Google Docs

Google docs is an excellent tool for sharing work with others. I think this type of program would work either in an online or in-person class setting. What makes Google docs great for group work is that each group member can have access to the editing process. Rather than having to email attachments between group members to make changes, each individual can easily access and edit the document. Using Google docs eliminates the extra steps needed for emailing attachments or using other various software for group projects.

I definitely think this type of document would be welcomed by faculty. From my experience most professors in the MLIS program encourage the use of collaborative software such as Google docs for group projects. I think one concern may be the amount of work put in by each student. Google docs allows you to see which student last edited the document, but not the number or amount of changes made. Additionally, Google docs does not allow you to see all the previous edits, so its possible that one student may contribute to the document and then another student contributes without the professor noticing the first edit. Despite this I still think man professors would be open to using this type of document. It allows the students to collaborate but also allows the professor to observe the progress over time and even make suggestions/edit the document (as long as permission has been given from the students). I think Google docs, like wikis, is a great tool for collaboration.