Google Docs and Drive: Apps that Enhance Education

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As new technologies evolve, our ability to communicate, access knowledge, and connect with others has changed dramatically. Sharing information is easier than ever before, as communication can occur at any place, at any time. The Internet hosts countless applications and digital services that have changed the way we connect with others, especially in the field of education. Google Apps for Education is one service that allows written and digital communication to occur. Providing use of Google products that are standard with traditional Gmail accounts, Google Apps for Education allows for teachers and students to create, share, collaborate, and even engage socially through this platform. The uses of Google Docs and Google Drive, in particular, have revolutionized the modern American classroom at the K-12 level by eliminating the concept of classroom walls. With cloud-based access to Docs and Drive at all times, students are able to produce high-quality documents and projects that can be shared with real-world audience and are now empowered to take a more active roles in their educational experiences. Student voices are now being heard and shared through these specific applications in higher frequency than ever before.
Google initially began to tailor their services toward educational institutions in 2006, but the widespread use and popularity of these online services have only grown more common in the past few years. In June 2013, over 20 million students were using Google Apps for Education, which marks a 100% increase from October 2010 (Technology and Learning, 2013). The applications that Google provides to schools include Google Calendar, Docs, Drive, Sites, Blogger, Voice, and even YouTube. Using Google Apps for...

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... students learn to use these platforms, they will enter into the workforce with strong 21st century skills and will be adept in collaborating with others. Digital applications like Google Docs and Drive make teaching writing and other communication skills more applicable and meaningful. The services that Google provides through Google Apps for Education is changing the way teachers think about presenting information to students and is also empowering students to take a more active role in their own learning as their work is no longer being handed in on a piece of paper, only to be seen by the teacher. Student work is becoming part of a collaborative digital community that is shared, edited, commented upon, and is always changing. With real-world audiences and real-time access to it anywhere, students can now be actively engaged in the classroom at all times.

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