTML
• RTF
• Microsoft Word (.doc)
• Open Office
• PDF
• Text

There is no export to SCORM or to another e-learning standard.

HOW TO USE IT

There is an easy "How-to" offered on the tool's website:

• http://www.google.com/google-d-s/intl/en/tour1.html

Links / examples / Who is using it

Some user experiences is presented on the Google Docs & Spreadsheet website:

• http://www.google.com/google-d-s/intl/en/tour5.html

Sandbox

The tool can be used and tested online at:

• http://www.google.de/intl/en/options/

Comments / Discussion

Please add your own comment under this section.