5 Reasons Google Drive is Great!

I learned about Google Drive in 2008 when my college advisor and I started our Collegiate DECA chapter.  At first, I was irritated...why did I have to create something 'in the cloud' when email worked just fine?  The more he had us use it as an officer team, the more I fell in love.  Fast forward a couple years and it's one of my favorite Google tools.

Here are some of my favorite things!

• Accessibility
  Google has, in my opinion, done a great job of making Google Drive and its file types accessible to many people on different platforms.  We are a 1:1 iPad district that uses PC computers...this presents many problems when students do work on iPads and forget to convert to PDF or Word when submitting them.  With Google Drive, I don't have to worry about that type of thing!  Students (and teachers) can also share documents and collaborate!
   
• Apps
  The apps for Apple, Android, and Windows are great, too!  I have been on a field trip with my iPad and I needed to jot down a few notes.  I was able to do it offline and then the document uploaded to my Drive when I was able to get Internet connection.  One thing I wish they would update, is that you need an individual app for everything - a Docs app, a Sheets app, etc. 
   
• Organization  
  I love the ability to create folders and organize my documents.  When I look at a student drive on our desktops, I typically twitch because they haven't exactly mastered the concept of file organization - they are getting there...less files named alskjfi...but there is still room for improvement!  With Google Drive, you can create tons of files and change the file color - I think it makes organization much prettier.

• History & Customization
  Another nice feature is the ability to see a change history - similar to the revision history in the documents, you can see things that have happened over time. You can also adjust general settings and manage applications for your own Google Drive from the settings tab.  These features are great for the basic Google Drive user, as well as someone who wants a little more control.

 

However, my absolute favorite thing about Google Drive is...

• FREENESS!
  All of it is free!  I have never paid a dime for my Google Drive account...now I'm sure if I need to increase storage (I have 17GB) at some point, I will have to shell out some dimes, but not right now!  I work in a district that is 75% low income.  While students have access to Microsoft One Drive, they will lose it once they graduate.  With Google Drive, students will have it until they close their account.  I encourage my students to create Google accounts so they can save the things they are proud of - like a resume - and be able to access it anywhere. 

Here are some more great features of Google Drive.  What are your favorite Google Drive features?