Online Applications | SPLAT 101

Common Craft: Google Docs in Plain English

What are online applications?

Online applications are the web’s version of software previously required to be loaded on your computer (think Word or Excel). These applications are housed on the web and can therefore be used from any computer with Internet access and without the need to download or upload any software (insert IT staff smile here!). And wait……it gets even better. Many of these applications are free and can easily be edited and shared by several users!

While there are many kinds of online applications, this week’s two-part activity will focus on productivity software –word processing, spreadsheets, etc. and online scheduling tools.

Class Resources

Remember if at anytime you are struggling, please contact Tamra.
email:thawley@cityofboise.org
IM: thawley4boiselib-yahoo and meebo

Part 1

Explore one of the following productivity software application suites.

Part 2

Explore one of the following online meeting schedulers.

Class Assignment

Part 1

Create an account and a document (word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation) in one of the productivity suites mentioned above. Then discuss your experience. Here are some things to think about during your experience: what are the cool features? What features that you regularly use in your existing productivity software are missing from the web-based application? How might you use this at your library? Could this be used in a collaborative manner?

Part 2

Pick on a couple of your fellow learning pals and schedule a meeting using one of the schedulers listed above. Then discuss your experience. Here are some things to think about: Is this easier than using email to set a meeting? When might you use a meeting scheduler? What are the drawbacks and positive features to using this type of scheduler?

Extra Credit

Websites:

Articles: access through your library's LiLI connection

  • Gordon, Rachel Singer, and Michael Stephens. "Promoting productivity (tech tips for every librarian)." Computers in Libraries 27.5 (May 2007): 30(2). Available via Academic OneFile from Gale.
  • Abram, Stephen. "You can take it with you: online apps help road warriors; Google and newcomer Zoho offer suites of office and productivity software you can use anywhere you have a connection to the Web.(INFO TECH)." Information Outlook 11.11 (Nov 2007): 37(4) Available via Academic OneFile from Gale.
Last updated: February 12, 2009 - 5:32pm by tamra

Online apps - SPLAT 101 Assignment
Comment by: Anonymous (not verified); April 6, 2009 - 9:02am
Used Google docs to do assignment. Very easy to use. Made document and sent to various people for input and changes in wording, etc. Didn't have to keep sending changes to one person to make. Everyone could make their own changes in their section of the document. Set meeting. It was fast and easy. I would not normally use this method as we have Google Apps and have the capability to do many things in one package (one stop shopping) instead of having a specific application for each task.

Splat 101 Week 4, Online
Comment by: Rubie (not verified); April 6, 2009 - 10:09am
Ok the scheduler was pretty cool, and I can see how I would and will use it. The software I'm still a little confused as to what exactly I would use it for. Seems much easier to just go into my word applications (like publisher)and use those. Thanks for the lesson!

Online Applications
Comment by: Anonymous (not verified); April 7, 2009 - 11:04am
I have been using online applications for a while ... my biggest issue is to remember when to use them! Many times I do the email sharing thing and slap my forehead and go oh I should have used Googledocs! Anyway am getting there! Thanks Tamra!

Online Docs
Comment by: Kate (not verified); April 7, 2009 - 4:35pm
I love online docs. Natalie introduced us to GoogleDocs when we opened the new branch, and it's been invaluable for use in collection development. Since I had some experience with GoogleDocs, I worked a little with Zoho instead--very fun. I really like all of this open source/online document stuff. It would have been fantastic to use when I was in college. Ah, well. Thanks for all your help! -Kate

Online Applications | SPLAT 101
Comment by: Gwen Pittam (not verified); April 8, 2009 - 2:48pm
I had used Google Doc before, but didn't realize there were so many forms and other options available. Really makes it easy to share and get input when collaborating. We have to use Google Apps. for our work situation, but good to know what else is out there. Setting up meeting fast and easy....will use Google for work as others stated since it is a one stop shop for us.

Online Documents
Comment by: Anonymous (not verified); April 9, 2009 - 1:13am
Online document software might be fine for some purposes, but when I'm working on documents I'd prefer the control of reviewing suggested changes using the Track Changes feature in Word, for example, to accept some suggestions and reject others. It is easy to avoid multiple copies--simply save the original with the word "original" in the title, and save the last revised copy with a notation such as "revised" in the title. Further revisions can then simply be saved over the first "revised" copy. Or just delete extra copies when the project is complete. Security definitely becomes an issue when using online applications because all of the information in each document is out there on the internet where it is much more available. From what I understand, the cookies such services place on computers can also allow them to search your hard drive and access documents such as databases, tax returns, and medical information. Given Google's uneven protection of the user information they collect through such cookies (such as turning over the information for users who might participate in what are considered dissident activities to the Chinese government, but protecting child pornographers), this is an area that needs to be given serious consideration for any online application.

