Review of The Contribution of Google Docs in Teaching

Keywords: systematic review, Google docs, writing skill. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
Writing is one of communicative skill that used to be communicate. Mostly people 
learn to communicate using writing. In the academic context, it is used to measure the 
proficiency of students in writing such as academic essay or writing texts. Practically, there 
are difficulties faced by students in learning writing. Factually, writing practice is hard to do 
for students because they have to consider many aspects of writing text, such as vocabulary, 
grammar, build the idea, compose the word, and low interest in writing. In this case, the 
teacher need new way or media to teach students.
However, the students face difficulties in writing, it can be happened since the 
teacher use traditional way in teaching writing. In this case, the teacher need new way or 
media to teach students. The media should be appropriate with the students and the condition 
of the school. Based on the journals, the media that appropriate with the students is google 
docs, because it appropriate with the students in the big city in middle east. Moreover, the 
circumstance is EFL students in the university which is need media to help them in writing.
Therefore, google docs have special feature that make it a powerful media which can 
facilitate writing activity in the classroom and useful in group project in general. Chinnery 
(2008) states that google docs is productive tool where learning activities differently and 

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JELTE: Journal of English Language Teaching and Education

Vol.2 No.1 2021 
 
 
 
 
E-ISSN: ISSN: 2746-5012 
creatively. It means that users can develop their ability to customize the layout and even add 
some pictures to make it attractive writing activity. Specifically, based on the finding source 
of data conducted by Seyyedrezaie et al (2016:98) chatting option is helpful feature for 
giving feedback on their essay, and the students can ask some clarification questions in order 
to revise their essay. Thus, the students do not have to wait for the class to discuss their 
problem with the teacher. 
Moreover, Google Docs is able to share photos and videos out of the class. Among 
the updated online programs, google docs appears to be a better tool “especially for those 
to whom collaboration is of vital importance” (Gralla, 2010). In other words, google docs is 
able to work collaboratively to enhance learning process, and also online learning process. 
In addition, many students are found to have the capability to use technology, as well as the 
access to do so at home, and many of those utilize it for educational purposes (Erlich, Sporte, 
Sebring, & the Consortium on Chicago Schools, 2013; cited in Francis 2017). 
By doing so, the researcher used systematic review as a method to get the 
information of data and analyze the influence of google in teaching and learning writing 
particularly to University students. On the other hand, this research help the researcher who 
could not implement google docs in the classroom but wanted to know whether google docs 
is effective or not. Moreover, to know the strength and weakness of the media which the 
researcher will have the understanding about the media that used in teaching and learning 
writing. Furthermore, this study supported the teachers for treating the students in the writing 
activity by using google docs. Thus, by using systematic review the researcher know that the 
results of implemented google docs in teaching writing skill, such as the fifth journals have 
same problem in learning writing skill, the students faced the same problem while they used 
google docs in learning writing skill, and the way teachers treated students have similarities.
Furthermore, the important of this research to be reference for next researcher, 
teacher, and others educator. They could read this research before they implement google 
docs to the students. Based on the finding of the journals, google docs is effective for students 
with the criteria such as, university students, EFL students, middle east students, intervention 
in peer and group, and it appropriate for students in the city that connect to internet.
  
In addition, the collaboration between writing and google docs is able to give good 
impact for students. Based on previous study, Google docs is suitable cause facilitate the 
students which most of previous study also successfully utilized google docs in writing for 
the students. The previous study concern on positive attitudes, positive perspective, 

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