When we discuss the basic suite, most people think of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, but I want to discuss instead Google Docs, Sheets and Presentation instead. These are the Basic Suite as presented by Google, but are easier to use when it comes to sharing and collaborating.
If I want my students to work on an assignment that requires one of the three basic suite components, they can very easily share with one another and with me, particularly in my school where each student is given a google mail account through the school. Sharing, editing and commenting are a huge advantage to using this suite as well as it being simple. Rather than having to email attachments back and forth and then editing and emailing again; once a document, sheet or presentation is shared, editing can be done by all parties involved.
Another relative advantage of using this suite is that it is accessible from any computer with internet access. The Microsoft suite must be installed (not to mention paid for) ahead of time and not everyone has ownership. With Google, everything is free and easy to access.
Overall, the relative advantage of knowing how to use the basic suite is that they will be useful in many fields of study as well as at many levels of that study and then in future careers. Being able to communicate through writing, math and presentations (which includes public speaking) will help all students succeed throughout their careers at school as well as when they leave.
Lastly, new things are added to the programs as they become available, so students are learning how to do new things with technology they are already familiar with. People who are used to using Microsoft know that the difference between 2000 and 2010 is vast and the same can be said of Google, except that the changes are added for everyone and not all at once, meaning that users can do more and more without being overwhelmed by a completely new look all at once.
I like your comments in the last paragraph about how incremental updates are easier to deal with as opposed to huge application updates like going suddenly from 2000 to 2010 in Office. I never thought about this - Great point! So, even though software is always changing and improving - It's easier to handle it in small doses, one aspect at a time.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you, and love the ease and universality we have with Google's basic suite - No cost, access from anywhere at anytime from any device, and great for collaboration.
The part of your blog that stood out to me was how it is easier to share a Google document than to email back and forth as attachments. I have been around long enough to remember when the email thing seemed amazing and now it is even easier. I have actually at times managed to be editing a student's paper as they are on and editing themselves. I am able to make comments and see them correct them as I go. It is really amazing to have them instant feedback without them sitting right in front of me.
ReplyDeleteI also liked when you pointed out that changes tend to be slower and therefore, easier to learn.
Overall, good job on blog.