MyCR is now integrated with Google Docs. Google Docs is basically an online “office suite,” an easy-to-use word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share documents instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. Students and can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There is no software to download, and all work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.
When MyCR is updated to Sakai 2.7, students and faculty will be able to access Google Docs through the “Resources” and “Drop Box” tools.
Google Docs’ sharing features enable you and your students to decide exactly who can access and edit documents. Instructors will find that Google Docs helps promote group work and peer editing skills. In creating Google Docs, Google was guided by the goals of The National Council of Teachers of English, which espouses writing as a process and encourages multiple revisions and peer editing.
Through the revisions history, instructors can see clearly who contributed to what assignment and when; if a student says he or she worked on a given project over the last two weeks, it will be documented (no more “dog ate my homework” excuses). Instructors and peer reviewers can insert comments and then follow up to see how the student changed a document in later drafts
Students will find that Google Docs can help them stay organized and keep on top of their assignments. They never have to remember to save their work; it happens automatically. It’s easy to collaborate online with fellow students, even when they aren’t in the same place, and they can get feedback easily from teachers, parents, relatives and tutors, and enter updates anytime from anywhere.
Resources for Teachers
