Category Archives: Storage

Google Slides

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Google Slides

GSlides-logo

ABOUT:

Google Slides (formerly Google Presentation) is an Internet presentation generating software that works similarly to Microsoft PowerPoint. You can create presentation slides, or embed  any kind of media just like you would in any PowerPoint presentation. But Google Slides also does so much more. Not only can you work alone inside the presentation slides, you can work at the same time as other people. Google Slides allows more than one person to type in a presentation at once. It also allows easy sharing and embedding in external documents. And there are comment bubbles and an instant messaging feature so that you can receive and provide feedback from other users. Google Slides is excellent for group work and collaborative presenting.

Supported

Mac, PC, Google Chromebook, Mobile

Pros

  • Google Slides is on the cloud, so you can never accidentally erase it forever if your computer crashes.
  • It is sharable instantaneously and all you need is an internet connection.
  • I makes group work a lot more convenient because you can create slideshow presentations with someone else without being in the same room.

Cons

  • Under the ‘anyone can edit’ feature, it is easy to lose track of who has generated which section.
  • It is sometimes difficult to find presentations that someone has shared with you.

EXAMPLES:

https://youtu.be/RdKuNrGapco?t=53s

Uses:

You can use Google Slides for versatile presentations, and more. You can embed a slideshow into a website and convert it to a Prezi. Or you can use it to collaborate with a group on a presentation. It is great for peer review, or even for just creating a slideshow you want to share easily.

Google Sheets

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Google Sheets

google-spreadshets-logo

ABOUT:

Google Sheets (formerly Google Spreadsheets) is an Internet spreadsheet generating software that works similarly to Microsoft Excel. You can record data, or generate  any kind of report just like you would in any spreadsheet. But Google Sheets also does so much more. Not only can you work alone inside the spreadsheet, you can work at the same time as other people. Google Sheets allows more than one person to type in a spreadsheet at once. It also allows easy sharing and embedding in external documents. And there are comment bubbles and an instant messaging feature so that you can receive and provide feedback from other users. Google Sheets is excellent for group work.

Supported

Mac, PC, Google Chromebook, Mobile

Pros

  • Google Sheets is on the cloud, so you can never accidentally erase it forever if your computer crashes.
  • It is sharable instantaneously and all you need is an internet connection.
  • I makes group work a lot more convenient because you can create data with someone else without being in the same room.

Cons

  • Under the ‘anyone can edit’ feature, it is easy to lose track of who has generated which section.
  • It is sometimes difficult to find spreadsheets that someone has shared with you.

EXAMPLES:

Uses:

You can use Google Sheets for almost anything you can imagine. You can embed a spreadsheet into a website and use it as a presentation, or you can use it to collaborate with a group on a lab report or data set. It is great for peer review, or even for just creating a data table you want to share easily. Finally, you need to be able to program data into a spreadsheet to make a map, so Sheets is part of Google Maps creation too.

Crocodoc

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Crocodoc

taken from www.glogster.com

ABOUT:

Crocodoc is an Internet writing software that allows you to write alone, or collaboratively. You can work on a variety of projects, from essays to multimedia projects with videos, images, and other items embedded right inside. Because Crocodoc allows more than one person to type in a document all at once, it is a great meeting space for when your group can’t meet face-to-face. It also allows comment bubbles that you can create and respond to and allows all users with access to move and change the format. Unlike Google Documents, you do have to download Crocodoc onto your computer, but once it’s there, it works very similarly.

Supported

PC, Mac

Pros

  • allows for collaborative work with tons of features so you can share, peer edit, and build together
  • stores your documents for you so you don’t need a thumb drive

Cons

  • you have to download this, so you can’t use it on a school or borrowed computer
  • at this moment, it is not all that widely used. Others may convince you to use Google Docs because of the above con.

EXAMPLES

Because of the live-sharing feature of Crocodoc, there are no student examples. Instead click below to see Crocodoc in action:

Crocodoc3

 

 

Uses

You can use Crocodoc for almost anything you can image. You can embed a document into a website and use it as a presentation, or you can use it to collaborate with a group on a paper. It is great for peer review, or even for just writing stories you want to share easily.

Dropbox

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Dropbox

taken from http://cdn1.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/04/Photos-Dropbox.jpg

ABOUT:

Dropbox is an open-source storage and sharing tool that exists both on your computer, and on the cloud. It’s as simple as downloading the application on your computer and saving all your files into the Dropbox folder. After that, all your files are backed up on the cloud, and you don’t even need a thumb drive anymore to access your files on any other computer with an internet connection.

Supported

PC, Mac, Mobile

Pros

  • Even if your computer crashes, your files are safe on the cloud and cannot be deleted unless you delete them on purpose.
  • You can share dropbox folders and files with other people, which means you don’t have to try and send huge files through email.
  • Dropbox is open source, which means it’s made for regular people, by regular people, and it doesn’t advertise to you like a social media would.

Cons

  • Dropbox comes with 1.5 Gigs initially, and while you can increase that by inviting your friends and family, you have to pay for a lot of storage space.
  • You MUST be wary of what you save to the cloud, just in case someone hacks into the Dropbox system. Do not keep social security numbers, passwords, taxes, or anything else that could compromise your personal safety.

EXAMPLES

Below is a video of how Dropbox works. A student example cannot be included because dropbox is someone’s personal file system.

