Google Applications, or Google Apps, is a family of free online tools provided by Google.
It is a continuously growing and changing group of Web applications with similar functionality to traditional office suites, and includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive (in the past known as Google Docs), Google +, Google Groups and more. Many of these applications are available for free to anyone with a personal Gmail account and can be a great help to literacy students developing their Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) competencies.
Google Drive is a free service from Google that allows you to store files from your computer online and access them anywhere. Google Drive also gives you access to free, web-based applications for creating documents, spreadsheets, and more. You can download a Desktop version of Google Drive that will allow you to access and save folders into Google Drive folder on your computer which later will get synchronized with your online account.
It is a continuously growing and changing group of Web applications with similar functionality to traditional office suites, and includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive (in the past known as Google Docs), Google +, Google Groups and more. Many of these applications are available for free to anyone with a personal Gmail account and can be a great help to literacy students developing their Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) competencies.
Google Drive is a free service from Google that allows you to store files from your computer online and access them anywhere. Google Drive also gives you access to free, web-based applications for creating documents, spreadsheets, and more. You can download a Desktop version of Google Drive that will allow you to access and save folders into Google Drive folder on your computer which later will get synchronized with your online account.
RESOURCES
Google Drive Help Center
Google Drive Tutorial on GCFLearnFree.org
Using Google Apps at work or school
Google Drive Help Center
Google Drive Tutorial on GCFLearnFree.org
Using Google Apps at work or school
SEE ME DO IT
Let's explore Google Drive and take a closer look at the navigation and features.
Note that Google is launching a new look/navigation for Google Drive. If you see CREATE you are in older version of Google Drive. If you see NEW, you are in newer version. We will work with the new version. To update your version, go to the cog wheel and switch to new Drive.
https://drive.google.com
Let's explore Google Drive and take a closer look at the navigation and features.
Note that Google is launching a new look/navigation for Google Drive. If you see CREATE you are in older version of Google Drive. If you see NEW, you are in newer version. We will work with the new version. To update your version, go to the cog wheel and switch to new Drive.
https://drive.google.com
NOW YOU TRY - SESSION ACTIVITIES
A. If you are logged into your Google Drive, please sign out for now (go to top right corner and click on SIGN OUT).
ACTIVITY 1. Accessing documents saved on Google Drive by someone else (without being logged in)
- What documents/files can you access without being signed in? Discussion
ACTIVITY 2. Group collaboration - working on a document at the same time (without being logged in)
- While in the folder we opened earlier, look for DLI Collaborating on a Document file.
Click on it (you will be taken into preview mode) and choose Open (located on top of the page).
You can also access it via this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16PDMGq-1pQDRoE0VIllu9XcI-xh3Lfbh2f7oeT8EqTI/edit?usp=sharing - Write your answer to the question right in the document you just opened
- What happens when more than one person is trying to edit the page? Discussion
B. Click on SIGN IN (in the top right corner) to make sure that you are logged into your account now
You should still see the document you were working on earlier.
ACTIVITY 3. Creating a document in Google Drive and sharing it with others
Think about Word documents you create on a regular basis...handouts, reports, notes, etc. - you can create them in Google Drive and share with others giving them a chance to view or edit/update them. Let's create a quick Attendance sheet (or any other type of document you want to try)
- While in the document we worked on in the previous activity, click on the blue box in the top left corner (since the previous document was created in Google Docs, you should be taken back to home page for Google Docs)
- Click on Google logo now to be taken to Google Drive or click on menu and select Drive
- Go to NEW (or CREATE if you didn't update your Google Drive) to start a new document
- Select Google Docs (note that you might need to add that feature through +Connect More Apps)
- Click on Untitled document on top of the page to give the document a name (note that the system will automatically be saving your content as you go, there is no SAVE button)
- Use the tools in the bar above the page to create your content (here is a sample of my Attendance sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17ZQ09KIR-4N7Iw8ko4ZC01fb0UgrtKfWdZZ4PRoZP9A/edit?usp=sharing)
- When done, look for a Share link (usually close to top right corner) to get a link and set permissions for others (you will have various options). Consider sharing your document with me using this email: [email protected] (note that you can give me different rights when sharing the document via email)
ACTIVITY 4: Uploading a file to shared Google Drive folder
- Follow this link: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8IXCUWI2UHxY25MR0Z1MGlHWjA&usp=sharing (DLI folder we have seen before you were logged in)
- Click on Add to Drive and then Open in Drive (top right corner).
- While in the DLI folder click on NEW (or Create) and select File upload
- Choose any file/document/image from your computer and upload it into the folder (it can be a document you created in the previous activity)
- Note that while the file is uploading you can choose/edit your sharing options. Click on Share and change the setting to allow those with a link to view.
- See what others have added to the DLI folder. Discussion.
ACTIVITY 5. Forms - filling out forms, collecting answers and reviewing results
- Go to http://goo.gl/forms/2QNTPbDQGT
- Fill out and submit the form
- Next, go to this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Kt97rGrzE-pmGYE9Ljw73J4LN9kxO6cEXpxkKi4SOBQ/edit#gid=1021162951
- Review the results. Note that they are in Spreadsheet format. It's set up to allow you to view it only but could be changed to allow you to make changes and edits (the owner can make the changes and notes automatically). Google also gives you embed code allowing you to embed the form into any website.
- How can you use forms in your classroom or program? Discussion
ACTIVITY 6. Creating your own Google Forms
- Make sure that you are in Google Drive (tip - often clicking on a box in top left corner takes you to the home page of the application you are within - in this case since we were in Google Forms you are taken to Google Forms home page)
- Click on Google logo again to go to Drive or go to menu and select Drive
- Click on NEW (or Create) and select Google Forms (note that you might need to click on more or even add that app through +Connect More Apps)
- Set up a 3-question survey/form (add name and quick description; you can use the questions below or choose your own questions)
- Question 1: First and last name
- Question 2: Email address
- Question 3: Organization
6. Click on View responses (below the tools on top of the page) to see the input from others. The system creates a separate document in your Drive to collect responses. It usually has the same name as your form and word "Responses" in the brackets.
Note that Google Drive allows you to create various types of documents similar to Office Suite, such as Docs, Spreadsheets or Slides. You can also import and export files in different formats. For example you can import a Word file or export/download a spreadsheet as Excel file.
DESKTOP VERSION OF GOOGLE DRIVE
You can download a Desktop version of Google Drive which will synchronize with the online version.
On your computer it will simply look like a folder where you can go to upload and open files.
Learn more at https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2374989?hl=en
GOOGLE DRIVE MOBILE APP
You can download Google Drive App to your mobile device. Aftern you log in, the App will synchronize with your online account and you will have access to all your files from your device. You can also create documents and add images/videos to your Drive directly in your App.
DISCUSSION
- What do you think about Google Drive after we tried it out?
- How can you use it?
- How can your students use it?