google-drive-collaboration

Google Drive’s new changes could improve classroom collaboration


Some new features and changes are hitting Google Drive, which could significantly enhance collaboration

google-drive-collaboration
Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock.com

In case you haven’t noticed the recent changes already, it’s well worth pointing out that Google is making some interesting changes to their Google Drive service.

At the heart of this overhaul, which affects both the desktop and the mobile app versions of Google Drive, are a host of minor changes that center on making the file sharing and cloud-based storage system easier to use.

Immediately, users will notice a more fluid and streamlined interface that moves Drive closer to the familiar look that most people expect from a Google product, while at the same time bridging the gap between the desktop and mobile versions in order to make the two appear more similar.

And as would be expected, the changes are also aimed at making the service faster (both in general use and in file upload speed), which is partially accomplished thanks to Google giving users the ability to utilize familiar commands and practices, such as drag and drop functionality from the desktop and the ability to highlight multiple files at once in order to take group actions.

To see the new Drive features in action for yourself, check out this helpful video overview from Google:

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The question is: Will these changes add anything to the learning experience of the modern college student?

 (Next Page: More new features that can enhance classroom collaboration )

Aside from the interface and functionality changes made by Google, there are a few new features for Drive that could make collaboration in the classroom easier both among classmates and between students and teachers.

As seen in the video on the last page, many of the new changes to Google Drive center on enhancing organization on the service. Along with making documents and folders easier to create, move, and organize, users also now have the ability to right click a document to view any recent activity or file details. For users who share their Google Docs with fellow students or teachers, any edits made within files will now be clearer to see—always important when it comes to transparent collaboration.

Another new feature for Drive expands the avenues for sharing Google Docs. Thanks to new integration with Google’s social media platform Google+, users of the service can not only edit Google Docs within Google+, but can also invite friends to share in their collaboration; yet another example of the recent changes to Drive enhancing the collaborative process.

The recent changes to Drive also ensure that collaboration can occur anywhere. Thanks to increased functionality on Google Drive’s mobile app, nobody has to go without their documents at any given time. With the cloud-based service, users can access files from their computers right on their phone or tablet, where they can then use any needed feature from Google Drive. Additionally, users can then connect their mobile device to a wireless printer and print any documents on the go. Given the propensity of many a college student to leave things to the last minute, this is one new feature that will likely have many students rejoicing.

Finally, many of the new features to Google Drive are aimed at helping to improve the experience of using the service for as many people as possible. Now localized in over 70 languages, Google Drive continues to broaden its base of over 190 million active monthly users. Also, the new updates may have made the service more accessible for visually impaired and blind users, including “improved keyboard accessibility” and “support for zooming and high contrast mode.”

With even more features including a Microsoft Office compatibility mode that enables users to open the programs directly within Google Drive, yet is only available for the Google Chrome web browser and on the Android app at this time, Google has stated a commitment to continuing to roll out even more new features that will eventually be available on all devices.

These changes will be hitting everyone in the near future, but for those interested in opting into the new features right away, you can go to www.g.co/getdrive.

Ron Bethke is an editorial intern with eCampus News.

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