10 Tools for Technology Integration - SCC Workshop 2016
Learn what free, freemium, and premium tech tools may work for your library!
About Google Drive
Google Drive is a FREEMIUM storage space in the cloud that also offers free editing tools.
What is included for free:
15 GB storage
Offline access to files
File types that can be stored:
- photos
- videos
- presentations
- PDFs
- Microsoft Office files
Types of Google tools/apps:
- Docs - word editing tool
- similar to Microsoft Word
- Sheets - data and spreadsheet editing tool
- create graphs and charts
- similar to Microsoft Excel
- Slides - presentation editing tool
- similar to Microsoft PowerPoint
- Forms - survey tool
- various question/answer options
- page branching
- view and manipulate data in Sheets
Features of Google tools/apps:
- Automatically saves
- Templates available
- Works with Microsoft products
- View older versions from the last 30 days
- Edit from a tablet or mobile device with the app installed
Files are private unless you choose to share. Sharing capabilities include:
- view only
- view and comment
- editing rights
Premium accounts include access to more storage in the cloud. Pricing varies by storage amount.
Practical Uses
Why would you want to use 
tools/apps?
- So you can access your files from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection
- To easily share documents with coworkers, students, the public, etc.
- As a backup for your PC files
- For group work (multiple people can edit at the same time)
What are some practical applications?
| Group projects | When there's multiple people working on one desired final product. For example, a group is working on a presentation. Use Google Slides so that any group member can view and edit the presentation at any time. |
| Distance collaboration | Create a Google Doc that can be used for asynchronous (or even synchronous) communication. You can either type in the Doc or create a comment to communicate. |
| Lists of websites | In the beginning stages of research exploration, create a Google Doc or Google Sheet to keep track of what websites you think might be helpful by copying and pasting the URL (with automatic live hyperlinks). |
| Sortable lists | Use Google Sheets to keep track of lists, then use the Sort feature to manipulate the data. For example, book lists could be kept in a Google sheet. Basic information such as title, author, call number, year of publication, and publisher could be included. You can sort the Sheet quickly using any field. |
Alternative tools
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FREE: personal account up to 2 GB PREMIUM: more than 2 GB storage, business accounts |
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FREE: 5 GB OR 1 TB if you sign up for an Office 365 account PREMIUM: more storage |
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FREE: 50 GB with encryption, text chatting, and voice and video calling PREMIUM: more storage |
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FREE: 10 GB with access to Crypto Folder (contains extra encryption layer of security) PREMIUM: more storage |
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FREE online word editor |