Uses

You can use this to share large files. Some of your professors may even ask you to share files through Dropbox, though it will be more likely that this will happen with other students. Further, Dropbox could save your academic life: if your computer crashes (and it will at some point), your files are safe in the cloud.

Etherpad

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Etherpad

taken from http://ejohn.org/files/etherpad.png

ABOUT:

Etherpad is an open-source internet writing software which allows you to write in a document alone, or with someone else in real time. You can customize your own Etherpad to suit your needs, or you can use one someone else has set up. You can use plugins to expand your customized Etherpad, if you choose. Because of the availability of plugins, you can install a real-time chat box, or a draw(art) feature, and so on.

Supported

PC, Mac

Pros

  • Allows real-time collaboration so you don’t have to travel to meet someone to work on a paper.
  • Open-source, which means it’s not owned by a big corporation who is trying to sell you everything and harvest your data.
  • Saves your paper on the cloud, so that even if your computer crashes, it still exists on the internet.

Cons

  • If you don’t own your own computer, you can’t customize or download Etherpad.
  • It may be tricky for new users to know how they might want to customize Etherpad.

EXAMPLES

Below is a tutorial video for Etherpad. I have placed a tutorial here, rather than a student example because of the fluid nature of Internet writing software.

Uses

You could use Etherpad for group work of all kinds, for all classes that ask you to write anything. You can also use it to brainstorm any other kind of project, draw up an outline, or a plan.

Evernote

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Evernote

taken from http://img.creativemark.co.uk/uploads/images/172/10172/largeImg.jpg

ABOUT:

Evernote is a unique application that allows the user collect, store, sort, and create notes for personal use. It is capable of syncing across all devices so you can manage content easily and constantly. Evernote allows hyper organizers a place to store just about anything. If you have a lot going on in life – a heavy course load, that internship, a full-time job, children, a social life – Evernote can help you keep it all organized in one place. Because you need to download Evernote, you must own your own devices to use it, but once you’ve learned the features, uploaded your stuff, and kept it up to date,  you might not lose anything ever again.

Supported

PC, Mac, tablet, mobile

Pros

  • Syncs instantly across all devices
  • Works excellently for the highly organized person
  • Since Evernote is on the cloud, you won’t lose any of the information if your computer crashes.

Cons

  • Evernote has a LOT of features, so it has a bit of a learning curve. You will want to watch tutorials, or sign up for a course on it through your department.
  • If you are not organized, you may lose track of items in Evernote, forget to update, or just clutter your life further
  • MUST be downloaded onto devices. If you do not own a computer, you cannot use Evernote.

EXAMPLES

Because an Evernote account is a mostly private affair, there are no student examples. Instead, watch the short video below to see a couple of the features:

Uses

Evernote could be used in a variety of ways, though most of them would be for personal organization and as a study aid. You can keep your notes in Evernote, or keep track of presentations, and other materials from your courses. Evernote contains a potential wealth of ideas. If you need to come up with an idea for a paper, check your Evernote entries and see what you’ve been collecting. It can help you keep track of the clippings, notes, recipes – all the things that interest you – which can help you come up with project/paper ideas you really care about.

Google Documents

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Google Documents

taken from libguides.library.kent.edu

ABOUT:

Google Documents is an Internet writing software that works similarly to Microsoft Word. You can write an essay, or any kind of report just like you would in any word processor. But Google Docs also does so much more. Not only can you work alone inside the document, you can work at the same time as other people. Google Docs allows more than one person to type in a document all at once. It also allows comment bubbles that you can create and respond to. And there’s an instant messaging feature. Google Documents is excellent for group work.

Supported

Mac, PC, Google Chromebook, Mobile

Pros

  • Google Documents is on the cloud, so you can never accidentally erase it forever if your computer crashes.
  • It is sharable instantaneously and all you need is an internet connection.
  • I makes group work a lot more convenient because you can write with someone else without being in the same room.

Cons

  • Under the ‘anyone can edit’ feature, it is easy to lose track of who has written which section.
  • It is sometimes difficult to find documents that someone has shared with you.

EXAMPLES

Below is a video showing how Google Docs works. It is difficult to attach a student example here because of the fluid and ever-changing nature of the Google Docs environment.

Uses:

You can use Google Documents for almost anything you can imagine. You can embed a document into a website and use it as a presentation, or you can use it to collaborate with a group on a paper. It is great for peer review, or even for just writing stories you want to share easily.

Hightail

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Hightail

taken from http://www1.pcmag.com/media/images/395413-hightail-for-iphone.png?thumb=y

ABOUT:

Hightail is a both a storage and a sharing application. You do not need to be signed up for Higtail to receive files, but you must in order to share them, or contribute to them. Hightail works on the cloud and can store all your files for you, allowing you to share a high volume of files like film footage, music files, or videos. It is more for business than for school, but if you are making large multimedia projects in groups, this might be the right storage and sharing application for you.

Supported

PC, Mac, Mobile

Pros

  • Allows you to share large files without a need for email
  • You do not need to sign up for Hightail to receive files
  • Since it operates on a cloud system, even when your computer crashes, your files are still stored.

Cons

  • Since you have to download Hightail onto your device, you cannot use it from a school or borrowed computer.
  • Unless you password protect your files, they may not be private to you and your colleague.

EXAMPLES

Because Hightail is a sharing/storage application, it would be invasive to show a student example. Instead, here is a video about how it works:

Uses

You could use Hightail for any class that asks you to share or store large files. Hightail may be most useful to film production students, but you need not be working with that much content for it to be useful.