Instructional Problem

Increasingly students and learners are required to complete collaborative group projects with participants separated by distance and located in different time zones. While several collaborative software exist we chose to create a twin version of our group PB wiki content on the newly released Google Documents. Online group collaboration requires practice with new tools some of these collaborative software products are complicated and difficulty to use. Our group project will focus on the practical application of Google Documents with comparison with PBWiki, email,and Wimba for adult learners working on collaborative group projects. Our group project will examine both products for operating costs, ease of use, availabiltiy, needed resources, and functionality.

Background

Per the Google.com corporate online files, Google was co founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Both graduate students put their doctorate studies on hold to develop Google nd manage a rapid company growth. In 2007, Google Docs was created from two separate programs: Writely and Google Spreadsheet. 

Shillace (2005) conducted an online interview with Writely co creator, Emily Chang, who how described how Writely was developed as a collaborative web based word processor owned by the Upstartle company. With the rollout of new product Writely, Upstarle  experienced rapid growth. On March 2006, Google acquired Upstartle and Writely. PC magazine reviewer Mendelson (2005) described how the powerful Writely software program merged with Google Spreadsheet program creating Google Docs. This reviewer describes Google Docs as "the obvious Editor's Choice" for online document management.