Cloud+Applications

= Cloud Applications = Edited by Natalie Ward and Rachel Wetzel

Cloud file-sharing applications are becoming an increasingly popular and useful tool among educators. This page explores two of the more common apps and comments on their usefulness in the classroom.


 * //"A key to preparing K12 students for success// //in the 21st century is to provide them with the skills and aptitudes that will enable them to be digital producers and collaborators in higher education and in the workplace."// (Petersen, 2013). **

toc = Dropbox = Author: Rachel Wetzel

**What is Dropbox?**
Dropbox is a cloud app that allows you to access documents, photos, videos and files from anywhere. For free, users can create and save 2GBs worth of data. Additionally, every Dropbox user you refer earns you an extra 500MBs of free storage (Dropbox Pricing). You can install the app on all your devices, for quick access from your laptop, tablet, or phone, and you can also access your dropbox via the website, so you can truly get to your files from any internet connected device (//Dropbox Tour//).

Not only does dropbox allow the file creator easy remote access, it also allows simple sharing to any member upon the creator's invitation. The owner of a dropbox can invite any number of other people to a folder in their dropbox, and "it'll be as if you saved that folder straight to their computer" (//Dropbox Tour//). Additionally, if you don't want to share access to an entire folder, you can simply provide students or coworkers with a link to any specific file in your dropbox as well (//Dropbox Tour//).

**How Does it Work?**
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**Classroom Application**
For educators, this can be a very valuable tool. Handouts and paper waste can be drastically lessened by simply inviting students to your dropbox folders, as long as your students have internet access. In a setting with one-to-one technology, this type of file sharing technology can have real and immediate time-saving and efficiency benefits.

Even if your students do not have individual access to tablets or laptops in every class, using dropbox to introduce them to the concept of cloud-based file sharing could be beneficial for their futures in college and the workplace. It is a very simple tool, and students can get to shared files from any internet-connected computer, so they could visit a library or school lab to access teachers' or classmates' folders.

Additionally, Dropbox can preserve your files and keep them safe in the event of an accident or a device malfunctioning (//Dropbox T// //our//). For teachers this is an invaluable technology. If an assignment is begun in during class and uploaded to Dropbox, teachers can cut down on the "my computer crashed" variety of excuses, because students will always have a backup of their Dropbox-stored work.

= Google Drive = Author: Rachel Wetzel

What is Google Drive?
Google Drive, formerly known as Google Docs, is another common cloud-based file sharing tool. Like Dropbox, Google Drive allows users to access anything they upload to their Drive from anywhere on any device. In contrast to Dropbox, Google Drive allows for 15GBs of free storage up front and users of Google Drive can create and collaborate on files within Google Drive itself through the Docs, Sheets and Slides apps (//Google Drive//).

Similarly to Dropbox, Google Drive provides users with some peace-of-mind should anything befall their computers or other devices (//Google Drive//). Everything you create in drive is automatically saved and always accessible. Additionally, it is completely private automatically, accessible only with your personal Google ID and password, unless you set your files to be shared (//Google Drive//).

How Does it Work?
Google Drive is accessible through your Google account at drive.google.com. Creating new documents, spreadsheets and slide shows in Google Drive is intuitive and simple through the Docs, Sheets and Slides apps. Sharing those creations is not difficult, but not automatic. You can set your files on Google Drive to remain private, be shared with certain other Google Users you add, or to be publicly available on the web (//How to Share//). Simply click the check box next to the file you wish to share, then click the Share icon and set your visibility options (//How to Share//). Google Drive even allows for real-time collaborative editing and chatting between those with whom your files are shared (//Chat//).

Classroom Application
Google Drive in the classroom is not only useful in all the same ways as Dropbox, outlined above, but even more so. Because students using Google Drive can actively collaborate in real time on the same documents, this is a valuable tool for group work, especially when students may not be physically present together. In the upper grades students traveling for athletics, for example, will still be able to watch classwork unfold and participate as it happens even when they are away from the school building.

Additionally, free Google subdomains are available to educational institutions, offering easy access to Google Drive and it's suite of Apps (Petersen, 2013). While Google Drive use in K-12 schools is rising, many colleges and universities have already adopted Google cloud products (Petersen, 2013). The more we as educators can build students' skills with this and other Cloud Computing tools, the more prepared they will be for their future colleges and careers.

** Google Groups **
Google Groups is an application which allows you to customize chats with people you know and have a common interest with. With this application, you can choose your own font and color of text. You can even post images to the chat. With this tool, you can also organize your discussion groups into different subjects and favorites.
 * Edited by Natalie Ward **
 * What is Google Groups? **

How Does it Work?
Google Groups is a free application that you can use on your cell phone, computer, and iPad. You can customize your page to fit how you like with colors, fonts, and organization. You can choose to have your discussion groups be private, along with all your information. With Google Groups you have the option to create and host your own discussion group and to organize your groups how you like.

Classroom Application
Google Groups was designed with school in mind! It is the perfect tool for communication between home, school, teachers, students, and parents. Google Groups are great for group projects, sharing information, and communicating with teachers and parents. A teacher could set up his or her google groups so that they have one group discussion going with their science class, a different discussion with their math class, and a discussion group with students parents, and maybe one with other faculty members.

= Google Docs = Edited by: Natalie Ward

What is Google Docs?
Google docs is an online word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation editor. This application allows you to share and communicate with other students and teachers safely over the internet.

Classroom Application
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYPjJK6LZdM = Resources =

//Chat and Real-Time Collaboration//. Retrieved from https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494891?hl=en&ref_topic=2525251.

//Dropbox Pricing//. Retrieved from https://www.dropbox.com/pricing.

//Google Drive//. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/drive/about.html.

//How to Share//. Retrieved from https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494822?hl=en&ref_topic=2525251.

//How to use Dropbox//. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RP3raeXLnc.

Petersen, J. (April 29, 2013). An //Introduction and Overview to Google Apps in K12 Education: A Web-based Instructional Module.// Retrieved from http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/27150/13106sTCCpaper_2013_jpetersen%20copy.pdf?sequence=1.

//The Dropbox Tour//. Retrieved from https://www.dropbox.com/tour/0.

//Google in Education//. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/edu/resources/google-groups.html.