Online Documents
Comment by: Pam Kindelberger (not verified); April 9, 2009 - 8:43am
I really had fun navigating through Google Documents. It is a bonus that you can access the documents from anywhere and share with others in collaboration. The templates that they offer are very useful.

Online Schedulers
Comment by: Pam Kindelberger (not verified); April 9, 2009 - 10:16am
I checked them all out but liked the Meeting Wizard best. I would not use one of them for work because we use Google Apps and we can schedule through that. They would be great for getting together family and friends.

Online Applications
Comment by: Kelly (not verified); April 9, 2009 - 3:44pm
I have used Google Documents before in college to do group work and it was very useful for us. I only wish I knew about the online meeting schedulers at that time. We did use one through another source that was effecient. After reveiwing each of the online meeting schedulers, I think I liked Meeting Wizard the best and I like the options available. This may be something I would use in the future.

Online Applications
Comment by: Arlene (not verified); April 10, 2009 - 5:05pm
I am grateful to know about these free online software applications and to have the ability to send once to many for feedback. I like the outlook scheduler.

week 4
Comment by: Sharon Kimber (not verified); April 10, 2009 - 9:26pm
I really liked the Meeting Wizard. I can see where this would save some time. Probably not inside my library (we are quite small) but there was a time when we were trying to get 12 people together for a meeting and this application would have been a great help. I also liked Google Docs. What a great way to fine tune documents without a lot of e-mails back and forth. Thanks for the lesson. Sharon Kimber

Google Docs and Doodle
Comment by: Julie (not verified); April 11, 2009 - 6:01pm
I thought I posted a couple of days ago but had trouble with the Captcha words. I have been using Google Docs for a while. I love being able to work on documents from any computer. So far, Doodle seems like a terrific way to schedule meetings. I checked the other applications out as well, but so far I like these the best.

Online Applications
Comment by: Erin (not verified); April 13, 2009 - 10:07am
It's always good to hear and try out other applications (Zoho), even if you are pretty satisfied (I have been using Google Docs for a few years now). I liked Pam's suggestion of using these tools to schedule time with your friends and family, I sometimes forget about other ways to use things you always use on a daily basis.

Google Docs and Doodle
Comment by: Teri Fattig (not verified); April 14, 2009 - 1:48pm
I have used Google Docs in various strategic planning sessions with very large groups. This time I created a PowerPoint of the schedule for our group study room reservations that we post on a digital photo frame. I then shared it with the public service staff so anyone could make updates. I think it should work pretty slick. I had not used any of the schedulers. First, I tried using SAM but it kept throwing me out - they must have been having "issues" at the time I was trying. So I tried Doodle next. I set up a poll of different times to have lunch with my daughter who also works on campus. I gave her several choices and I received an email when she had made her choices. This was fun! I am thinking that for the next Library Advisory Board luncheon that I host I will use this so as many of the faculty as possible will be able to attend. These are pretty cool applications!

Google Docs
Comment by: Marlena (not verified); April 14, 2009 - 5:12pm
I made a spreadsheet document, shared it with my coworker. Gave her permission to edit so we could go back and forth working together. It was a mock of something we would work on regularly. It was easier than sending update e-mails to each other. For the meeting scheduler, I used Meeting Wizard. I had a little trouble at first, but after working with it for a few minutes, it was actually pretty fun! I could see myself scheduling lots of reminders for me with it!

I used Google Docs and it
Comment by: Anonymous (not verified); April 15, 2009 - 1:36pm
I used Google Docs and it seemed really easy. The scheduling of meetings will be great for school committee meetings.

Google docs for a scholarly article
Comment by: Anonymous (not verified); May 7, 2009 - 8:18pm
My colleague and I used Google Docs for a scholarly article. We started out in Word and then moved to Google Docs. At the time, I didn't think there was as much editing functionality in Google Docs as there is in Word. We had so many versions and so much editing, we finally finished the article in Word. Am I correct, that there is not a tracking feature in Google Docs or did I miss something? Wouldn't be the first time. Hee... Tammy, please help. And, please don't ask me, "What are you going to do about it?" I'm asking you, remember. A friend

Using Doodle
Comment by: Melissa (not verified); May 8, 2009 - 9:03am
Doodle is cool, but I don't think I would really use it as a scheduler to just invite a couple of people for something. Also, I'm not sure you can create a group in Doodle. (I am going to look at it again.) Groups are good because when setting an appointment with a group, one doesn't have to type in all those pesky email addresses.... For a poll, I think it would definitely be a good tool.... At work, "creating an event" using Google Calendar is easier. I actually checked co-workers' schedules on Google calendar before I scheduled a real meeting on Doodle. That's not a time saver.

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