Google docs

I have looked at google docs and have also created a document, by so doing familiarising myself with it’s various tools. The task was to complete an on-line resource designed for collaborative interaction, by using a form to be completed on-line. I was very pleased with the results. I came into difficulty, when trying to retrieve my work. The format had changed back into plain spreadsheet, with a message informing me that there was not enough space to display the full content. If you’re adept at spreadsheet, this is not a problem. But it took me a while to figure out.
A recent article in the ‘Computing’ journal, stated that;

“In the collaboration toolset Google Apps package offers an entire solution, including customisable email addresses, mobile email calender IM access, spam filtering, on-line collaboration tools and video”.

An investigation into there collaborative tools would be useful, to see whether it would facilitate Feurstein’s ‘Metacognition’ involving teaching learners how to learn,
By teaching learners to think about their own thinking (the process) he taught them the generic skills required to gather information and then re-use it to do something productive.

As mentioned above Google docs has collaborative functions. Yacci (1999) interactive loop can be summarised in this quote, and is arguable a case for collaborative tools.

‘If a student were to send a clustered message, in a mutually coherent way, containing (1) A statement of FACT; (2) A statement of OPINION; (3) A statement of AFFECTIVE need, then the teacher should insure that the response contains mutually coherent responses for each message, closing the loop in each message in the cluster.

Google, as demonstrated and, Feurstein as stated an environment i.e. a tool for gathering information, and by learning, how to learn, apply it to other situation, and as a result achieve a satisfactory outcome. These same principles can be applied to Laurillard (2002, P90) Conversational framework, in which:
;MEDIUM;productive
LEARNING EXPERIENCE; Articulating, Expressing
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY; Producing a resource, blog entries. are on-line activities

References
Adey,P. and Shayer, M. (1994). “Really Raising Standards: Cognitive
intervention and academic achievement; On an overview of cognitivist approaches to learning including a bit on Feuerstien: Routledge

Laurillard, D. (2002) Rethinking University Teaching London: Routledge

Yacci,M.(2000), P14 ‘Interactivity Demystified: A Structural Definition for Distance Education and Intelligent CBT’.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFdrMTNBYU1FV08yQnBQbmppYWItTWc6MQ