T3: Using Online Office Suites in the Classroom
With the development of Web 2.0 has come a host of free online office suites that are great for the classroom. Google Docs, Zoho Office and ThinkFree Office are just three options that are available. All three offer comparable programs to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Although they may not have all the features that you get with Microsoft Office they offer most of what a user needs and provide a great way of being able to collaborate on a file.
The ability to do group collaboration using these office suites makes them very useful for the classroom. Google has created a great video that explains how this collaboration piece works in Google Docs but the same idea applies to Zoho and ThinkFree. Students can work in groups on one project and only have one file to update or to change. You can also have your students conduct peer editing using any of these applications as well as use them to submit documents to you electronically so you can edit them. The best part is that there is no software required. So students can work on a project at school and then access the same project at home. No saving, no worrying about file extensions or having the right software to open it up. All students need is an Internet connection to be able to access the file.
Now, when you are working with “free” applications, tools, or technologies it is always important to view the Terms of Service. For example, Google Docs’ Terms of Service says the following:
“You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.”
So, although you retain the copyright for the content you submit, post or display through their services, you also provide Google with the right to reproduce, adapt, modify, . . etc. Due to this language Michigan State University has advised its employees to avoid using Google Docs and any other similar applications that compromise intellectual property protections.
Zoho’s Term of Service does not mention any rights that they would obtain through your submission. You maintain all rights to the files you submit. So when using these services, read through the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policies to be sure that they are appropriate for your particular situation.
If you want to learn more about using these free applications in your classroom you can visit the following websites or tutorials.
- Google Docs Tutorial – created by the Educational Technology Certificate Program
- Using Web Based Office Applications for Group Activities (also covers how to use Zoho)- created by Adirondack Community College TLT Center
- Teach Collaborative Revision with Google Docs – created by Google
- Google Docs & Spreadsheets: Collaborating in the Classroom or Library – created by Christopher Case
- Classroom Activities (covers Google Docs and other Google applications)- handouts, presentations, tutorials, etc. submitted by teachers and librarians
- Getting Started with Zoho Writer - FAQ created by Zoho
- ThinkFree Learn More (covers how to get started with ThinkFree.com) – created by ThinkFree
–Carrie Albin, Outreach Coordinator and Editor