Google Docs is a free, web-based word processing program that allows users to create and edit documents online in a web browser. It offers unlimited storage space, automatic saving, and collaboration features that allow multiple users to work on a document simultaneously. The document provides step-by-step instructions on how to use Google Docs, including how to create and share documents, add comments, organize documents into folders, and view revision histories of collaborative documents. Maintaining organization through folders is recommended.

1. STCC Library Tech Talk
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Intro to

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What Are Google Docs?

3. Cloud based computing, works everywhere there is internet connectivity. No software to
install, no USB to cart around; it is just there when you need it
Unlimited amount of storage when you have a gmail account (through an academic institution
or business)
Saves your work automatically
Allows you to collaborate, share, comment (written and voice) and chat/instant message,
simultaneously
Easy to use
It is free
Why use Google Docs?
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4. Translate a document to a different language
Email your documents to other people as attachments
View your document's revision history and return to any
previous version
Add “flair” and formatting to your documents by adjusting
margins, spacing, fonts, and colors, images — all that
fun stuff
Here’s what you can do with Google Docs:
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Create a new document or upload a Word
document and convert it to a Google document
Download a Google document to your desktop as
a Word, OpenOffice, RTF, PDF, HTML or zip
file
Invite/share with other people to collaborate on a
document with you, giving them edit, comment
or view access
Collaborate online in real time and chat with other
collaborators — right from inside the document

5. Have a gmail account (STCC students, Faculty and staff have access to gmail)
Log-in to your gmail account
Click on
Click on
How to use Google Docs
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Click on drive to get to all of the
different types of documents/folders
Select the document type that you
want from those listed

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Now, let’s practice using Google Docs!

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Step 1: Log-in to your gmail

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Step 2: Access Google Drive
Click here
Click here
You should get
a screen that
looks like this
(minus the three
folders if you
haven’t used
Google Drive
before!)

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Step 3: Create a new document
Click New >Document
Select Document type >
Type some text into your new document
Step 4: Name your new
document:
Click File >Rename
(or click on Untitled
document in top left corner,
which becomes highlighted
in blue, type in name of
your document)

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Step 5: Share your document:
Click Share >Share with others.
Enter the email address of the person(s) you’d like to
share the document with. Decide what type of access
they can have (edit, view, comment), then click
“Done”.

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Step 6: Add a comment to your
document. There are two ways to
do this:
Insert a comment: Select a place in your
document to leave a comment. Then
Click Insert > Comment
The comment will include the
commenter’s username and a time/date
stamp. Comments, once seen and editing
occurs, can be removed by selecting the
“resolve” tab.
Insert text in a different color: To show
that a different user is typing,
collaborators can use different text colors
to indicate authorship. To do this, a
collaborator can simply type anywhere in
the document. Then highlight the text and
click on the capital “A” in the middle of the
toolbar and choose any of the colors that
drop down. All of the selected text will
change to the new color

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Step 7: Create a Folder to place your
document in.
You can do this in one of two ways:
1. Exit out of your document. From
the Google Drive home page
Click New > Folder
Name your new Folder
Drag your document into the folder
2. Within your document, click
on the folder icon, create a new folder
or select an existing one, to move your
document into
Click on the folder icon, here

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Step 8: Return to your new document. View your
options of what to do with your completed
document under the “File” tab.
You will see

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Step 9: See your Revision History (especially
good for collaborative projects):
Click File > See revision history
This shows you who made what changes when!

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Step 10: When you have finished
creating your document, simply
click the “x” on the document tab to
close the document. If you need to
access your document again, click
the tab labeled “My Drive - Google
Drive”

16. Keep your documents and files in order!!!!
A tip to consider...
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Use Folders to organize your files by topic/subject

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Upcoming Tech Talks

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Thank you!
To access these slides online and/or to leave
feedback, visit:
http://libguides.stcc.edu/Techtalks
Anna Bognolo
STCC Library Outreach/Tech Services Librarian
agbognolo@stcc.edu
x4565