Communication Tool #2 - Google Docs

	3- Awesome!	2-Meh	1-Not worth my time.
Efficiency(teacher)	Teacher can use it consistently throughout the year.	Teacher can use it somewhat consistently throughout the year.	A burden to use.
User Friendly (teacher)	Walks you through the setup or tutorials and quick and easy.	No tutorials but I can figure it out.	I’m registered.  Now what do I do?
Cost	Free	Some options are free or price is minimal	Not free or limited free functions.
Validity	Blogs: Updated weekly Apps: High educational value	Blogs: Updated monthly Apps: Some educational value	Blogs: Updated annually Apps: No educational value
Safety	Privacy options	Limited privacy options	No options for privacy
DOK (Depth of Knowledge)	Effectively utilizes targeted DOK	Somewhat utilizes the targeted DOK	Doesn’t utilize targeted DOK
Monitoring Capability	Teacher can monitor and edit all student activity.	Teacher can monitor student content but may not edit.	Teacher can’t monitor all student content.
Permission (school)	Permitted	Needs IT permission	Not permitted
Student Use	Students would be lost without it!	Somewhat enhances student learning.	Does not enhance student learning.
User Friendly (student)	Students can quickly access content or desired tasks from home screen or search bar.	Requires a number of steps to get started and students sometimes need direction along the way.	Students can’t use independently or need constant direction when using.
Student Engagement	Kids love it!	Students use when prompted.	Students complain about using it.

Google Docs

Google Docs is an online word-processor that can be accessed from anywhere and shared with anyone. It has many features that promote collaboration on a shared document and working on something in real-time.

Efficiency (teacher) - 3 Google Docs can be used on a daily basis for the classroom teacher. This is especially so when meeting minutes and important documents from administration are shared via this resource.

User Friendly (teacher) - 3 In Google Docs things are very straightforward.

Cost - 3 No cost to utilize.

Validity - N/A

Safety - 3 No one will see a student’s work unless they have shared the document with that person.

DOK - 3 Google Docs could meet any DOK level that is intended

Monitoring Capability - 3 If the teacher requires a student to allow them to edit a document this would be true. There are also options where the teacher can highlight and comment the document only, which could still be effective.

Permission - 3 Permitted

Student Use - 3 Students at our school really would be lost without it!

User Friendly (student) - 3 Very easy to get to once a student is in their Google account.

Student Engagement - 2 or 3 This would depend on the student, but for most students I would say 3. However, if the server is down, students do get frustrated because they can not get to their documents.