Week 13 - Application Reviews

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free web-based office suite offered by Google.  It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users.  Because we already have a plethora of documents already created and saved in other places, we are also able to upload pre-existing documents to Google Docs for future use.  It is especially useful when collaborating with other people for one project.  You can create a document and then invite those who you want to be able to view and edit your document.  Multiple people can view and edit the same document at one time.   You can see who revised the document, how they revised the document, and when they revised the document.  With Google Docs there is nothing to download.  Everything is stored online, saving storage on your personal computer.  Not only can you utilize Word, you also have access to Excel and PowerPoint.  Just as you would on your computer, you have the capability of file management by a folder system.  Once your document is completed, you may publish it to be a web page by just one click; you can publish it to the world or just to who you want to give access; or you can post it to your blog.  I would definitely recommend this application as your documents are secure and easily accessible.  (That is unless someone hacks Google Docs and destroys everything ;)

PicMonkey

PicMonkey is free and there is no registration required.  This would make it easier to use in a classroom setting.  Users can create photo collages to capture their thoughts in images instead of text.  Some interesting suggestions are to use PicMonkey for the following projects: summarize a unit of study, retell a story or novel, illustrate vocabulary and definitions, showcase student work, define mood or tone of a book or a piece of music, create an advertisement, create a persuasive poster, etc.  All a student needs is their computer and pictures already downloaded to their computer.  This sounds to be a very useful product to integrate into assignments.  I plan on doing this in the last few weeks of school and have my students create a collage summarizing what they learned throughout the entire trimester (perhaps one picture for each unit covered).