All of my classes operate in the cloud, which simply means that you’ll be using Google Docs to (1) access course materials, including reading assignments; (2) submit writing assignments; (3) participate in Daily Grind work, and (4) receive feedback from me on your work. But, to gain access to these materials, you must first create your own Google Docs account and share it with me.
NOTE: If you already have a Gmail address, then you already have access to Google Drive. Skip ahead to Step X.
STEP 1: Open this link to Google Drive in the browser of your choice. FWIW, I recommend using anything but Safari. Chrome and/or Firefox seem to give students far fewer bugs when working with Google Drive.
STEP 2: Click Create an account now. Using the link and instructions provided, create a Google Drive account linked to your St. Ed’s email address (or a Gmail account, if you’d like). NOTE: The email address you use to create this account will also be your log-in name AND the name I see when you share materials with me. Please make sure I can easily recognize your name.
STEP 3: Verify your account. To do this, you’ll need to log in to your email account (using the address you just provided) and follow the instructions from Google.
> > Do nothing else until your account is verified. < <
STEP 4: Log into Google Drive.
STEP 5: Under the CREATE NEW menu, select FOLDER. Google Drive will pop open a box, prompting you to Rename this folder. This folder will store all the work that you submit to me this semester for this course. Because all of my students will be sharing folder with me, it is essential that you rename your folder following this format:
Course Number.Section + Last Name + First Name
For example, if I was taking ENGW 1302, section 12 this semester, then my folder would have this name:
1302.12 McCracken Moriah
Your final folder name should not contain plus signs or commas. Depending on your course number and section number, your collection should look something like the example above.
After you click OK, you should see your collection on the left-hand side of the screen, under My Drive. If you don’t see it, click the arrow to make sure it is pointing down.
After you click OK, you should see your collection on the left-hand side of the screen, under My collections. If you don’t see it, click the arrow to make sure it is pointing down.
STEP 6: Share your folder with me. This is the most important thing you’ll do because I cannot share the course folder with you UNTIL AFTER you share your folder with me. To do this, click on your folder. You want the folder you just created to be gray. You will now see a small drop-down arrow on the right. Click that arrow to access the drop-down menu.
Select Share…
Select Share… again
The Sharing settings… box should open.
In the Add people: box at the bottom of the screen, you want to type in the following email address taking extra care to make sure that you don’t confuse a K for a C: dr.moriah.mccracken@gmail.com.
NOTE: If you use my St. Ed’s email address, I will not have access to your collection. You must use the Gmail address above. If you forget to add the dr. I will not have access to your folder.
Once you Share the collection, you should see your name under the Permissions: box. Next to your name will be the phrase Is owner. Again, make sure you also have the file set to Private. You should also see my email address, along with the phrase, Can edit.
That’s it. You’re all set. Now, you have to wait for me to share the course folder with you. Once I do that, you will receive an email alert from Google Docs. Until then, take a nap. Grab a snack. Have some fun.
For more help with Google Drive, check out this Guide to Setting Up and Using Google Drive.