Google Account vs Open Office Account

      Open Office is a free download that anyone can access to install on their computer.  It has several applications that a person can use when processing information.  Users of open office can create word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more.  It works with any operating system and is very easy to use and does not require any licensing for its users.  This program is available in my own board, and I've been using it with my students for years now, to create documents, presentations, and pictures.  Students can then save their work to their userdata, which they can later access on another computer, and even from their own home through the myhdsb.ca website (which I posted about in 3.1 of this module).  Since the program is so easy to use, I find that students can usually just explore the features of it, without too much direction and instruction necessary on my part.

     When creating a google account, users gain access to numerous applications and programs for multiple tasks and uses.  Google has gone beyond its original programming of a search engine, and has expanded into numerous applications.  Google now provides email accounts for its users, a translation device, maps, photo editing software, news feeds, google + to share ideas and follow circles, links to blogger and youtube, and even its own web browser, google chrome.

      One of the key applications now provided by google, is the google drive application.  Google drive is very similar to open office, in that it allows its users to create a variety of items, including word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.  While the two offer very easy to use programs, the one feature that sets apart google drive from open office is the sharing feature.  A user can share any document he or she wishes with another google drive user, and even give that user editing privileges to alter or change the document.  This can come in very handy if students are working on a group project, and need to collaborate on a paper.  Google drive allows them to do this from the comfort of their own homes.  They can create the document or presentation together, and comment on it while the work is being done.

      I believe a google account has many more advantages over open office.  While both are easy to use and have the same processing applications for creating documents, it's the sharing feature of google drive that sets it apart from open office.  The one draw back I find with having a google account for students, is some more monitoring may be required, so students aren't misusing the applications.  However, the upside to having a google account is much more advantageous for its users.