#5 The World of Google (LIS5937: Info. Lit.)

To further my exploration of Web 2.0 tools and neat new technologies that I haven't already looked at in previous 23 Things projects for other classes, I decided to take a look at a few Google applications that I haven't played with very much.


First, I learned a little history about Google. The name "Google" is a play on the word "googol", the mathematical term for a 1 followed by 100 zeros.  According to Google, the name reflects the vast amount of information that exists. It also reflects Google's mission: "To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.I also watched this video about the formation of Google. It's a pretty cool video.


Google Books: Google Books is a service provided by Google that allows users to search the full text of books within the collection. These books have been scanned and are housed in the Google Books database. Books that are out of copyright and considered public domain (free to the public and not bound by copyright laws) can be viewed in "full view" and can be downloaded for free. For books still bound by copyright, the user can view a limited number of pages and has the option to purchase the book through Google's new eBookstore or through a variety of other online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The Google eBook apps that are available allow you to read the eBooks you purchase on your smartphone (Android or iPhone), iPad, Nook, and Sony Reader.



Google Docs: Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables users to create, store, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Users don’t have to download software, and all their work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer. Google Docs' sharing features enable users to decide exactly who can access and edit documents.

Google Knol: Google defines Knol as “a free service from Google that allows users to communicate, collaborate, and share their knowledge with the world.  We believe that Knol increases the availability of information, encourages freedom of expression, and makes possible new connections between authors and readers”.

Knol is Google’s platform for sharing articles about specific topics. Each article is referred to as a “knol.” Authors of the knols can take credit for their writing, provide credentials, and elicit peer reviews and comments. Readers can provide feedback, comments, related information.

The original idea behind Knol was that people could collaboratively write definitive articles about any topic they like and get rewarded by earning a share of the AdSense revenues for each page they author.

In Information Literacy Instruction: Google Docs seems that it might be the most useful tool in Information Literacy instruction. Google Docs is all about collaboration and can be used during teaching sessions for class participation and collaboration and so much more. While I had heard of Google Books and Google Docs and learned more about each, this was my first time hearing about Knol. Though it sounds interesting, it seems like it is still very much in the development stage. However, it has the potential to be a useful tool in the sharing of information, which is what Google is all about.