(5) Interactivity #3

The Google document aspect of this interactivity frightened me because I had never had a truly collaborative experience with the program.  Mostly, I was not aware of the group work capabilities built into the program.  After panicking for a few days, I created the document for our group to work on.  Since we do not meet face to face, the group project established a new aspect of group work that was very unfamiliar to me.  Because we were only able to communicate through email, each member had to take responsibility for him or her selves and contribute their research.  I believe that this type of group work allowed for students to function effectively as a group because there was not a chance for someone to slack off.  Each member had to sign in, create a list of websites, sift through the information, and post their contributions correctly.  The project eliminated the stereotypical “slacker” from the equation and created authentic group collaboration.  Although I still do prefer a tangible output to a digital one and a face-to-face interaction versus online communication, I thought this interactivity was a really fabulous way to establish accountability. As a teacher, I would absolutely consider incorporating Google Docs into my technological materials as a way to reach outside the bounds of the classroom and establish new standards of group work.