Productivity Suite

Teacher Page

A productivity suite usually refers to a set of applications that frequently includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database program, presentation, graphics or charting programs.
Definition adapted from: YourDictionary.com

Wikipedia Article: Office Suite - This article gives a nice overview and explanation of Office Suites (a.k.a. productivity suites).

Help! I don't have the software I need to finish my assignment!

Need to work on a project at home but you don’t have the same productivity suite that your school uses? Don’t succumb to stress overload! There’s a FREE, online solution available to help you get that work done in the comfort of your own home. It’s called Google docs.
***Click the image to view the lesson.

The Scream by artist Edvard Munch. Lithography, 1895

Introduction to Google docs

Google docs is an online productivity suite of applications that shares many of the same capabilities as the productivity suite you are probably already using at school.
Many schools use Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) or Open Office . Both of these are licensed software programs that are installed on individual computers.
Like the other productivity suites of programs, Google docs allows users to create documents, spreadsheets, forms to collect information, and presentations.
Unlike the other productivity suites, the items you create with Google docs are saved online for easy access at school, at home or any place you are using a computer device that has an Internet connection.

With Google docs you can:

Work on your files anywhere without needing to have software installed
Upload and download documents in various file formats
Have access to all of the revisions your documents have gone through
Publish your documents for “invitation viewing and editing” or full public viewing

Google docs Tour - This link will take you to the official Google docs tour from Google.
Six short screens explain the key features of Google docs and then link to where you can create an account or login to an existing account.

Register for a Google Account

Note: Skip this section if you already have a Google account!
In order to use Google docs you will need to register for a Google account. If you already have a Google account through Gmail then you can use the same login to access Google docs.
If you do not have a Gmail account, you can just sign up for a Google account with an email address of your choice and a password. (Note: You must use a real email address because you will be sent an email to confirm your application and finish creating your Google account.)

Click here for a guide to help you create your Google account.
Click here to register for an account or login if you already have one.
(Note: You must be at least 13 years old to create an account.)

Google Docs Tutorial

For a quick-start video "Google Docs in Plain English", watch the video at the right.

For a resource to peer editing using Microsoft Word Track Changes, click on this link.

Google Docs Introduction

This is an introductoin to Google Docs. Start Here

Activity: Creating a Google doc

Click on the button for the Creating a Google Document Activity

Activity: Creating a Presentation

Click on the button for a Creating a Google Presentation Activity

Activity: Creating a Spreadsheet

Click on the button for a Creating a Google Spreadsheet Activity

Activity: My Wish List

My Wish List Activity - Create a budget with your wish list items. Click on the button to begin.

Activity: Party Planner

Click on the button for the Party Planner Activity

Activity: Attaching a file to gmail

Learn how to attach a file to a Gmail message.

Activity: Google Calendar

Learn how to add an event to the Google calendar, edit it, and make it repeat yearly (birthdays!) and to share it with others. Click on the button for a Google Calendar Activity