Google Docs: write, edit, and share ideas together in real-time.
🔍 What does it do?
Google Docs is an online word processor that allows pupils to create reports, essays, and stories. Its most powerful feature is “Live Collaboration” – multiple pupils can work on the same document simultaneously, seeing each other’s changes as they happen. It removes the need for “saving” and “emailing versions,” as everything is stored live in the cloud via Glow.
🎓 Why is it useful?
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Instant Collaboration: Perfect for group writing projects. Pupils can be in different parts of the classroom (or in other locations) and contribute to the same piece of work at once.
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Voice Typing (Accessibility): Pupils who struggle with typing can use the “Dictation” feature (via the iPad keyboard) to turn their speech into text directly on the page.
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Version History: (Accessible via browser version) Teachers can see exactly who contributed what to a group project and “roll back” the document if something is accidentally deleted.
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Feedback Loop: Teachers and peers can highlight text and leave Comments, allowing for a digital dialogue about the work without changing the original text.
⚙️ How does it work?
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Launch: Open the Google Docs app on iPad or login to Google Docs on your internet browser.
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Sign In: Use your Glow email (e.g., gw15smithjohn@fa.glow.scot) and use your normal Glow password.
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Create: Tap the ‘+’ icon to start a new document or pick from a template like “Report” or “Letter.”
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Share: Use the Share button to add collaborators or send a link to the Google Doc.
- Classroom: If using Docs with Google Classroom you can directly create an assignment that is based in Docs by going to ‘classwork’ > ‘+create’ > ‘assignment’ > ‘+create’ and selecting Docs. From there you can choose whether learners can view the Doc, edit it as one group or make a copy for each student. If you want to add a scaffolded Doc with information or instructions already in it, it is the same process but instead of clicking ‘+create’ as the last step, click ‘upload’ and choose the Doc you have already made to support learners.
🚀 Beyond the Basics
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Collaborative Storytelling: Start a “Pass the Story” activity. One pupil writes the introduction, a second writes the problem, and a third writes the resolution—all in the same Doc at the same time.
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Structured Reports: Use the ‘Insert Table’ feature to help pupils organize their research into categories like “Climate,” “Culture,” and “History.”
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Smart Chips: Type ‘@’ to bring up a menu that lets you quickly insert smart chips, files or building blocks like dates, drop downs, links to other Google files. This helps pupils keep their resources organised in one place.
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Suggested Edits: Teach pupils how to use “Suggesting” mode (under the ‘three dots’). This allows them to propose changes to a partner’s work that the original author can choose to ‘Accept’ or ‘Reject.’
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Meeting Minutes: Teachers can use the built-in “Meeting Notes” template which automatically pulls in the date and participants, making it easy to share notes with a department instantly via Glow.
💡 Top Tips for Google Docs
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Reading Mode: If a document is long, pupils can change the ‘Print Layout’ toggle in the menu to see how it will look on paper, or keep it in mobile view for easier reading on the iPad.
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The ‘Explore’ Tool: While the iPad app is streamlined, opening Docs in Safari allows you to use the “Explore” feature to research topics and find images without ever leaving the document.
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Offline Working: Tap the ‘three dots’ on a file in the main list and select ‘Available offline’. This is vital for pupils who may not have reliable Wi-Fi at home but want to finish their homework.
