tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456677612978209508.post4101446083673901779..comments2008-06-07T17:18:39.677-04:00Tracy McGaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11113892832850064264noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456677612978209508.post-28795275919518908112008-06-07T10:17:00.000-04:002008-06-07T10:17:00.000-04:00Great news about Adobe. Although shifting between Google Docs and Word creates some difficulties, I agree that these apps provide a useful tool for courses.<BR/><BR/>I used Google Docs with my upper-level Remedies course this past spring as a tool for groups to write memos for problems in the casebook. I was surprised at first by how many students seemed intimidated with using a system they had never heard of; when I said it was a "wiki," most had no idea what I meant. Many claimed they had not even heard of "Wikipedia." As soon as I realized they had limited knowledge (and comfort level) with the idea, I spent a small amount of class time using a computer and the Internet, projected onto a large screen, showing them how it worked. At the same time, I had some of the students access a Doc, which I had previously created and invited them to be a collaborator on, from their own laptop in class, allowing them all actually to see the changes to the Doc as different students made them. After that, things went well, and they were able to collaborate on group writing assignments without worrying about the difficulties of coordinating various 3Ls' work, class, and personal schedules.<BR/><BR/>(Also, I agree completely with that advice in an earlier post about being flexible. When students knew that I knew they were learning a new process, and thus, expectations were made accordingly, they seemed much more comfortable with trying something new.)<BR/><BR/>Jana R. McCrearyJanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826995398365973925noreply@blogger.com