Thing #13 Experiment with Google Apps

You are familiar with Web and Image search capabilities of Google; we discussed GoogleDocs in Thing #12 and learned about this handy set of documents for online productivity, collaboration, and portability. These are just the tip of the Google iceberg in providing online resources and tools for the Read/Write web and personal/collaborative productivity. In this exercise, we will explore some of the innovative web-based tools Google is releasing. The program and your own data is stored online, allowing colleagues to access the same documents, collaboratively build resources, and have access to the data 24/7. We'll look at the benefits, and limitations, of using Google Apps.

Discovery Exercises:

• Explore all the different Google Applications
• Read about what's on the horizon for Google Apps

Homework Activity:

• Choose one of the Google Apps that we haven't covered or used in a past "Thing". Explore the features and benefits of the tool you chose and write a blog post about your discoveries. Include a link to your favorite tool, add an image, and add examples of how you can use this new tool. Describe how this tool can be used in the library and in your own personal productivity.

Optional Exercise:

• Set up an iGoogle page (a customizable home page) and use this tool for managing your newsfeeds, blogs, favorite websites, and favorite gadgets (weather, maps, calculator, and assorted tools, etc.). Write about this productivity and information management tool in your blog.