Task #6: Google Doc Garnish!!

Library Lady Says: ...Place under broiler until cheese melts, sprinkle with productivity tools, garnish with Google Docs and parsley, and serve at once. 

"Productivity Tools"? Wow. Yeah. So, those sound exciting...

*snicker*

You cheeky monkey! Surprisingly, productivity tools are exciting. Just you wait and see...

†The availability and use of online productivity applications (like word processing software, or spreadsheets) has exploded over the past two years. And for good reason, too! These powerful applications give you the ability to create and share documents (like recipes, letters, schedules, budgets, grocery lists, etc.) over the Internet without the need of an expensive installed program (like Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel). Google Docs is an example of productivity software. 

Wow! Seriously? That is neat-o. I can think of a million uses for an application like that. I've been looking for a way to organize my baking recipes, but I just can't justify paying for yet another Microsoft program...

I know, right?

One obvious benefit to web-based applications is that they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions (i.e. when you attach documents to an email, or move from one PC to another.) 

What do you mean?

Well, for example, Microsoft recently released a new version of Office software--Office 2010--and there are major differences between 2010 and their older software, 2003 (they're about as compatible as oil and water...) This means that if you send someone an email attachment from your brand new computer (which most likely has Office 2010 or 2007 installed on it,) they may have issues opening your attachment on their older system. And that's just the start of the headache. Microsoft is constantly updating their programs, which means staying up-to-date requires constantly buying new software, or finding ways to make your old stuff compatible. 

What a nightmare! So using an online productivity tool will eliminate this problem because there is no "version"? It works with whatever computer you're using?

Yup! And another thing: using a productivity tool like Google Docs means there's no need to fuss with silly floppy disks or sticky USB keys. Because all of your files will be saved to a website (rather than a computer or a disk) that you can access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from any computer with Internet access, anywhere in the world. 

Groovy!

Google Docs also easily accommodates collaboration between users, allowing multiple people to view, edit, or make changes to the same file... at the same time! You can even use it to author and publish posts to your blog. And it’s this type of integration with other Web 2.0 tools that makes web-based productivity tools so appealing.

Your Task 

To complete this assignment: 

1. Go to Google Docs. If you are not logged in, click Take a Tour. If you are already logged in (because Google Docs uses the same log in information as your blog), click Help and click Take a Tour. Move through the 6-slide, slide show to get a better handle on what Google Docs is and how it works. 

2. If you are not logged in, do so now using your Google account information (the same information you use to log into your blog.) 

3. Click Create New and click Document. 

4. Use the new document to write a cooking story: a food memory, achievement, disaster, or recipe. 

5. When you have finished typing your cooking story in Google Docs, click the Share tab. 

6. Click Publish to the Web, pictured here: 

7. Click Start Publishing: 

 

8. Click OK to confirm that you wish to publish this document.

9.  Copy* the Embed code that has now appeared in the box as pictured below.  Note that your code will be different than the sample here.

10.  Return to your blog and begin a new post.  Paste* the Embed code into your new blog post.  Click Publish Post.


* If you are having difficulty copying and pasting the code, click here for instructions.


Now sit back and relax, because your job this week is done--your cooking story now appears on your blog! Ahh, the wonders of technology!

† Research from YCL TwoPointOh Exploration 

Further Reading:

Kissell, Joe. "The Google office: can the Web giant's suite of free online programs replace your copy of Microsoft Office?(FEATURE)." Macworld 24.8 (August 2007): 60(10). Academic OneFile. Gale. Burlington Public Library (ON) (CELPLO). 12 Oct. 2007

Note: BPL Cardholders: Visit our database page. Choose Academic OneFile from the appropriate list. Enter your BPL library card number. Search for the title above. Find it listed under the Magazines tab.


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