Have You Used Google Drive Lately?

Although I have been recommending Google Docs/Drive for a long time, I sometimes forget that some people are not aware of some of the possibilities of Google Drive.  Not only can you create and store documents in the “cloud”, you can also share documents and collaborate with others.  I’ve said that before, but after having my Google senses stimulated at last week’s technology conference, I’ve decided to share a demonstration file with you.  I have created a “shared” document that can be accessed by anyone (even without a gmail account) by going to the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AHBMddT-yul2jySO22bYjAxYV9VA-zT9VwvEKdqYeeI/edit?usp=sharing

or I can shorten that link by going to Google's URL-shortening website, http://goo.gl  and pasting in the longer link to create the shorter link here: http://goo.gl/osC9e9

Goo.gl will also create a QR code for that site, which you can access by scanning with any QR code scanner on your iPad:

Once you reach the site, anyone can edit it for all to see.  You can even see people typing on the page in real time.  Please give it a try and let me know who gets there by typing your name on the page.

There are some obvious problems with this method: Students can edit or delete other’s comments and everything is anonymous when done this way.  However, if we get school-wide gmail (which is a possibility) you could share your documents to student-specific gmail accounts and they would have to login to edit.  But even anonymously, you might find this useful in a computer lab situation where you can monitor students as they work.  For students you might find it useful to create a shared spreadsheet with labelled rows or columns to keep students from overwriting other’s data.

Another option (that works better with the iPads) to have students input and see each other’s work is to create a Google Form (like this survey on texting that I sent last year, http://goo.gl/woRPn3 ).  Then you can “share” the resulting spreadsheet in the “view only” mode so that students can see, but can’t change other’s information.

You can see (but not edit) the results of the “texting” survey I conducted last year by clicking this shared link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ask4aQhNXxIEdDJ4SDZHZ1E4OUNYcWFmNFgxbTE3SlE&usp=sharing

I created the Form.  You submitted the info.  Google compiled it into the spreadsheet.

Are you still asking for information on paper and then typing it into the computer?  That’s so “Old School” !!!

“Google it”, doesn’t just mean “search for it” any more!!!