Tag Archives: Cloud

Storify

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Storify

Storify is part social, part archival, and part storage. Record events in a readable stream by dragging in any media live on the web and share.

SUPPORTS

PC, Mac, iPad

USES

You could use storify for multiple course projects. It is completely free, and could be used for research storage, organizing open-access articles, and even presentation. If your class is tweeting, you can drag and drop tweets into a storify thread and organize them, for example. You could do the same for news stories that you want to present for a History class, or a discovery timeline. You can feature photos, videos, articles, and pretty much any social media available.

PROS

  • easy to use and very versatile
  • exists on the cloud so you can’t accidentally delete anything AND it’s easily shareable
  • supports loads of social media and news organizations

CONS

  • cannot link to or embed pay-to-access articles like many from our library databases
  • storify stories can become too long and cumbersome to read
  • there is potential to manipulate and twist stories depending on how you arrange entries

EXAMPLES

Below is an example of a storify featuring tweets from and English 1101 course

storify-example

 

#below is what would appear in a sidebar

SIMILAR TO

  • tumblr

ALSO FEATURED IN

  • Mind Mapping
  • Presentation
  • Timelines

NEED TO KNOW

  • Free
  • Cloud Based
  • Subscribe
  • Social

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.

Google Fusion

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Google Fusion

taken from blogoscoped.com

ABOUT:

Google Fusion is one of the many ways you can make maps yourself to show data, group places, or combine places with their data. Google Fusion must be combined with Google Spreadsheets for it to work, and once you create a map with Fusion, it cannot be updated automatically. You must collect all your data before you begin. Once your data has been created and synced, inside Fusion, you can change your pointers, which data is displayed, and even group pointers to show how data flows. Google Fusion, like all Google Drive products, allows you to share, and build with others, but because Fusion requires training and practice, it may be difficult to remotely meet with someone to map using Fusion. Last, Fusion can be published and shared, but it does not go live to Google Maps because it does not readily export as a KML file.

Supported

PC, Mac, Android

Pros

  • Once your data is created, it is easy to make changes inside Fusion
  • The visualizations are fun, and exactly like what you see in a Google Map
  • Navigating the visuals of your data is as easy as it is on Maps

Cons

  • It is not easy to learn Fusion. You will want to use lynda.com through the Exchange, or take a class to learn the basics.
  • Fusion does not sync to your spreadsheet, should you need to make changes. You must upload or merge a whole new spreadsheet.
  • Fusion does not go live to Google Maps. Instead, you must learn to plot on Google Earth for this feature.

EXAMPLES

Below is a screenshot of a map a student made in Fusion of study spots in the Atlanta area. You can see she made the plot points green, instead of the classic red. And you can see the information she included on the selected spot.

Learning_Google_Maps-1

Uses

There are many reasons you might make a map in Fusion for a class. If you need to present information containing places for a history class, or to map where all the oak trees are located near campus for Biology, you can use Fusion to do this. If you have data to present on gas pricing in a certain area, or want to plot where people live that own drones, you can do this in Fusion.

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.

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.

Vine

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Vine

Taken from: http://colorlib.com/sparkling/media-twitter-embeds/vine-logo/

ABOUT:

Vine is an application where you can view and create 6.5 second videos that loop continuously. Vine is set up to be a mobile application where you use your phone to record, upload the footage to vine, and edit in application. The editing feature is basic, but does allow some cropping, slow motion, and length adaptation.

Supported

Mobile (editing & viewing), MAC (viewing only), PC (viewing only), Tablet (viewing only)

Pros

  • Very easy to learn and to share
  • Potential for wide viewer-base

Cons

  • Built for heavy compatibility with a SmartPhone
  • Vines default to play on their own, which can be distracting

EXAMPLES

Below is a Vine a student made to show that she participated in the 2014 General Election:


 
Below is quick illustration of a Treble Clef

Uses for Vine

Vines could be used to enhance a presentation, or to make a creative video to prove a point. They’re so fast, they’re almost a .gif – you might use these inside a presentation for any class.