Google Drive Ne’er Fear The Cloud
https://drive.google.com/
Matt Cornock Department of Social Policy and Social Work
Files vs Google Docs: Files
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Files (Word, PPT, PDF) need downloading before editing and re-uploading after editing. Use Google Drive sync on your PC or Mac to do it automatically.
Files vs Google Docs: Google Docs
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Google Docs exist ‘in the cloud’ and are edited in a web browser.
Reasons: Archive space
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It’s easier to put frequently used files on a network drive. Google Drive is suited for archives, sharing and collaboration.
Reasons: It’s not email
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Email attachments can lead to bad version control. Google Drive can be used to host normal files too (Word, PPT, PDF).
Reasons: Collaboration
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Collaborating on a single copy of a Google Doc can take place simultaneously.
Reasons: Commenting
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Share a Google Doc for commenting and feedback is collated in a single place.
Reasons: Templating
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Tutor shares a template, template copied by students in Google Docs, students share to friends, to tutor or to the world.
Reasons: Colleague independency
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Sharing essential documents provides access to the definitive version even when the keeper is otherwise indisposed.
Reasons: Multiple devices
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Access through any web browser and Google Drive apps for many devices.
Reasons: Searchability
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Super-speedy searching within Google Docs, PDFs, Word docs and PowerPoints. Makes archiving journal articles a doddle.