Exploring Google Docs

I never thought I would say this about a technology used in this class...but I love google docs! I think they could be applicable in almost any classroom, office, group, or just as an exchange of ideas/plans between friends and family. They bring peer editing and revising to a whole new level, and make the convenience factor so much higher! The most positive things I can see about google docs are:

-They can be edited/revised from anywhere, anytime.

-Anyone who is invited to can edit it, whether it's two people or 15.

-It has almost all of the applications of a regular word document.

-No need to keep printing out copies for people to edit, they can do it directly.

-They can be used as an organizational tool.

I love having the ability to send something to a person and have them be able to send it right back to me without having to save draft after draft, all the editing builds into one document. In a classroom, this can be very useful to use as a peer editing tool. Not only does a google doc give students the ability to help each other with their work and gain new ideas on how to organize papers, but it allows them to do it outside of the classroom. This can mean more time for instruction in-class, because peer-editing could be assigned as homework. (I realize that students socio-economic status must be considered though, because all students may not have a computer or internet at home. This is a perfect opportunity though to introduce them to computers at the public library that can be used for free). This may be an easier way for some students to edit papers also, because in addition to giving verbal feedback, they could take their time and edit their own comments before they save them, whereas writing comments are usually permanent. It also allows students to highlight the changes they have made so the writer has the option to use or not use their suggestions.

The only downfall I can see of the google doc is that anyone could have the power to "destroy" the work. This could happen by deletion or by addition of inappropriate materials. Students would have to learn to make sure they have not just taken the changes of their peers at face value; they need to learn how to evaluate and properly consider the changes.