Through the Google Suite for education, students are provided a location in the "Cloud" to store files. These files take several forms. Including Documents, Presentation, Web Sites, Audio and Video Files, PDF documents. Students can control who can see these files, through a file sharing process. This allows them to share files with teachers and other classmates.
Google Docs are word processor documents that typically contain mostly text, but occasionally images. They are typically typed by the student. Some teacher will produce worksheets in this format for the students to fill in responses to open ended questions.
Slides are the Google version of Microsoft's PowerPoint or Apple's Keynote. Its normal function is to provide a linear presentation that typically goes with a speech given by the presenter. These can be recorded with a tool call ScreenCastify which is a recent purchase by the district. This would allow student to record presentations to share with their classmates and instructors.
Slides can also be used to build interactive worksheets. Several teachers have been exploring the use of drag and drop word banks done as slides. So you can expect to see students using this tool for more than simple presentations especially while on remote learning.
Sites is Googles simple web page building tool. This page is part of a google site built in tech support. It has limited tools but it is simple to use. And gives students a chance to explore the creation of web based media.
Sheets is Googles Version of Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet tool. Basically it is a simple spread sheet tool for holding information and performing basic operations and simple graphing. I would expect students to start seeing more of this tool in Upper Math classes and science labs in the Middle and High School.
ScreenCastify is a tool that allows students to create video content on their Chromebook. There are instructions on its use in the student help pages. The video or audio only files get stored in the students Google Drive. There is another tool built into Schoology that can also be used to respond to an assignment with a video file. Those files get stored in Schoology directly. More information can be found in the Schoology help pages.
When ever a file is shared with a student by another student it ends up in a folder called "Shared With Me" in their google drive. This will actually be a link to the original file not an actual copy. You may see a folder called "Schoology" these would normally be files shared through the Schoology Program. You may see a folder called 'Classroom" These are typically files shared through the google classroom folder structure.
All files in the Student's Google Drive are scanned for inappropriate content. The scanners search for text in the files looking for key words and phrases.