3.2 Google Drive

Google Drive Links to an external site. is a service that offers a variety of features. One of the features is that it works as a cloud-based file storage service, similar to other services such as Dropbox, Skydrive, and Box.com. The other feature of Google Drive is access to their suite of apps, which is similar to Microsoft Office. Google Drive allows to you to create documents (similar to Word), slideshows (similar to PowerPoint), spreadsheets (similar to Excel), forms (surveys/questionnaires), plus a variety of other files. 

The biggest draw for me in using Google Drive is the ability to easily collaborate on files. You can even work together with many other at the same time--if you're collaborating on a document it will update right before your eyes as your colleagues make additions or changes. It is a really neat experience the first time you see it! You can also easily share your document with a small group or with the entire world with just a few clicks on a mouse. The advantage to this is that every time you update the file, the published version updates, as well. 

Using Google Drive with your students in your classroom has a lot of advantages. Here are just a few of them:

• Students cannot forget their work at home or not have the right version of the file ("it's on my group member's computer")
• Students can work in a group without having to get together physically
• Students can share their files with you when they're created and you can view the progression of their work

Competitors are beginning to catch up to Google Drive, but Google is not waiting to be overtaken as they are constantly adding new features and apps.

Below are a series of tutorial videos from AnsonAlex.com that provides training on using Google Drive. If you're new to Google Drive, watch the Quick Start video and then choose the remaining videos in the playlist (upper left corner of the YouTube video) that fit your interests in using Google Drive. Note that the interface of Google Drive updates often, but the core functionality remains the same.

Google Drive Tutorial Series 2014  

Google Drive logo is a trademark of Google. Use of this logo is not authorized by, sponsored by, or associated with Google.

Reading 

10 Things Every Teacher Should be able to do On Google Docs Links to an external site. (Blog post)