Google Drive is an online file storage system that is tightly integrated with Google. Google Drive allows you to freely store 15 Gb of content. Content can be anything from documents to images and videos. You can even store non-Google documents like PDF files, Word documents, and Photoshop documents.

You can access your content in Google Drive from any device with an Internet connection such as a phone, tablet, or computer.

One of the most powerful features of Google Drive and other Google applications is that multiple people can work on the same document at the same time. This is a huge plus for education. It is possible to share documents and folders with anyone for viewing or editing. You do not have to attach a file to an email anymore.

Essential Requirements

Google Drive will operate on both a Mac or PC, as well as mobile devices.

Equipment

The only equipment needed is a computer, smartphone, or iPad with a Web browser.

Software

Access to Google Docs is accomplished through a Web-browser. These are the most common browsers:

• Internet Explorer
• FireFox
• Google Chrome
• Safari

Google Drive is accessed by going to https://drive.google.com/

Learning resources information

Key Weblinks

Guides and Beginner Instructions

Here are a number of great guides to help you better understand Google Drive and its capabilities.

• Welcome to the Google Drive Help Center
• The Google Drive FAQ
• Get started with Google Drive
• Google Drive – Quick reference guide for teachers and students

Google Drive Add-ons

Here are a number of recommended add-ons for extending Google Drive.

• 5 Good Extensions to Enhance Your Google Drive Productivity
• 5 Google Drive Add-ons You Need To Use
• 6 Must Have Google Drive Extensions for Teachers
• MindMup – A Mind Mapping Tool That Saves to Google Drive
• 8 free apps that pump up Google Drive
• This is How to Use Google Drive App for Android to Scan Docs into Searchable PDFs
• A Handy Google Drive Tool to Create Animated Presentations and Engaging Educational Videos

Education

Here are a number of great ideas for using Google Drive in an education environment.

• 10 Google Drive Tips And Tricks For Students
• You Can Now Create Maps in Google Drive
• 38 Ideas to Use Google Drive in Class
• How To Organize Your Research With The Power Of Google Drive
• 21 Interesting Ways to use Google Docs in the Classroom
• Why Schools are Turning to Google Apps
• Tips Every Teacher should Know about Google Docs in Education
• 100 Important Google Drive Tips for Teachers and Students
• A New Excellent Google Drive Guide for Teachers and Students
• 5 Ways school administrators can use Google apps
• 26 Tips for Teaching with Google Apps
• 15 Effective Ways to Use Google Docs in Class
• 5 Everyday Google Drive Collaborations That Are Not About Docs

Tips and Shortcuts

Here collections of tips and shortcuts for using Google Drive better.

• Insert Google Drive Files Into Your Gmail Messages
• Google Releases an Official Save to Drive Extension
• How to Set Expiration Dates for Shared Google Drive Folders
• 5 simple ways to organize your Google Drive
• The Guide to Google Drive Sharing
• Make an Automated Classroom Leaderboard with Google Forms (Video)
• Google Drive and Docs tips: 20 expert tricks and shortcuts
• Gmail Now Lets You Save Attachments Directly to Google Drive
• Direct share from Drive to Google+ and more
• Right Click And Pin Your Google Drive Folders on Your Chromebook’s Files App
• 6 Tips To Use Google Voice Commands In Google Drive
• How to find and remove duplicate files in Dropbox and Google Drive
• Try these 5 undiscovered Google Drive tricks
• Google Drive: Managing Files in Multiple Folders
• 25 Google Drive Tips You’ve Probably Never Heard Before

Scripts

Here are some scripts to add functionality to Google Drive.

• Creating Class Folders in Google Drive

Video Tutorials

Here is a collection of videos that will help you understand and use Google Drive.

• Google Drive – a Complete User Guide