Week #5: Online Collaboration, Google Docs

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rjagodowski
Posts: 2368
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:59 pm

Week #5: Online Collaboration, Google Docs

Post by rjagodowski »

Before we discuss the topics of online documentation, we should first have a discussion on Corporate/Industrial/Academic IT Policies. Here's a link to STCC's Information Technology Policy. This is the same information contained in the STCC Student Handbook here:
Student-Handbook_2020-21.pdf
(1.6 MiB) Downloaded 99 times
The IT Policy in pdf is here:
STCC IT Resources Policy.pdf
(273.43 KiB) Downloaded 163 times
STCC Netiquette Policy.

In general, most IT policies clearly state that the network, its software and hardware are the property of the organization and you are granted the privilege to use it within the posted guidelines. One thing to remember about all computer devices is they generally create extensive logs documenting all aspects of system operation. In addition, network monitoring tools can be used to log every website a specific computer visits. These logs can and have been used against employees as grounds for dismissal. Be aware of what you do on someone else's computer or someone else's network. You will also usually see language something like "No Expectation of Privacy" when using the company resources. Understand what that means. ANYTHING you do using ANY TYPE of IT Resource (Hardware, software, network, wifi, etc.) is open to scrutiny by those in the IT Department and violations of policy can have stern consequences, including terminating your employment with the company. Keep that in mind. Even using your OWN computer or phone, but you're connected to the company's Wifi network, means you are beholden to the IT policies specified.

This week we will discuss the topic of online collaboration with specific discussions centering around the use of Google's offering, Google Docs. The goal here is to allow people within a group to easily share and contribute to the Google Apps Summary Sheet.

Here is Wikipedia's summary of Google Drive, which is the storage space on Google's servers through which all of this works. This storage space is provided "free" of charge up to a limit. Additional storage, if needed, is available at a cost.

An introduction is given here about Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.

How to Share

Chat and Real-time Collaboration.

And should you wish to investigate options other than those provided by Google, this link shows Google Doc Alternatives.

Here's a video tutorial series on Google Docs from AnsonAlex.com. (28:56)

And here's Google Drive Essential Training from Lynda.com. Lynda.com is now operating under LinkedIn, and is a pay video tutorial service in which you pay per month for access time. Each tutorial includes free video presentations so that you can sample the content before deciding to purchase. I can personally recommend this site as I have used this service off and on over the years. It is easy to subscribe and easy to unsubscribe. That latter part is important if you've ever tried to "cancel" other services, you will happy with the ease at which you can terminate your LinkedIn/Lynda.com account. I think it can be a great way to learn new software in a short period of time with a minimal financial investment.
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