My Writings. My Thoughts.
Dropbox Cloud File Storage
// August 29th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cloud Applications
I
n the past few years flash drives have become ubiquitous, but I have abandoned their use except for extremely specific sneaker-net uses. Instead I keep my important documents that I need on the net, in the cloud, so they are available anywhere I need them. There are several solutions available for cloud storage of your files, but my favorite for ease of use is Dropbox.
To use Dropbox, visit dropbox.com. Install the dropbox application and open a free account, which has a two gigabytes. There is a version of the application for Windows, Mac and Linux. The application creates a folder called My Dropbox in your Documents folder. Anything saved in the My Dropbox folder automatically syncs to your Dropbox account on the internet. If you install the application on multiple machines, a document saved in your Dropbox folder on one computer appears in the Dropbox folder of the other machines. For example, I have Dropbox installed on my desktop, my laptop and my netbook. If I save a letter in My Dropbox on my desktop, it appears in the Dropbox folder on both the netbook and my laptop. If I edit the letter on one of the computers, the changes to the document are made across all of the computers. The Dropbox website also allows you to retrieve past revisions of documents in case you make a mistake in your editing.
There are several situations where you can’t install the Dropbox application. But by going to the Dropbox website you can download any individual file or even entire folders as a zip file. Uploading a file is easily done via the web based uploader and when you return to your machine the uploaded file is already on your computer.
There are several other useful features. In your Dropbox is a Public folder. If you save a document to the Public folder, you can right-click it for a Public weblink you can send via email or post to Facebook to share the file. There is also a Photos folder that will allow you to share photos via a Java photo gallery. Mobile apps are available on iOS, Android, and Blackberry.
A 2 GB account is free and 50 and 100 GB accounts are also available for reasonable rates. If you invite a friend to join, you and your friend each get a 250 MB bonus, up to a 10 GB account. You can sign up during the install process, or if you use my invite link and we both get a 250 MB bonus. Give it a try and give up flash drives.
Google Voice for Teachers
// August 22nd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Tools for Teachers
Communication by teachers with students and parents is consistently stressed by administrators. I have tried email, Facebook groups, Twitter, calendars and more in my efforts to keep communications open. The latest tool in my arsenal is Google Voice.
Google Voice allows users to be assigned a new phone number. Local numbers are available in most U.S. locations. This number can receive calls and text messages as well as forward them to other numbers. Forwarded calls may be sent to different numbers according to who is calling and allows for call transcription.
I have set my Google Voice number not to forward. My number is on my web page, in my syllabus and I freely provide it to students and parents. When the number is called, the caller hears a standard voice mail message. Their message is transcribed and forwarded to my phone as a text message complete with caller’s number. I can call back easily using the web interface for Voice and although I am using my cell phone, the number I am calling sees my Voice number on their caller ID. Voice allows calls to be recorded and will automatically transcribe the call, allowing you to document communications with parents.
Texting is where Voice really shines. While my generation is tied to email, teenagers use text more often and more comfortably. When students do email me with a question, they often miss the reply as they do not use email as regularly as adults do. When a student sends a text to my Voice number, it automatically forwards to my Gmail account which I check on my phone. I can respond to the text simply by responding to the email. In the Voice web interface, these texts are archived for your documentation.
The last feature worth noting is the fact you can turn it off. During important meetings or long holidays, the forwarding can be turned off of Voice, and you can come back to find the calls and texts you have missed archived for you on the Voice website.
Try Google Voice and see what way you can make it improve your communications with students and parents.
Edit: because grammar is important.
