I'm just wondering what the benefits are of having a Google Drive repository linked to Moodle. Does it just link to the files? Or does it pull down the file (doc, sheet, etc) and save it on Moodle data? Thanks.
Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
Number of replies: 9Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
"Does it just link to the files? Or does it pull down the file (doc, sheet, etc) and save it on Moodle data?"
Either way.
Official Google Answer ...
https://www.google.com/drive/using-drive/
cross-platform ... PC's/Mac's/Androids/iDevices
Students don't need to purchase an office suite.
Taking that a step further ... using for Authentication
+ the extensions that exist for Gpogle Suite apps.
https://www.coolcatteacher.com/best-google-drive-add-ons/
Extending further ... storage for server ... if using Google FUSE on
a Linux server and establishing a mount for Google, 1 Pentibyte for starters. Full site backups including large moodledata/filedir for multiple sites possible.
Could lead to chromebook adoptions.
'SoS', Ken
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
I guess my question was what is the benefit of having the Google Drive repository connected to Moodle. There are a lot of steps to take to get it working (or so it seems), and I'm not sure what the advantage is of having that repository available to Moodle users. Assuming I get the repository working in Moodle, if I click on "add a file" and then go to the Google drive repository, and select a Google doc that I have there, does it end up uploading that to the Moodle data folder (so the file is now on Google drive and on Moodle)? Or does it just create a link to the Google doc (which I could also do by just copying and pasting the URL link to the file on Moodle).
That's what I'm confused about...
That's what I'm confused about...
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
Am gonna have to ask a question first ... your responses make a difference ... not only to you but more importantly students/participants in your Moodle courses.
Are you in an Higher or Lower Academia environment? K12,JC,Univ/College? Do your students have locally installed (and updated fixed/patched) office suite? Free or $$$? Do students have up-to-date antivirus software?
Are you in a corporation environment?
But maybe a simple ...
https://docs.moodle.org/37/en/Google_Drive_repository
Let's say Assignment and you've provided a MS Word doc. Students download. Edit. Upload the edited Word doc as Assignment submission.
Document should be scanned for AV/malicious content in the files both ways ... you uploading ... students would not like it that you sent them something malicious. And vice versa as well. Yes, it's a common problem and been around for as long as I can remember and it's getting more sophisticated too!
That senario would use moodledata/filedir - in Moodle ... period. Have seen K12 Moodle courses about multi-media conducted with Moodle only assignments whose backups reached 130Gig ... just the one course and 1st semester only with 2nd semester/summer sections in course yet to be available. Does your Moodle setup have unlimited space where moodledata/filedir is located?
Hmmmm ... antivirus everywhere. Your assignment files provided could be large ... multimedia editing? Do students have what they need to open and do whatever?
Google Drive ... yes, takes a little time to setup ... not 'rocket science', however.
Major diff ... teacher (ie, you) has the doc on your Google Drive ... say tidlywinks101 folder. You can set permissions to folders/documents on the Google end ... anyone with link can xyz, only users that have been invited has xyz, etc. To get a copy of the doc to students one has to add /copy to URL of the shared doc. Students, have to have their own Google Docs/Drive. The /copy will send them to google and then ask them if they want to accept the doc. That doc now belongs to them.
Submission by student to you could be URL to their edited doc where they have given you and only you permissions to edit/annontate.
Here's another thought ... which would be your students preferences? (as long as you the instructor get what you need to conduct the class/deal with the assignments/files, etc). Maybe the students do have a 'better way'. And yes, it might mean teacher would have to adjust/learn/setup something in moodle, but ....
Does that help?
'SoS', Ken
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
Just re-checked your profile here in forums. Yes ... Google Drive worth it in your case since you are located at an Edu. Means your Edu can qualifiy (rather easily) for a Google for Education Domain. Students can be given a G4E domain account controlled by your edu .... when they enroll ... for traditional classes or for online (your Moodle) or a combo of. When students are through with classes ... their accounts can be 'given' to the students ... they won't loose what they may have stored on your Edu domain. All sorts of advantages!!! ;)
Sent you a PM with a link to a Rackspace server ... a Moodle using Google.
