Thing 15 - Exploring "Cloud" Tools

Is this a familiar scenario? You have a document on your home computer that you need to access from school. Unfortunately, you can't access your home computer from work. What if you could save documents on the web? That way you could create them at home or work and access them from anywhere. You can, thanks to something called Cloud computing. Many applications (apps) are available free and are hosted on the web. In addition to providing easy access, this frees up space on your computer, or smart phone or whatever device you use for productivity and communication, since the information is being stored on a web-based server. Another benefit to many of these tools is the ability to share access to your documents with others, thus providing opportunities for collaboration. The following are two of the best that we've used.

Google Tools
Google offers collaborative workspace with Google Docs, their online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor.
With Google Docs you can create, store and share in a secure, real-time environment. That means you and your friend in, say, Australia, can be editing the very same spreadsheet online - at the exact same time.
Users have to log-in. Great news! When you registered, you created your Google Docs account - so you'll use the same email address and password that you use to access your blog.
Watch and learn more about this collaborative tool.


If you can't see the video, click here to watch it on the Common Craft website.

You'll also want to keep your eyes open for Google Wave, a real-time communication and collaboration tool currently being developed.

Windows Live

Windows Live is the brand name for a set of software and services available from Microsoft via a web browser. Email, photosharing, IM, and blogging are just several free services available. Our favorite is the skydrive , 25 GB of free web storage for your documents, photos, presentations, etc. Best of all, anything created with a microsoft application (ex. PowerPoint, Word, etc.) retains its original format.

To complete Thing 15 you must:
A. Log-in to Google Docs and add your information
B. Explore Google Docs and Windows Live
C. Reflect on Thing 15 in your blog

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A. Update a Spreadsheet
We've shared a spreadsheet with you. To access it, go to Google Docs and log-in using using your gmail account. You should see a spreadsheet titled 23 things. Click on the name of the spreadsheet and add your details and save.

B. Explore
Spend some time exploring Google Docs and Windows Live. Try creating a new document or spreadsheet. Try uploading one from your computer. It takes awhile to get used to the feel, but it will make sense the more you play with it. At any time, you can click SHARE and give others access to your files.

C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 15
How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life? What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (ie, they need email addresses to log-in)?