- You need a Google Account ("@gmail.com" or "@yourschool.edu" email address). If your school has set up emails for you and your students through Google, then you're in luck. You already have access to one of the most powerful resources on the web. If you don't have a Google Account, this may be an issue since most schools block non-school related email hosting websites. Talk to your principal and see what he/she may be able to do for you. Your principal could get your entire class set up with Google Drive.
- If you already have a Google Account, you already have access to Google Drive. Simply log into your email, and in the upper right hand corner of the screen (by your email address), click on the grid boxes. From there you will want to click on the triangle that is labeled "Drive" (see photo below).
- That's it! It's that simple! If you wish to make documents available offline to your computer, you can even install the Google Drive app (it's completely free!) and it syncs every time you are connected to the web. To download this app, follow the instructions via this video. This step is only recommended for teachers (for their home computers, mind you) because it is a great way to work on documents at home and at school without having to transfer data to a USB drive or bringing home a school issued laptop.
To start using Google Drive, you will need to access the different types of documents that can be created through Google Drive. The photo below shows what you see on the left hand side of your screen. Click create, then select the type of document you wish to create. Drive can create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forums (questionnaires/surveys), and drawings (folders can be created to, but they are more-so organizations tools for your use of sorting through your documents). Google Drive is set up a lot like Microsoft Office or Open Office, so if you are familiar with either using Google Drive will be a breeze. (You can also upload files by clicking the button on the right of the "Create" button)
Perhaps the greatest use of Google Drive is its ability to collaborate with other users, in real time. Sharing your documents with other users is really simple. If you're wanting to share a variety of documents, from your Google Drive homepage, all you have to do is click the check box by the documents you want to share, click on the "share" button, and then add the email recipients of whom you wish to share your file with. You can also do the same for sharing a single file. For in the classroom, teachers can easily assign a class project on a topic and each student could be assigned to work on a portion of the assignment within the document. The teacher would be able to see how the document has been edited and by whom.
Overall, the educational application of Google Drive has huge potential for the teacher and students. Play around with the program and be creative! Your students could go paperless with writing assignments through the use of Google Drive. The opportunities are endless, so get out there and discover them for yourself! You'll be glad that you did.
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