File Storage

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Permalink Reply by Christine on September 28, 2011 at 8:57am

Our school system uses Sharepoint.  I have no idea of the cost, but it can do so much more than just file storage.  It is quick to upload, and holds a lot of stuff.  Organization is easy, and we can have different document pages for each grade level.  Each person gets their own private document storage page too. We love that this is accessable from home!

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Permalink Reply by Grace Gorman on September 28, 2011 at 9:41am

I use Drop Box to maintain all the files for our English Department as a back up to the intranet in school.  It makes it really easy to share files.  As you invite people to share your drop box, you get more storage space.  I am up to 6 gigs which I will never use.  We also used it to organize a workshop for over 800 people and had all the presentations in the drop box in case a flash drive failed.  They now have a new one for larger files but I forget the name of it.

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Permalink Reply by Pablo Benvenuto on October 1, 2011 at 1:23am

Those are all good options.  My partners and I have been developing a Learning Management System, which is free, and provides extremely advanced features, including file uploading, assignment submission, automatic grading, etc.  Check it out and tell us how we are doing: http://www.studybuddycampus.com

 

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Permalink Reply by Matt Simmons on October 1, 2011 at 1:30pm

Thank you all for the replies.

 

Does anyone know, with Google Apps, can a teacher create some sort of "drop box" that students can use to submit assignments?  My concern is getting too many different systems involved that don't necessarily work with each other.

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Permalink Reply by Zach Vander Veen on October 4, 2011 at 10:52am

Hmm - this isn't really how google Apps (specifically - google docs) works. There's really no "submitting" of assignments, but rather they "share" the assignment with the teacher (or other students).

Usually a teacher will create a "collection" (Google Docs' word for folder) and share it with their students. Students then make sure to tag their work into that collection. Teacher then goes to the collection to see shared assignments.

You could, in theory, use Google sites for a traditional dropbox feature (They have a "file folder" page template)

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Permalink Reply by Laura Bowen on October 9, 2011 at 12:30pm

Hi Matt ~ I actually use the share feature in Google apps in a way similar to the one Zach described. I create a folder ("collection") for each student and share it with him/her. Anything saved in that folder is automatically shared between the two of us. So I can put docs into the folder and so can the student. To organize the student folders, I just create a folder ("collection") for each class and move the student folders into the appropriate class.

 

This system has worked really well for me because my deadlines can be more flexible since students don't have to submit work in class. I can also comment on and grade the document in the student's folder, and it's automatically shared with the student. There's no need to download a document, mark it and then re-upload it. If you and your students have easy access to Google apps I encourage you to give it a try. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

~Laura

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Permalink Reply by Larry Blodgett on October 5, 2011 at 10:45am

In regard to DropBox, I have been using it since last spring and rarely use a usb drive anymore.   Just today I succussfully used another feature of it I had been unaware of.  You can go to a site called DROPitTOme.com and create an account.  It ties to your dropbox account.  A student can then go to your DROPitTOme address and, using a password which you created for this purpose, turn in an assignment, which then appears in your dropbox.  There is no need for student accounts, no need for student email addresses.  It's slick for that purpose. 

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Permalink Reply by Pablo Benvenuto on October 6, 2011 at 11:29pm

Check out http://www.studybuddycampus.com , we have a feature for teachers and students to upload and submit assignments and material.

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Permalink Reply by Irene M. Sclafani on October 8, 2011 at 9:41pm

This dropbox sounds very interesting.  Is it just dropbox.com?

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Permalink Reply by Larry Blodgett on November 22, 2011 at 8:38pm

Yup,but don't forget DROPitTOme.com as well

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Casal on November 23, 2011 at 5:51am

DropItTo.me

 

I use DropItTo.me all the time. It give you a free url that links to your Dropbox account. Students log in (I have it password protected) to my url (dropitto.me/mrcasal) and then upload files which get instantly placed into my Dropbox folder. It's great for days when I'm out and a sub is running the lesson in my lab, I have students turn in their work at the end of the period, regardless of where they are in the assignment, so I can have a quick idea of everyone's progress.

 

In general, we use Google Docs for teachers to collaborate on assessments and student data tracking, things the administration needs to see. Dropbox is for teachers to share multi-format files as well as students turning in work without needing an individual account.

 

 

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