Using Google Tools Handout

Using Google Tools

Start at the Google home page www.google.com

Use your gmail account to log in or create a google account using another email address

All of Google’s tools allow you the option of making your tools public and allowing access to anyone, or keeping them private and controlling who can view or edit. 

iGoogle

Start at the Google home page and follow the guides in the blue box. Create your own home page filled with a variety of gadgets such as clocks, calendars weather and to-do lists. Collect feeds of favorite blogs or news sites and favorite search tools or web sites.   Customize the look by selecting a theme. You can sign in to your home page on any computer from the Google home page:  www.google.com.

Click on more on the top of the page to get a list of possibilities or log in, click on My Account, then Try something new

Google Docs

Upload and store documents on a secure site accessible from anywhere.  Or create a document and work on it online.  Documents can be shared with other people and they can either view or edit.   Docs allows word processing documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Calendar

Create a calendar for yourself or several people.  Individual Calendars can be shared to create a joint calendar that everyone can view. You can grant permission to add or edit events to other people.

Reader

Collects blog or news feeds into one place and shows only headlines.

Blogger

Use a template to create a blog to gather and share information or thoughts. Step by step instructions to set up a blog and add features.

Picasa

Photo editing, storage and sharing.

Part 1. Free downloadable software used to organize, edit and store photographs on your computer.

Part 2.  Web based storage and sharing.  You can post your photos and send a link inviting people to view them.

Sites

Create a basic web page using a template.

Maps

Provides detailed directions and maps of a location or an entire journey. 

Street view provides photos of places at street level.  Note: in non-metropolitan areas only major streets show street views.

Satellite images show satellite view from above.

Google Earth

Satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings, including historical imagery.

This is a downloadable program that you must install on your computer.

You Tube

A place to store and share short videos.  These are either made by someone or commercially produced.  Search to find a video on any topic.

There are many more tools accessible from your Gmail page, the Google Home page, or almost any other Google page.  Just look for “More Google Products” 

There is even a Labs collection which are applications in the test stage.

Have fun playing!