Hello Everyone out there in cyberspace!  I've got some exciting things to tell you this week.  This week we discussed Google Drive (formerly Google Docs).  I was very excited to learn how to use this tech because I've had soooo many colleagues try to get me to use it.  Today we are going to discuss some of the features of the drive as well as features of the apps themselves.

First things first; if you are anything like me you've created like twelve different gmail accounts; you've got two for the play store, and two for work, and my two for personal use.  You need to pick one!  Once you figure out the google drive in one you can decide how you'll separate everything out.  Here is a vid that will introduce you to the world of google drive, its a little long but it does the job.

 

Ok, now that you are all excited about the storage capabilities and what types of documents are available let me tell you some positives and negatives about three of the types of documents. 

 

Google Docs... This word processor works much like Microsoft Word.  You can change the font sizes, styles, and colors.  You can also change formatting of the paper.  Although, this can get a little sticky.  I wasn't able to figure out how to format the indentations exactly the way I wanted them.  In Word you can double indent something and it'll automatically do what you want; this processor isn't so get with the automatic stuff. 

 

There is a huge benefit to using the Google document though, research.  This is the best tool I've seen for writing a research paper.  You can format your paper and do research all at the same time!  In the tools section in the menu bar there is an option called research.  It'll pull up a sidebar that connects you to, wait for it... Google of course.  Not only can you browse while you are writing, but you can add citations (footnotes) for any source (including picture sources) that you want to use.  As I was finishing writing the paper I was writing I needed to put together a work cited page and guess what... there is an add on for that too.  You will have to search Easybib under the add on menu but it's great.  You can also choose the format you want to use (MLA, or APA).  I will be getting my students to use this with every research paper they write.  Here is another video that will help you with research.

 

 

Besides the awesomeness that is the word processor, the Google Drive also has a Microsoft like Power Point, as well as Excel.

 

The google slide generator is good but has limited capabilities.  This would be an easy way for you to share and work with a group to create a simple presentation.  Again, if you are used to the multitude of capabilities that Microsoft gives then you may be a little let down but it'll get the job done.

 

Last but not least, goolge sheets functions very similarly to Excel.  With this program you have access to most of the same features as Microsoft, like formulas, multiple sheets, and chart making.  Another great plus to this program is that you can work with a group and edit the same document.  You, the owner, can even protect certain cells from other's tampering.  As a teacher you could for example assign students to create graphs using certain data.  If you protect the data then they can use it and manipulate it but not destroy the beginning material.

 

One more great thing about google drive that I have to share is the forms option.  You can create surveys, and quizzes with different question types so easily.  Another awesome feature of the forms app is that you can have the data converted straight into a spreadsheet.  As educators we are pushed and pushed to "USE THE DATA,"  this gives us a way to easily do that.

 

I know I'm a bit wordy today but I have one last bit of awesomeness to share with you, tinyurl.com.  This is a website that allows you to change those massive urls that we use into smaller, more manageable urls.  In my classroom, it seems like every time I use the laptops students have the biggest issue just typing in the address.  Not only can you make it smaller (and more easily typed), but you can also customize the address.  You can request that the address be something significant to your students' purpose on the site.

 

I hope that you are as jazzed about Google Drive and tinyurls as I am!

 

Happy Hunting and I'll see you next week!