Google Drive: New Home for Google Docs

Is the change from Google Docs to Google Drive a tish confusing?  You're not alone.  I've actually been using Google Drive since last spring but had no idea what it really was, why it was better, or how this tool would make my job easier.  This post is dedicated to all of you returning GFPS teachers who are just getting around to opening your Google Apps accounts after a slight summer absence.  May this help you be less confused than I was!

1st:   ALL this information came from the one stop link at google.com.

2nd: Watch the following one minute video to get an overall sense of what Google Drive can do.


3rd: Click on the Features tab of the above mentioned site to learn more specifically how this can help your digital learners and YOU create and collaborate, get files faster with a powerful more advanced search, add apps to your drive, share files and folders, and access your docs OFFLINE.

4th:  Get started.  Click here to download Google Drive to your computer.  Yes, your computer.  Google Apps IS web based but it is also now a drive that is downloaded to the applications folder of your computer.  This means that when you create docs on the web, it will save also save them to the Google Drive on your computer, so you no longer NEED internet to access your google doc contents.  You can also download Google Drive to your phone or tablet and access your docs on your devices.  No longer do you need to upload into the web based docs. After you download and install the drive, an icon will appear on your computer menubar- similar to that of dropbox and evernote.  It reminds me of a recycling sign.

5th:   To access your google docs offline, click on the Google Drive icon then choose Open Google Drive Folder.

Your Google Drive will open with a check mark by all your synced documents.  Your docs are automatically synced whenever you are online- that means there's no need to remember to click a sync button. Folders or documents that are shared with you will NOT automatically sync to your drive.  More information about that is described below.  You are given 5GB free. You can purchase more here.

6th:  Your drive is installed, now what?  Watch the video to see what has remained the same and what has changed in Google Docs. Need to know more? Click here.



7th: Click here to learn how to start creating docs. Click here to watch a how to video.

8th:  Get ORGANIZED! Click on the information beside the bullets to learn more

• Organize your files 
• Real Time Collaboration
• Docs that are Shared with Me
• Share your files
• Share your docs exactly how you want to using the Sharing Settings
• Share folders
• Add or remove something from a folder
• Restore something from the trash
• Sort files in your drive
• Access (not edit) your files offline

9th: Do a Google search for all your files.  Click here to learn how to search for content by keyword and filter by file type, owner and more.  Google Drive can even recognize objects in your images and text in scanned documents.

10th:  Click here to learn how you can install Google Drive Apps
Visit the Chrome Web Store and install WeVideo.  WeVideo is a collaborative video editor (similar to iMovie).  Now creating, sharing, and collaborating on videos is a click away!