2.  Google Docs is a free, web-based
application that lets you create, share,
and manage documents, or docs. If
you’ve ever used a productivity suite like
Microsoft Office, some things about
Google Docs might seem familiar. For
instance, the types of docs you can work
with resemble files that can be created
with various Microsoft Office programs.

3.  Documents: For composing letters, flyers, essays, and
other text-based files (similar to Microsoft Word
documents).
 Spreadsheets: For storing and organizing information
(similar to Microsoft Excel worksheets).
 Presentations: For creating and presenting slides
(similar to Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows).

7.  The biggest difference between Google Docs and a
traditional productivity suite is that the application and
all of your files are stored online, rather than on your
computer. Some people refer to this type of storage as
the Cloud.
 The files you create with Google Docs are stored on
Google’s servers and linked to your Google Account.
Since these docs are stored in the Cloud, you can
access them from any computer with an internet
connection. You can even give other people permission
to view or edit them as well

9.  There are several reasons many people find
Google Docs useful. You can access it anywhere,
and it's easy to share and collaborate on docs.
Google Docs lets you decide exactly who you want
to see your docs by offering three sharing settings.
You can choose to:
 Keep a doc private
 Share it with a few people
 Make it public on the web

10.  You can also customize these settings to allow others to
edit your doc. This can be extremely useful if you're
working on a doc with a group of people. Instead of
sending multiple versions of a document back and forth
as you each make edits, you will all be able to make
comments and edit the same file.
 Another benefit to using Google Docs is that it is
connected to other Google tools. If you already have a
Google Account, you'll use the same account for your
Docs. This makes it easy to share and collaborate with
the people you already email.

11.  As useful as Google Docs can be, there are reasons that you might
not want to rely on it for all of your document creation and
management. For example:
 You must be connected to the internet to use Google Docs. If
you can't access the internet, you won't be able to view current
versions of your docs.
 Google Docs has fewer features than Microsoft Office. When it
comes time to create a doc that you intend to print, you may find that
Google Docs' tools aren't powerful enough to make your doc look
professional.
 Google Docs is still being developed. While many of Google
Docs' features are useful and reliable, others don't work as well.
However, you can expect many of these problems to get better over
time.

12. There are five types of docs that you can create
with Google Docs:
 Documents (like documents in Microsoft
Word)
 Spreadsheets (like worksheets in Microsoft
Excel
 Presentations (like presentations in
Microsoft PowerPoint)
 Forms
 Drawings

13.  Navigate to the Google
Docs home page, then
locate and click the
Create button.
 Select the type of doc
you would like to create.
The new doc will be
opened.
 Creating a new doc

14. •At the top of the page, locate and click the title
field. A dialog box will appear.
•Type in a name for your document, then click OK.

15.  In the top right corner, locate and click the Save
Now button.
• Your doc will be saved. You can access it again
from the Google Docs home page.

16.  When you try to save your doc, you may notice that
it's already saved. This is because Google Docs
uses auto-save, which automatically saves your
docs as you edit them. However, if you make a small
change and then close the doc, there may not be
time for auto-save to take effect. For that reason, it's
always a good idea to make sure your docs are
saved before you close them.

17.  When you share a doc, you can let others
view or even collaborate on it. Google
Docs offers sharing settings that let you
control exactly who is able to view and edit
your doc. This can be useful, as you might
have some docs you want others to read
but not modify, and some you want to
collaborate on.

18.  Let's look at the example of Olenna, an art teacher who uses
Google Docs to organize letters, lesson plans, and more.
Olenna's list of docs includes:
 Docs she keeps private, like her spreadsheet with classroom
expenses
 Docs she lets others edit, like the lesson planning docs she
creates with her co-teacher
 Docs she shares publicly and doesn't let others edit, like
the newsletters and announcements she shares with her
students and their parents
 Docs that others share with her, including ones she can
edit, like her co-teacher's supply inventory, and ones she can't,
like a schedule sent to her by the principal

19.  Open the doc you wish to share. Locate and click
the Share drop-down button, then select Share....
•The Sharing Settings dialog box will be opened. In
the Add people: box, type the email addresses of the
people you'd like to share with.

20. •Click the drop-down
arrow next to each
person's name to
decide whether they
can edit or just view
the doc.

21.  If you'd like, you can add a message that will be
emailed to the people you share the doc with. You
might use this message to explain the doc, or let
them know why you're sharing it with them.

22. • By default, editors are allowed to invite new people to
access the doc. If you want, you can prevent this by
clicking [Change] and selecting Only the owner can
change the permissions. Then, click Save.
 ClickShare &
save. Your doc
will be shared.

23.  Open the doc you wish to share. Locate and click
the Share drop-down button, then select Share....
The Sharing
Settings dialog
box will be opened.
Click Change.

24.  Select either Public on the web, to let anyone view
your doc, or Anyone with the link to let only people
who you've given the exact link view your doc.
 If you wish to allow viewers to edit your doc, check
the Allow anyone to edit box.
 Click Save.

25.  You will be given a link to your doc. To share the doc
with others, simply send them the link.

26.  Another way of sharing a doc with a large audience
is to publish it to the web, which converts it into a
very simple web page. To publish a doc, click the
Share drop-down button and select Publish to the
Web....

28.  Google Calendar is a free time-
management web application.
 You must have a Google account to
access Google Calendar.

29.  You can access your calendar from
anywhere that has an Internet connection.
 You can share calendars with other Google
account holders.
 Google Calendar syncs to Outlook or
Apple’s iCal.

32.  Sharing calendars with co-workers,
friends, or family can make schedule time
much easier.
 You can add calendars from the web as
well (e.g. Cubs schedule)

33.  You must be connected to the Internet in
order to use it.
 Your collaborator must also be connected
to the Internet.