In this brief video I demonstrate how to create custom tables in Google Docs. The video includes a demonstration of setting default column and row sizes, setting custom color schemes, and setting custom cell padding in your tables in Google Docs.
Applications for Education
One of the ways that I've used tables in Google Docs is to provide students with some structure when they are writing notes in the same document. Some students need a little guidance so that they don't write over each other in a shared notes document. By giving students a table that is color-coded for their names, they know exactly where they should be writing their notes in the document.