Google Docs and the online/oncampus student

Any time the situation invloves any type of collaborative document creation, team-project etc. I always suggest Google Docs. Even most recently in my Information Visualization class, when I needed to collaborate with another student, I suggest that we both use Google Docs. Lucky for me this student had taken Social-Software with Steve last semester so he had an account. Work was seamless, easy and we got it turned in on time. I have used it for countless other SCILS classes including Metadata and Interface Design. Google Docs is my go-to, get-it-done, online-in-a-cloud favorite app. 

However, in most of these instances the professors had not even thought to work in this way. As a matter of fact most people don't think of working this way, and it's mainly cause they don't know that they can. Once they get going though, it really catches on and they start using it for all kinds of things personal and educational. I think reluctance to use the tool, would only be out of lack-of-knowledge of the tool. I really think that if they know it exists and know what the application is capable and they are open to using online tools for collaboration its a "no-contest" and they generally accept its use. 

As far as efficiency and collaboration its the best tool for the job. Documents are edited in real-time allowing all users to zoom in and out, making changes, adding content all without emailing one single document back and forth. Its one less thing to worry about for project collaboration. No more questions like "is this the most recent version?", "is this the one she/he just emailed me?". Google Docs makes it quick, easy and painless to collaborate on any project.