Google+Docs

Google offers a plethora of great free tools for the classroom. It can make your life easier and enhance collaboration within the classroom. If you have a gmail account you already have access to it! But, a gmail account is not required - you can open a Google Docs account tied to any email account you already have.
 * Google Docs in the Classroom **

Here is a short tutorial offered by google on how to use [|Google Applications].

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__**Google Forms**__ Google Forms is a great way to gather information from students. You can create online quizes or surveys for students. Google forms even creates bar graphs and pie charts to visually show results. Here is a sample quiz used in economics and the results.

[|Economic Indicators Quiz] [|Quiz Results]

Here are several[| google form templates] to help get you started.

You can upload your word documents to google documents. First, this acts as a back up for your document. It also gives you access to this doucment wherever you have an internet connection. No more emailing yourself a document!
 * __Google Documents__**

If you have a class website just provide the link to your document. Anytime you make a change to the document it will be aromatically updated on your website. No need to reload the document on your website!

Google Documents can also be a powerful collaboration tool. Students can work together on a document synchronously or asynchronously. Research shows that this type of web 2.0 technology can improve writing skills. Here is a sample assignment that students used google documents to write a paper on [|globalization in economics].

A great way to create digital copies of printed documents you've been using forever: scan them as a PDF or an image, upload to Google docs, and select "Convert text from PDF and image files to Google documents". You'll have to proofread the result carefully for errors, but then you'll have a document that you can change and update!

Upload powerpoints to your account. Once again this acts as a backup for your files. It also allows you to embed your powerpoints directly into a website. Students can view the powerpoint right from your website without having to download it. Below is a sample embedded powerpoint. Below that is a video on how to embed your powerpoints.
 * __Google Presentations__**

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