This presentation was done at the 2013 Christian Writers' Workshop in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It explains how to use Google Docs and Google Drive, includes numerous screen shots and includes a great infographic on using Google apps.

1. Google Docs for Writers
Cherie Dargan
CWW 2013

2. Overview
We will discuss four reasons to consider
using Google Docs
We will look at the types of documents
you can create (or upload) with Google
Docs
We will examine the difference between
Google Drive and Google Docs
We will look at some sample documents
and templates

3. Google Docs/Drive

4. What do you need to get Google
Docs?
All you need is to have a Gmail account, which is
free!
Getting a Gmail account opens the door to using a
whole list of free apps and tools.

6. What can you do with Google?
Infographic
http://edudemic.com/2012/08/30-simple-ways-you-should-be-using-google/
This infographic comes from Edudemic, an educational technology website,
and illustrates some of the ways to use Google’s tools.
Notice the comment about Google Docs: create and
share documents and presentations.
If you aren't familiar with the term infographic, it is
fairly new. I started seeing it about 18 months
ago. It refers to a new kind of information packed
graphic, and there are special apps used to
create them. They are generally informative, but
sometimes persuasive as well.

8. Why use Google Docs? Four Reasons
1. Don't waste time
worrying about whether
or not you have your
flash drive—instead,
move to cloud computing
with Google Docs and
Google Drive.
2. Access your work
anywhere there is an
internet connection--on
your iPad at Panera, on
your PC at home, or on
your computer at work.

9. Why use Google Docs? Four Reasons
3. Collaborate with other
writers: get and give
feedback on documents
using the comment
feature, and annotate the
document, if desired.
4. My favorite reason is
that it is the easiest way
to move documents
between devices (from
my iPad to my PC, or in
reverse!)

10. Who is using Google Docs?
Google has several programs geared for different
groups; however, they all include
Gmail, calendar, Google Docs and other apps.
Google Docs users include:
• 15 million teachers and students in 140
communities worldwide (Google Apps for
Education)
• 5 million businesses (Google Apps for Business)
• Agencies in 44 states and DC (Google Apps for
Government)
• Many individual users

11. What does Google Docs include?
Google Docs includes web-based software that is
compatible with Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel
and Powerpoint. Google Docs has Documents,
Spreadsheet, and Presentation.
You can start working in Word or Excel or Powerpoint and
then upload the file to Google Docs, and finish working
on it in Google Docs, storing files in Google Drive.

12. What does Google Docs include?,
cont.
You can also start working in Google Docs by creating a
new document (or spreadsheet or presentation) and then
download it and work on it in Word (or Excel or
Powerpoint). They are compatible.
However, you get a bonus. Google Docs also includes
Form (use to create a form, survey or quiz) and Drawing
(use to create a drawing).
You are also able to create folders, to help organize your
work.

13. What is Google Drive?
Google Drive refers to
the ability to store
your documents
online.
There are also mobile
apps for your iPad
and PC.

14. My Google Drive (CWW folder)

15. The difference between the two?
You will see a list of your documents in Google
Drive: you can either use the new preview
feature to look at the document, or open it up
with Google Docs.
You have to use Google Docs to edit your
documents.

16. Other features of Google Docs
In addition, there are
numerous templates.
Search by the type of
document (spreadsheet,
presentation or
document), or the name
of the template (resume,
business letter, invitation,
etc.)
You get a chance to

17. Sample Presentation template

18. Form tool (great for surveys)
I have used Google Doc's form for several surveys—most
recently a survey about e-books and e-readers, done
with my students at Hawkeye Community College this
spring.
You create the form, send the URL for the survey (or post
it) and then as people complete it, the data gets dumped
into a spreadsheet. When finished, you can see the
results with pie charts, statistics and comments.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eTL6KiGW1khPrKRtDAd
VJlwfti0R04enVnTU5Jnvv8c/edit
My e-book survey, done this Spring

19. Survey results
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Atb9KVFB
1BFhdHBnNEtqZzlSS2h6aHdRZmwxWnk3S3c#gid=0
Survey results of the e-book survey (individual survey
responses get sent to this spreadsheet)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-
zbck4FLt1q8uBDCJ_d2es5KN6rCOHdHgez7ogbKbrQ/e
dit#heading=h.gjdgxs
More organized results, with pie charts

20. Moving from one device to another
I served as the Secretary of my Teachers' Association for the
past five years: I used a netbook (a small laptop) to take
notes for meetings for the first year and then switched to
my first iPad, then to the second iPad, and finally got a
Belkin keyboard/cover for my iPad3.
I discovered Google Docs was the best way to move
documents from my iPad to my PC. I would get the agenda
from my email, copy and paste it into a new Google Docs
document, save it, open it at the meeting and add notes.
Back at my PC, I opened Google Docs there and did some
editing and proofreading. Then I downloaded the minutes
and sent them out to the rest of the Board.

21. To create a document,
Click on the Create
button
Select the type of
document
(document, spreadshe
et, presentation, etc.)

22. To edit and name a document,
Notice the area in the upper left hand corner: if you
haven't named the file, it will say unnamed. Click
on it and a dialogue box pops up, with a place to
enter a filename.
Look at the tool bar: it will resemble those in Word.
Insert images, links, or tables using the insert tool.
You can change the font, size, alignment, and other
features. There's an undo tool.
You can download your document in several
formats; you can also email it from File. Or, click
on the blue Share button and send it to someone
for feedback.

23. Options for downloading files

24. To share a document,

25. Commenting on student work

26. Responding to feedback
When you send a document
back with feedback, notice
that each comment box
includes a reply or resolve
option.
So the person can respond or
agree with the suggestion
and make changes as
needed.

27. Sorting documents in Drive
Type in the name of a
person who sent you
documents, and you
will see the list of
items in chronological
order.
Notice too that you have
documents that you
created (my drive)
and others that are
shared with you.

28. New tools: research (under Tools)

29. Research results--in the document!

30. What else can you do with the
Tools?
Get definitions
Get a word count of a document
Translate the document into another
language

31. Need help?
Click on the Help tool and a little dialogue
box pops up, with a list of suggested
topics that you can search.
There is also a list of keyboard shortcuts.

32. Have a question?
Feel free to contact me, or chat during a
break at the workshop.
Cherie Dargan
cheriedargan@gmail.com