Weekly Report & Reflection Post #7

Collaboration [Online image]

Greetings, fellow bloggers!

"Alone we are smart.  Together we are brilliant." (Anderson, n.d.), and collaborating with others on assignments and projects has never been easier thanks to Google Drive!

I have used Google Docs and Google Slides in previous courses when working on group assignments, and what I have like about this tool is the simplicity to share, edit, and collaborate in real time with members of the group.  After watching the video Google Docs in Plain English on YouTube, I was astonished to learn of the number of copies we create of documents we share with others via email.  Lefever (2007) explains how one shared document between three other people "will exist in four different places" and how that becomes a problem.  This is a problem I never thought of before until now.  It has become a habit for many people, including myself, to attach a document to an email and send to others for revision or feedback instead of using Google Drive or other collaborating tools.

Aside from eliminating the duplication of a single record, Google Drive offers other advantages as well: all of the user's files can be stored in the cloud, and are accessible from any device connected to a network (Google Drive, 2016).  Storage and accessibility are significant features of this tool for students as well as working professionals.  In a classroom setting, the teacher can share documents publicly (i.e. newsletters, announcements, course syllabus) where students can view but not edit; changes or updates can be made and the students will always have access to the latest version of the document.  Students can share a draft of an assignment with the teacher or other classmates to get feedback before the final submission; the teacher or classmate can provide comments and feedback right on the document.  In a workplace setting, team members working on developing or updating policies or procedures - that require feedback from multiple stakeholders - can work synchronous or asynchronous on the document.

Working in groups is an important part of learning whether in an academic or workplace setting, and Google Drive makes collaborative learning possible.  Group members are no longer expected to meet at a physical location on a specific date and time.  Members can be remote or local and still be able to work as a team when completing group projects.  The chat and notes features allow group members to ask clarifying questions or leave comments for others to address when they log back in.

Google Drive is one of the many online tools that enables us to share knowledge, ideas, new perspectives, and learn together.  By working with others, we engage in collaborative problem-solving and generate better solutions than working on our own.

Snoopy [Online image]

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References

Anderson, S. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016 http://quotesgram.com/collaborate-quotes/#wEebkK24Tb.

Collaboration. [Online image]. Retrieved February 29, 2016 http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/211730/file-29217462-jpeg/images/rb312-what-does-true-online-collaboration-mean.jpeg.

Google Drive - Cloud Storage & File Backup for Photos, Docs & More (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016 https://www.google.com/drive/.

Lefever, Lee. (2007). Google Docs in Plain English. Retrieved February 28, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA.

Snoopy [Online image]. Retrieved February 29, 2016 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d4/e4/bb/d4e4bb70da5d71f4e87a405729254906.jpg