Two Important Google Drive Tips for Teachers

May 13, 2017
As a Google Drive user, you are automatically given 16 GB storage space for free. This storage space is shared across three services: Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive. Anything you store in any of those services, even messages and attachments and items in your spam and trash folders take up from the total storage. To learn how much  storage space you have used check out this link from a computer. If you find yourself running out of storage space you need to either buy more storage or delete some of the items from Drive, Gmail or Photos. Below are some useful tips to help you better manage your Drive’s storage space:

1- Clear space in Google Drive
Large files in Drive use more space than other files. You need to delete the ones you don’t need. Here is how to do it:

• ‘Use  this link to see your files listed from largest to smallest.
• Put files you don't want in your trash, then permanently delete them. Learn how to delete files.
• Within 24 hours, the items you deleted will show in the available space in your Google Drive account.’

2- Delete hidden data from apps in Google Drive
Some of the apps you use with Google Drive store hidden data that is usually not useful and takes up much space. Here is how to check and delete  hidden data in Google Drive:

• ‘Go to drive.google.com.
• Click the toggle button and select Settings .
• On the left, click Manage Apps.
• If there is hidden app data, the amount will show under the app description. To delete this data, click Options and then Delete hidden app data.’ 

Check out Google Drive Help for more tips and tricks.

24 important Google Docs Tips and Add-ons for Teachers

May 3, 2017
Google Docs has tons of interesting features that can immensely enhance your productivity level as a teacher and educator. However, most of these features are hidden and you need to dig deeper beyond the simple compose, comment and share trio most users are used to. We have already covered several of these features in previous posts in the past which you can access here. Today, we are sharing with you this wonderful infographic created by the folks in GetVoip featuring a quasi-comprehensive list of hacks and tips to help you tap into the full potential of Google Docs. There is also a section at the bottom of the visual with a number of useful add-ons to tryout on Google Docs. We invite you to check it out and share with us your feedback in our Facebook page.

Google Docs Hacks :

• Talk to type
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Notify team members of comments
• Use bookmarks to navigate long documents
• Automatically convert Word docs to Google Docs
• Recover past work
• Search the web within Google Docs
• Directly insert links
• Access documents offline
• Create a table of contents
• Translate to another language
• Bulk edit words and phrases
• Add words to your dictionary
• Sign your name
• Remove inconsistent formatting
• Create custom shortcuts.

Here Is How to Access and Edit Google Drive Files Offline

March 31, 2017
One of the important Google Drive features that is overlooked by several teachers is the ability to use Drive files offline. This allows you to access, view and edit files such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides without being connected to the Internet. You can easily do this by installing Google Docs Offline Chrome extension and make a slight change in your Google Drive settings. Here is how to do it:

1- Install Google Docs offline Chrome extension :
'You must be connected to the Internet.
Use  the Google Chrome browser.
Don't use incognito mode.
Install and enable Google Docs offline Chrome extension.
Make sure you have enough free space on your device to save your files.'

2- Turn on offline access
Open your Google Drive files offline
Open Chrome. Make sure you're signed in to Chrome.
Go to drive.google.com/drive/settings.

Check the box next to "Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings files to this computer so that you can edit offline."’

Source: Drive Help