for the absolute beginner

Intro to You probably know Google for its search engine.... You may have seen or even used Gmail – by Google.... Then there is Google Docs – Googles answer to office software with additional bells and whistles.....

What’s different about Google tools work on the Web. Which means You don’t need to own any software other than an web browser (Internet Explorer or another similar browser) All your files are stored on the internet, not on your computer (unless you save them there yourself). When your stuff is stored on the web, you can access it from any computer that has access to the internet ANYWHERE (home, school, timbuctoo...). ?

and education Most schools have access to the internet and students are familiar with the Google search engine Google docs is available in a education version, allowing use of these tools and storage via the web free for schools. Nothing needed except a computer, an internet connection and a web browser. But now, the latest development is.....

What is ? Partly a re invention of along a wiki model and partly a new tool to “carry” other web 2.0 tools such as social networking, maps, language translators etc. Built “open source” so that others can continually develop more tools to be used with it. Replaces multiple messages (and their replies) in lots of inboxes with one big multimedia message (a wave) which sits on the web. Any number of people may be invited to read or contribute to the wave. So new its not available to the general public yet!!

Ok, so how can it help educators? Communicating and creating online content should be much easier with wave. Can transcend language barriers Its closer to a conversation than a messaging system It has a playback feature that allows viewing of who contributed what, when (useful for group work, and late comers playing catch up) Source:

More Wave features useful for educators You can see what someone else is typing – character by character Can embed on any blog or website Anything can be edited by anyone else – you can correct, append or comment at any time in a conversation. Advanced spell checker that can even tell the difference between similar words like “been” and “bean” No attachments – everything is dragged and dropped into the wave. Source:

Now see our wave for the full story!