What:
Improving student writing is no easy task but Google Docs has numerous features that make it a bit easier. My favorite Google Doc features to improve student writing are utilizing comments, using suggested edits, and voice typing.
Comments:
Comments are a great way to improve student writing because educators can work one on one with students using their own writing as examples. To insert a comment, simply highlight text in a Google Doc and click the plus sign in the circle that appears to the right of the highlighted text. Comments can be assigned to people by typing a plus sign and then their name in the comment box. Assigning comments is great when multiple students are collaborating on an assignment. Students can respond to the comment right in the Google Doc for educators to view and continue to respond.
Suggested Edits:
Suggested edits is a fantastic feature that is a level up from commenting. I might use comments to remind students of something we discussed in class, provide extra resources, or leave encouraging messages. Suggested edits allows educators to change the text but Google Docs will show the changes in a new color and students can choose to accept or reject the changes. This feature is a great way of showing students what is expected. For example, if a student is struggling with writing topic sentences or using passive voice, I can use suggested edits to change their sentence to better align with the expectations of the assignment.
Voice Typing:
Students are often overwhelmed by a blank page. Allowing students to use voice typing helps them quickly put all of the information in their head on paper giving them a starting place for the assignment. Voice typing is a fantastic feature that can be accessed by clicking on Tools then Voice Typing.
Next Steps
Interested in learning more? Check out the websites below for great information.
References:
All sourced information is hyperlinked as applicable above.
TLDR (too long didn’t read):
Improving student writing is no easy task but Google Docs has numerous features that make it a bit easier. My favorite Google Doc features to improve student writing are utilizing comments, using suggested edits, and voice typing.
@hollandkaylah