This week in Instructional Technology we were introduced to Google Docs. This is a fabulous resource that should be utilized. I believe that Google Docs could be a very beneficial tool for educators.

I had previously collaborated on a project in my Science Education 422 class using Google Docs and was happily impressed. It took the confusion and time wasted over collaborating schedules to meet as a group out of the equation. My group worked on our science activity diligently as each schedule allowed, culminating in a terrific lesson plan that was easy to execute in class.

Currently I am collaborating with two other students in writing a web-based inquiry activity that will become part of our overall lesson plan using Google Docs. We are focusing on fourth grade science.

I look forward to using Google Docs in the future. It is my intent to use it in the near future to collaborate with my mentoring teacher during my internship year. My internship is in Roane County, in Rockwood, TN at Ridge View Elementary. Apart from the 50+ minute commute from Knoxville, late afternoons spent in the classroom will hopefully be minimal. This is where Google Docs will come into play, allowing my mentor teacher and I to collaborate on lesson plans and other documents while at home or on the weekends.

Visit Google Docs here: http://docs.google.com/