Google+(Tools)

There are a wide variety of Google Tools available today. They include: mail, Apps (Docs, Spreadsheets, Forms, & Presentations), Calendars, iGoogle, and widgets. Watch the video below for an overview of what is available and how these online tools are similar to desktop based products you are already using.
 * Google Tools Training**

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Below, you will find resources for learning each of the Google Tools available. Enjoy!

=Gmail (& Chat)= Do you currently have email at work? How about at home? More and more people are using free webbased email hosts such as Google for a wide variety of purposes. Gmail is one great option to consider. Signing up for a gmail account will also allow you to enjoy the full functionality of Google's tools described below.

[|GoogleApps Training, Gmail]: watch Google's own training on gmail [|Gmail Training (YouTube)]: watch this training on GoogleApps email on YouTube [|GoogleApps Training, Talk (chat)]: watch Google's own training on using chat features in your gmail account [|GoogleTalk Help Page]: links to Google's text based training documentation for GoogleTalk [|GoogleTalk FAQ]: answers to your questions about GoogleTalk.

=GoogleApps= Google's answer to desktop based, pay for ownership, software. Google has created totally online tools which are very similar in their look and feel to standard applications such as Word/Pages, Excel/Numbers, and PowerPoint/Keynote. Not only are Google's applications free to use, they allow you to share documents with others for collaboration. Below are links to get you started.

[|GoogleDocs Help Page]: an general help page from Google with links out to the various applications pages

GoogleDocs
Think Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, or Apple Pages. Google's online version of a word processor lets you create documents online and share them with others. You'll never forget or lose a document again! Below are links to get you started.

[|GoogleDocs Training]: watch Google's own traing on using Docs [|GoogleDocs Tour]: Google's text based overview of Docs [|GoogleDocs Help]: Google's help page for GoogleDocs [|Atomic Learning]: use your IU1 username and password to access training this tool at Atomic Learning

Google Sites
[|Google Sites for Teachers] [|e-Portfolios] use a Google Site for reflection [|Video] [|Google Sites Blog]

Google Spreadsheets
Think Microsoft Excel, or Apple Numbers. Google's online version of a word processor lets you create spreadsheetts online and share them with others. You'll never forget or lose a spreadsheet again! Below are links to get you started.

[|GoogleDocs Training]: watch Google's own traing on using Spreadsheets [|GoogleDocs Help]: Google's help page for GoogleSpreadsheets [|Atomic Learning]: use your IU1 username and password to access training this tool at Atomic Learning

Google Forms
An advanced use of GoogleSpreadsheets, create online surveys which can be sent via email or embedded into your wiki. GoogleForms allow you to create the questions and have respondants answers come back into your account in a spreadsheet form. Your spreadsheets are downloadable or shareable for editing with others. Below are links to get you started.

GoogleDocs Help: Google's help page for GoogleForms [|Self Grading Forms]: Use GoogleForms to create self-grading assessments which you can embed in your Wiki [|Atomic Learning]: use your IU1 username and password to access training this tool at Atomic Learning

Google Presentations
Are you a fan of PowerPoint (Microsoft) or Keynote (Apple)? Google's version allows you to create presentations online, embedding them into websites, or sharing them with others via email for download or online editing. Below are links to get you started.

[|GoogleDocs Help]: Google's help page for GooglePresentations [|Atomic Learning]: use your IU1 username and password to access training this tool at Atomic Learning

Google Calendars
[|Atomic Learning]: use your IU1 username and password to access training this tool at Atomic Learning

Embedding
Many of the GoogleApps listed are embeddable in your wiki. Simply look for terms like "embed" or "share" to locate the code. Copy it, take it to your wiki, and use the widget tool to embed the item into your wiki!

iGoogle & Widgets
iGoogle lets you bring together all of your favorite GoogleApps into one place - for ease of access (versus going to each item individually. From the [|Classic Google Start page], look for the following:
 * find a tab that says iGoogle
 * sign yourself in with your Gmail account (if you have not already)
 * start out by using "get artist themes" to design the aesthetic feel of your iGoogle page
 * click on "add stuff" to locate the Apps and widgets you want to have show up on your iGoogle page (think of it like a virtual desktop)
 * be sure to add: gmail, googledocs, googlecalendar, and googlemaps (at the least)
 * the rest is up to you!

GoogleSketchup
Justine Kobeski (a CFF coach) presents [|an overview of GoogleSketchup], a free 3D creation tool from Google. = =