Overview: 

Google Drawings is part of Google Drive.  It allows users to collaborate in real-time to create, edit, and share drawings online.  Users can choose who can edit and view their work.  Also, they can chat with others who are editing the drawing.  Users can create shapes, images, word art, objects, and diagrams.  These drawings can be published online as images or downloaded in standard formats and then can be inserted into presentations, documents, and websites.

Video:

Uses:

• Engage students with differentiated learning opportunities
• Create original images, diagrams, charts, prototype drawings, rough layouts
• Incorporate images from outside of Google Drawings
• Easily insert drawing into document, spreadsheets, presentations, interactive whiteboards or other digital media
• Create mind maps and graphic organizers
• Show work on a math problem
• Create timelines, infographics, and logos
• Use as a visual notebook, project planner
• Incorporate text to label a drawing or stylize text to enhance a document
• Collaborate on any creation you have made with multiple users
• Create a flowchart 
• Group photos with text box captions (so the caption stays with the photo even if the photo is moved)
• Create Venn diagrams or word webs 
• Collaborative brainstorming

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Free
• Can align objects (center, etc) 
• Ability to share and collaborate with other Google users
• Many fonts available
• Can overlap and layer objects 
• Can download your finished project in different formats or insert it into another Google App
• Users can connect from a number of different devices and view/edit the drawing in real time
• Data is saved on Google's servers (rather than the users hard drive) 

Cons: 

• Limited features
• Information is saved on Google's servers (concerns about privacy)
• Google Drawings is web-based, so the user must have any internet connection
• Users must have a Google account 

Alternatives:

Apache OpenOffice (Draw): Draw allows users to create graphics and diagrams.  Smart connectors are available for flowcharts and linear dimensions can automatically be displayed when drawing.  Graphs are saved in OpenDocument format.  Draw is a free download.
 
Cacoo: Cacoo is a free, cloud-based program for creating mind maps, flowcharts, wireframes, and much more.  Users can edit a diagram in real-time.  Projects can be embedded or exported to a variety of different formats.
 
Cmap: Cmap allows users to create, edit, and share concept maps using a desktop computer or iPad.  The desktop version allows synchronous editing, while the iPad version does not.
 
Creately: Creately features over 40 types of diagrams as well as thousands of templates.  Creately can be accessed online or offline.  Online users can collaborate in real-time.  Individual use (for up to 5 diagrams) is free, or rights for more users or diagrams can be purchased.
 
draw.io:  Draw.io automatically connects to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, your device, or your browser.  It has a similar look to Google Drawing, is free, and can be added to your Chrome browser through the Google Web Store.
 
Gliffy: Gliffy allows the user to create flow charts, diagrams, organizational charts, Venn diagrams, etc. and share and collaborate with others.  Gliffy is free for basic use, however one can upgrade to a standard plan (for power users) for $3.99/mo or a business plan for $7.99/mo.
 
LibreOffice Draw:  LibreOffice is a free and open office suite similar to Microsoft Office and the Google collection.  With Draw, one can create flowcharts, organizational charts, network diagrams, etc. up to 300 cm².  Draw also has the ability to manipulate images and pictures.
 
Lucidchart: Lucidchart is an online, collaborative diagramming program.  Basic features are available free of charge or users can use more features by subscribing (a monthly fee applies).
 
Microsoft Office Visio: Visio is a diagramming platform that allows users to create general or business diagrams, flowcharts, maps, shapes and schedules (timelines).  Users can purchase Visio Pro for Microsoft 365, or Visio Standard for a one-time fee.
 
MindMeister: MindMeister is a collaborative mind-mapping program.  It is compatible on all devices--desktop, iOS, Android.  A basic version is available free of charge, or packages with more features can be purchased.
 
Mindomo: Mindomo is a mind-mapping program that is compatible on destop, tablet, and mobile phone.  Several mind maps can be created free of charge, or packages with more features can be purchased.
 
OmniGraffle: Omni Graffle is an online graphic designer for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.  It has many features available to do a variety of drawings.  A 14-day trial is free or users can purchase the program for a one-time fee.
 
SmartDraw: Smart draw is a drawing program that allows users to create professional looking charts and diagrams.  There are many templates available, and SmartDraw integrates with Microsoft Office.  Users can purchase SmartDraw for a one-time fee.
 
yEd Graph Editor: yEd is a free downloaded desktop application for creating various types of diagrams.  It is easy to use and users have the ability to import data from an Excel spreadsheet, export graphics in various formats, and have elements of a diagram automatically arranged.  There is also a large variety of diagrams that are supported.

Resources

AlternativeTo. (n.d.). Google Drive - Drawings Alternatives. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from http://alternativeto.net/software/google-drawings/

Babauta, L. (n.d.) Getting Free of Google's Grip: The Top 10 Alternatives [Web log post]. Retrieved June 22, 2015, from http://www.lifehack.org/

articles/technology/getting-free-of-googles-grip-the-10-top-alternatives.html

Bell, K. (2014, October 19). 10 Ways to Use Google Drawing in the Classroom [Web log post]. Retrieved June 23, 2015,

from http://www.shakeuplearning.com/blog/10-ways-to-use-google-drawings-in-the-classroom

Contributer1. (2012, November 26). Google Drawing in the Classroom [Web log post]. Retrieved June 27, 2015, from http://teachersusingtech.com

/2012/03/google-drawing-in-the-classroom/

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. (2014, December 29). 10 Ways to Integrate Google Drawings in Your Teaching [Web log post].

Retrieved June 27, 2015, from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/12/10-ways-to-integrate-google-drawings-in.html

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. (2014, February 27). Tips on How to Use Google Draw in Your Class [Web log post]. Retrieved June

           22, 2015, from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/tips-on-how-to-use-google-draw-in-your.html

Google (n.d.). Google Docs Editors Help Center. Retrieved July 7, 2015 from https://support.google.com/docs?hl=en&authuser=0#topic=1360903 

Google for Education. (n.d). Google Drawings: Introduction. Retrieved June 23, 2015, from https://www.google.com/edu/training/get-trained/

drawings/introduction.html

Oxnevad, S. (2012, December 14). 5 Ways to Use Google Docs in the Classroom [Web log post]. Retrieved June 27, 2015, from http://gettingsmart.

com/2012/12/5-ways-to-use-google-docs-in-the-classroom/