Journal #9

This week I’m exploring Google Docs/ Google Drive, which is a webtool I’ve used many times in the past.  I decided to compare it to Dropbox since I’ve now done a bit of work with both sites.

 

Summary of my experience

To begin, I opened up my Google docs account, which I haven’t used for over a year, and revisited some of the documents to remind myself how to use all of the functions of the site, like how to create, edit, save, and share files.  Then I wanted to see if things had changed since my last use, so I tried to find a “tour” or “FAQ” page.  I didn’t so I went to Google’s main site and searched for this info there.  After some searching, I found Google’s own help page, so I skimmed the features to make sure I am able to use the site to its full potential.

 

What I like

Obviously, it’s pretty convenient to have cloud storage that I can access anywhere.  So I thought about comparing this to Dropbox, which I’ve used much more this semester that I have Google Docs.  I do like the looks of Dropbox better, but a big bonus to Google docs is that (as I found out on the Google help page, here I can add comments to photos and captions to videos, which is something I can’t do on dropbox.  That might not seem like a big deal, but for flipped lessons I find that captions on videos are pretty much essential, and I’ve been looking for an easy way for me and my students to do this without expensive software and without sending the kids into the uncensored world of youtube. (Though I know they go on their own anyway. J )  And not that I need it right now, but I can translate the captions into other languages!

 

Lastly, the file storage limit (5 gigs) is a little better than at Dropbox (I’m up to 2.75 free gigs).  However, that is all I can get without paying for more space. 

 

What I don’t like

What I don’t like is pretty superficial—the way it looks.  As a PC user from way back, I like the look of the folder system that has always been present in some form in My Documents in Windows. Dropbox has mirrored that style as closely as possible (I assume without breaking copyright laws!).  Google is similar, but has a coarser feel in my opinion.  It’s not unworkable, though, and this is just my personal preference. 

 

Lastly, I do wish that the help page was a little bit more accessible or that there was a better “tour” function.

 

Use with students

Students can find google docs extremely helpful as long as they have internet access at both home and school (and most of the time they do) because they can save backups of their own work in case they forget their flash drives or have other accessibility problems.  They can also collaborate with others much easier than if they save multiple versions of the same document.

 

Reflection of literacies

This site helps kids develop many literacies, especially with its multi-media capabilities. Students can combine text, photos, and videos and share them easily with teachers and other students.  It’s relatively secure since users can decide who to share with, rather than making things public as with youtube.  It also promotes collaboration with others, a skill that is in high demand among employers—now more than ever. 

 

Overall, I will probably continue to use Dropbox for my personal files because I like the look and feel of it, but I will suggest that students use Google Drive, especially if they need to work with video.