- Use the Google Drive App to sync your files! If you have not installed the Google Drive desktop app, you are missing out on all of the Dropbox like sync-abilities. Sorry Dropbox, I am finding fewer reasons to use you. Once I install and set up the Google Drive desktop app, I can sync ALL of my files to my Google Drive, which of course I can access from any web-enabled device. This tool makes my life so much easier!
- Publish your Google Document to the web. You are probably familiar with the multiple ways that you can share your documents (public, anyone with a link, etc.) But did you know you can turn any Google Doc into a very simple webpage? I love this feature! Need to get some information online quickly, publish a Google Doc. I prefer this to just sharing because it take the word processing tools out of the picture, and gives you a clean page to share on the web. Here is a comparison of how I use it for Tic-Tac-Toe learning menus: shared with viewing rights v. published to the web. (Note: Watch out for formatting. Keeping things left-justified seems to work best.)
- The Research Tool is a hidden gem. This always brings the ooohs and aaahs in training! In a document, go to tools>research. You can search for images, articles, and much more. The magic happens when you hover over the link and choose “insert link,” or “cite.” The tool will magically insert a footnote formatted in your choice of MLA, APA, or Chicago. (Things are so much easier for the kids these days!)
- The Google Drive Advanced Search is a thing of beauty. My Google Drive is not the most organized, and I frequently rely on the search tool to find what I need. But you can kick it up a notch by using the advanced search. Click on the drop down arrow at the end of the Google Drive search box, and you will find that you can search by file type, visibility, owner and much more!
- Take Collaboration to a New Level with Chat and Comments. I find that many Google Drive users do not know about these two great features. Both features can be found next to the “share” button on the top right. Inside Google Docs (and other Google file types), you can launch a chat room that is connected to and inside that document. The one thing to remember with chat, is that you have to have more than one person in the chat in order for this to work.
You can also collaborate through the comments feature. Comments are connected to specific parts of your document. So be sure to place your cursor or highlight the section you would like to comment on before choosing to add a new comment. Comments are great for peer editing and giving feedback!
Ready for more? Check out my Google Drive YouTube Playlist for some great tutorials!
What are your favorite tips for Google Drive? Please share in the comments below!