The Benefits of Google Drive in the Classroom

Google Drive Review

Most students and teachers are aware of Google’s email service called Gmail. A lot of teachers and students even have a Gmail account. But somehow the other services provided by Google are overlooked. Google has created an amazing and free service that has unlimited potential for both students and teachers, Google Drive. Google Drive is a free service available to anyone with a Gmail account.

Google Drive is an online set of productivity tools. Productivity tools are application tools used to produce information such as: documents, graphs, worksheets and digital pictures. Google Drive works like an online (and FREE) version of Microsoft Office. On Google Drive you can create and edit documents, spreadsheets, slides and even sites. There are great templates available for calendars, presentations and websites as well as blank word processing, spreadsheets and slide show documents.

Files created on Google Drive can be shared with the public or private groups can be created and information can be shared within the group. Another great feature available with Google Drive is the option to allow collaboration. Documents or other files that are shared can be set to allow editing or comments from the group. Multiple people can view a file at the same time and Google Drive has a chat service that allows contributors to discuss the file.

Google Drive provides each user with 15GB of free cloud storage. If you run out of free storage extra storage can be bought for a fee ranging from $1.99/month for 100 GB to $9.99/month for 1TB.

Google Drive is even available on tablets and smartphones as well as being compatible with both Macs and PC’s. Files saved with Google Drive are also available offline.

Google Drive not only allows you to create and edit files, save files and share files, it also can be used as a document viewer. DOC, PDF, HTML, TXT and many more file types can be opened and viewed in Google Drive. 

Google Drive in the Classroom

As I explained in my short review, Google Drive has a ton of features! Google Drive is very similar to Microsoft Office and it’s even free. Documents, spreadsheets, graphs, calendars, slideshows, websites, etc. can be created, edited and shared online through Google Drive. These features are extremely beneficial for both students and teachers.

Teachers can use Google Drive to create and share directions, assignments, examples, etc.  Slideshow presentations can also be created and used as notes or test prep. Teachers can also create a calendar with assignment due dates and share that document with their class. Since Google Drive allows file-sharing teachers could require students to turn assignments into Google Drive.

Students can use Google Drive as a free word processing, spreadsheet, slideshow/presentation and

website creator and editor. Google Drive is basically a free version of Microsoft Office, so students that do not have or cannot afford Microsoft Office still have great options and templates for making and editing documents. Sometimes computers crash and things don’t save, but with Google Drive files are continuously being saved so work done will not be lost. Group projects are also made easier with Google Drive since files can be shared with groups or other individuals.

Google Drive is an awesome free service that everyone should take advantage of! For more ways to incorporate Google Drive into the classroom check out https://www.google.com/edu/products/productivity-tools/.