Google Drive
Google Drive is a space in the cloud where you can create and store documents. You can use Google Drive to create text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can also use Google Drive to store pictures and videos. Finally, you can use Google Drive to store documents, presentations, and spreadsheets that were created using Microsoft Word, Open Office, or Adobe Acrobat. Google Drive allows you to access these files from anywhere that has an internet connection. The days of losing points because you left a paper or a flash drive at home are over!
The most powerful feature of Google Drive is the ability to share files or folders with someone else. This makes it possible for you to work with someone else on a project without being in the same room or working at the same time. That is the feature of Google Drive that we will be using in our class this semester.
First, you need to have a GMail account. If you do not already have a GMail account, you need to create one. Just go to mail.google.com and create a GMail account. Every student in the Los Angeles Unified School District is entitled to a district-provided email address that also allows you to access Google Drive. If you cannot, for one reason or another, obtain your own GMail account, please let me know and I will do what I can to get your LAUSD account activated. You should know, though, that there are some significant disadvantages to an LAUSD account. First, all accounts appear to be deactivated once school is over. That means that you lose access to your email and your drive account over the summer. Second, you have no control over your email name. For some students, that is a major flaw. My personal belief is that you should rely on the LAUSD email only as a last resort.
The objective of this lesson is for you to:
- Successfully log in to your Google Drive;
- Successfully create a Google document;
- Successfully rename a Google document;
- Successfully add content to a Google document;
- Successfully share a Google document.
This lesson is designed primarily for students who were not able to complete the activity that we did in the computer lab on Friday, August 22. I will allow full credit (100 points) for the assignment for any student who successfully completes this lesson up to Thursday, August 28.
Step One - Log into Google Drive
Open a Chrome or Firefox browser. In the address bar, enter:
drive.google.com
You will see the Google sign in screen. If you have a GMail account, enter your GMail name and password. I, for example, would enter jmochehale as my user name. You do not have to enter the "@gmail.com" portion. If you are using an LAUSD email account, you must enter your entire email address. If I had an LAUSD student email address, I would enter jmochehale0001@mymail.lausd.net into the Google sign in box followed by my password. If I gave you your LAUSD email address and I have not already changed your password, please use your temporary password of hcas8169. If I have changed your password, please remember that there are no upper case letters in your password even if they are written on your paper as upper case.
If you are logging in to Google Drive for the first time, you may be asked to download it to your computer. Next to the download button, you will see the words "No Thanks." You should click on "No Thanks." It is not necessary to download Google Drive to your computer.
You may also see a large box offering to help you Get Started with Google Drive. You will notice an "X" in the upper right hand corner of that box. Click the "X".
You should notice that your Google Drive screen is divided into two sections. The section on the left allows you to navigate around your Google Drive. The section on the right shows any files or folders that you already have in your Google Drive.
Step Two - Create a Google Document
Look at the top of the left hand side of your Google Drive. You will see a large red button at the top. In some versions of Google Drive the button is marked "Create." In other versions of Google Drive, the red button is marked "New."
If your red button is marked "Create," follow the directions in this paragraph. If your red button is marked "New," skip to the next paragraph. Click on the "Create" button. A box will open containing different options. Click on "Document."
Click on the "New" button. A box will open containing different options. Click on "Google Docs."
Step Three - Rename Your Document
You now have a blank document on your screen. Across the top of your document you will see a variety of menu choices. The choices include File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc. Above the menu choices you will see the name of your document. When a new document is created, it is automatically given the name "Untitled document" by Google Drive. You need to change this name.
First, you need to know the specific way that I require documents to be named. The first character in your document name needs to be the number of the period you are in. You should follow your period number with a hyphen. The hyphen is followed by your complete last name. The first letter of your last name must be capitalized. After your last name, you need to enter your first initial, also as a capital letter. After your capitalized first initial, you need another hyphen. For each assignment, I will tell you specifically what needs to come after the final hyphen. For this assignment, you need to put DocumentTest after the final hyphen.
Here are some examples of what your document name should look like.
If I am in Period 1, my file name should be:
1-MocheJ-DocumentTest
A student named Homer Simpson in my Period 4 should have a document with this name:
4-SimpsonH-DocumentTest
A student named Arianna Grande in my Period 6 should have a document with this name:
6-GrandeA-DocumentTest.
To rename your document, click on File at the top of your document and then choose Rename. A box will open on your screen. Type the new name into the box.
Step Four - Add Content
For this lesson, you don't have to add much content to your document. Just write a single sentence. You can write anything you like, but please remember that I will be reading it. Please write a complete sentence that is properly punctuated and capitalized!
Step Five - Save Your Document
Good news! Google Drive automatically saves your document as you are writing it, so you don't have to do anything to save it.
Step Six - Share Your Document with Me
Near the upper right hand corner of your document, you will see a button marked "Share." Please click on the "Share" button. A box will open on your screen. You will notice that there are several different ways to share your file. You will use the method that is near the bottom of the Share box. You will see a grey box that says that you can invite people In the white box below the words "invite people," enter my email address:
jmochehale@gmail.com
Uncheck the box that says "Notify people via email" and press "Send." In some versions of Google Drive, the "Send" button is marked "OK." A warning will appear on your screen. Click on "OK." The "Share" box will reappear on your screen.
Step Seven - Close Your Document
To close your document, just click the "X" that appears on the tab that contains your document.
Step Eight - Log Out
Log out of Google Drive by clicking on the icon or the user name that appears near the upper right hand corner of the screen. Some people will see a blue circle with a silhouette in it. Others will see a circle with a picture in it. A few students will see their email address with an arrow next to it. Click on the circle or the arrow and choose Log Out. You're done!
Next Steps
If you want to practice making other types of documents, I suggest that you begin with Google Presentations. Play around all you like. Please do not share a document with me, however, until I ask you to. I suggest that you name your practice documents as if you were going to turn them in so that you get used to the period number, last name, first initial format.
If you run into a problem with any of these instructions, send me an email. Have fun!