{"id":12072,"date":"2018-07-19T09:28:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T13:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edtechteacher.org\/?p=12072"},"modified":"2018-07-23T11:05:24","modified_gmt":"2018-07-23T15:05:24","slug":"three-ways-to-differentiate-the-writing-process-with-google-docs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edtechteacher.org\/three-ways-to-differentiate-the-writing-process-with-google-docs\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Ways to Differentiate the Writing Process with Google Docs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Avra Robinson & Rosey McQuillan for more from Avra and Rosey follow them on Twitter: @avrarachel<\/a> & @romcquill<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Differentiating instruction\u00a0<\/span>gives<\/span>\u00a0students multiple options for taking in information, for making sense of ideas, and for expressing what they learn. In other words, a differentiated classroom provides different avenues for students to acquire content, process ideas, and demonstrate their understanding (<\/span>Tomlinson, 2001<\/span>). As educators, we face student variability in our classrooms<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>are always looking for\u00a0<\/span>ways to\u00a0<\/span>differentiate\u00a0<\/span>instruction for students across the curricu<\/span>lum. Many school districts are using G Suite for EDU; therefore, in this post, we will explore how Google Docs can support student variability during the writing process. \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Voice\u00a0Typing<\/h1>\n

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Voice typing creates a number of opportunities for students during the writing process. This tool<\/span>\u00a0allows students to speak directly into their documents. As students talk into the microphone on\u00a0<\/span>their<\/span>\u00a0computer, Chromebook, or iPad,\u00a0<\/span>voice typing\u00a0<\/span>tran<\/span>scribes words into typed text.\u00a0<\/span>V<\/span>oice\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>yping provides an alter<\/span>native to pencil\/paper or the physical act of keyboarding.\u00a0<\/span>This tool can be used\u00a0<\/span>for pre-writing to generate a list of ideas or get thoughts down in a more efficient way. It allows students that cannot compose words to articulate ideas in written form.<\/span><\/p>\n

Writing can be difficult and a struggle for writers of all ages. Voice Typing can be particularly useful for those that struggle, especially those with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or have difficulty with using a mouse and keyboard. Voice Typing is a way to differentiate between the writing process and make the process accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n

When typing is a physical barrier to expression,<\/span>\u00a0students often use shorter words and sentences to\u00a0<\/span>expedite the writing process<\/span>. <\/span>However, when students can<\/span>\u00a0express themselves verbally, they might use more complex language and sentence structure. <\/span>Finally<\/span>, it can reduce spelling errors which decreases the sometimes lengthy revision\u00a0<\/span>process<\/span>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The only additional setting in voice typing is the ability to change the default language. By changing the language setting, Voice typing allows the user to\u00a0<\/span>select a specific language for the dictation.<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

Font, Style, Size,\u00a0and Color Considerations<\/span><\/h1>\n

Sometimes, the basic considerations of font style, text size, and color are overlooked as potential supports for students who struggle with\u00a0<\/span>visual tracking<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and sustaining<\/span>\u00a0at<\/span>tention as well as focus<\/span>. Todd Rose, the author of\u00a0<\/span>The Myth of Average<\/span><\/span>, explains in his\u00a0<\/span>TEDx Talk<\/a><\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>rather than forcing students to fit to the environment, the environment should fit each student. One way of adjusting a writing environment to\u00a0<\/span>fit<\/span>\u00a0the student is to adjust the color, size, or font style of the text. For example, dyslexic students benefit from san serif fonts such as Arial, Avant Garde, or Open Dyslexic. Their straight lines and, in the case of Open Dyslexic, heavily weighted bottoms help to naturally indicate the direction\u00a0<\/span>to increase<\/span>\u00a0the readability.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nAnother simple adjustment that educators can make is the background color of the page in Google Docs. \u00a0Sometimes a soft yellow is easier to read than the standard white background. \u00a0Additionally, the size of the text is an option to consider. Younger students benefit from a larger text size<\/span>\u00a0and increased line spacing<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Additional white space between lines can\u00a0also contribute to success\u00a0<\/span>especially\u00a0during the editing process. \u00a0<\/span>Finally<\/span>, using th<\/span>e Zoom menu to increase the size of the text on the page is another simple way to provide visual supports for students.<\/p>\n

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The important thing to remember as we consider all of these simple adjustments to the formatting of the Google Docs\u2019 writing environment is that the student should be the decision<\/span>–makers in these situations. For years, teachers have required that essays and other work be created adhering to a specific set of formatting specifications.\u00a0<\/span>It is helpful to keep in mind that the typical \u201cTimes New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced\u201d essay can be created using whatever text and writing environment specifications work best for the student – even if the teacher still requires the end result to be standard. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing the defaults in Google Docs is also an ideal way to save time and effort. Students can determine which\u00a0<\/span>text<\/span>\u00a0size, font style, and spacing is most conducive to their learning and writing environment. After making these selections, these changes can\u00a0<\/span>become<\/span>\u00a0the student<\/span>\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>default settings in Google Docs. Each time a new document is opened, it automatically\u00a0defaults\u00a0to the new font type, size, and line spacing that the student or teacher has chosen. This\u00a0video<\/a><\/span>\u00a0will demonstrate HOW to change those defaults.<\/p>\n