[GeoffBoulton]

Which of the free tools provided by Google do you use and how do you use them?

If you don't know what they are then check out:

http://docs.google.com (http://docs.google.com/)

http://sites.google.com (http://sites.google.com/)

http://groups.google.com (http://groups.google.com/)

There are limitations to them and they're obviously not, YET, as good as PC based software but I find them really useful.

For my teaching I use Docs to prepare readings for my conversation students, with pictures and links to YouTube videos, presentations to explain grammar and forms to prepare online exercises for them; their responses are automatically entered onto a spreadsheet for me!

I use Groups to manage the students so I can post, and notify them of, articles and homework and they also have a central point where they can ask questions without having to contact me directly; which they might be reluctant to do if they think they might be bothering me or it might be inconvenient.

Finally, I am using sites to produce a course for absolute beginners who don't know any English, primarily as a recruitment tool but good practice for me and my Polish too!

I'd like to hear how others have used these, and other tools, and how you've used them. Maybe I can learn something from your experiences! ;)

[sudikics]

I use Docs, I've tampered with Sites, and I shut down my Groups, but it was helpful when I needed it. (I was running an auction site.)

[Dr Goofy Mofo]

Tampered withe sites. I thought it was ok but liked Googlepages better. Docs I use to show others documents. Never touched groups. But I love Clander and gmail!