Encourage you to try it out ... can set you up as a Manager of a Tinker category on that server. Use a google account to sign up. Hey ... nothing to loose ... FREE! ;)
'SoS', Ken
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
Provided the OP doesn't mind steering kids to Google: https://news.slashdot.org/story/17/12/03/2149239/should-teachers-get-100-for-steering-kids-to-googles-hour-of-code-lesson
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository?
Can re-call, in my former teacher life, spending 1/4 of my annual salary one year to personnally purchase technology/software. In the US, IRS has finally given educators a tax break when it was researched that many educators purchased materials needed for their kids/classrooms. While not as much as I spent, still a significant expense considering the 'average salary' of a public school teacher. Granted that's in the US where educators are held in less asteam than in other nations.
Bribe? Maybe ... but considering the entity where those teachers are employed can't offer any stipend nor do they encourage students learning how to code ... is it really 'evil'?
Maybe some folks will provide a site which ranks companies according to an
'evilness' scale ... with descriptions and justifications.
https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/fastest-growing-education-companies-2019-inc-5000-list-sell-range-goods-services/
Was investigating a K12 customer this weekend and see they have a page that
list all software they use ... with links to each companies privacy policy.
Massive list.
https://nextcloud.com/blog/a-wave-of-cities-all-over-europe-moving-to-nextcloud/
Will nextcloud join the next 'evil' list?
Sometimes, adults do not consider the wisdom of students ... they are, in their own right, becoming consumers and influencers. Yes, students do need some references/lessons to/in privacy.
Many might consider anything 'mom and dad'/school use as just that ... not their preference. As the next generation climbs to decision making positions/or influencers many might see/perceive Moodle to be 'evil' (imagine that!).
Read the details to a 'School of the Future' grant from B&M Gates Foundation one time. Interesting the stipulation to use 'partners' from a list. Hmmmm ... they all seem be 'partners' to M$. So in a round about way M$ profited by grant.
No ... I don't have a pat answer! We live in interesting times!
Here's something, however, that I would not be able to share if not for Google:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DpkDjqHV0VYzPuCJLx62bd0O8eqAorpv
'SoS', Ken
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository? [OT]
Hi Ken
Sorry for taking you on this tangent. My intention was to remind the OP that looking for benefits also includes looking for the down side. Still, there are many interesting points in your post.
US teachers, you, spending own money for school IT: Amazing, unthinkable on this side of the pond. I know few exceptions though: teachings somehow funding the hosting of a Moodle instance for their schools. But now the data privacy laws tightening, that is becoming dangerous. Paradoxically though, mass scale migration to the BIG is not a problem.
Same goes with "in the US where educators are held in less asteam than in other nations". No, the priest and the school teacher were prominence from the start of civilization here. Though the politicians are eroding both day by day, the old message is etched somewhere deep in the minds of the common people. So, still the teachers can breathe.
With your assumption "big means evil" I do not agree. To be more accurate, I do not want to believe in such a law. The world will become a dark place, if I did. No, my criticism usually points to the biggest of the BIG, the big four and a few other big shops with I encountered. I stop here not to start a lonely war with their devotees.
One last, technical, thing: That "something, however, that I would not be able to share if not for Google": What is the difference between that and a simple directory structure http://example.com/docs, http://example.com/pics, etc. with an index file at each stage?
Sorry for taking you on this tangent. My intention was to remind the OP that looking for benefits also includes looking for the down side. Still, there are many interesting points in your post.
US teachers, you, spending own money for school IT: Amazing, unthinkable on this side of the pond. I know few exceptions though: teachings somehow funding the hosting of a Moodle instance for their schools. But now the data privacy laws tightening, that is becoming dangerous. Paradoxically though, mass scale migration to the BIG is not a problem.
Same goes with "in the US where educators are held in less asteam than in other nations". No, the priest and the school teacher were prominence from the start of civilization here. Though the politicians are eroding both day by day, the old message is etched somewhere deep in the minds of the common people. So, still the teachers can breathe.
With your assumption "big means evil" I do not agree. To be more accurate, I do not want to believe in such a law. The world will become a dark place, if I did. No, my criticism usually points to the biggest of the BIG, the big four and a few other big shops with I encountered. I stop here not to start a lonely war with their devotees.
One last, technical, thing: That "something, however, that I would not be able to share if not for Google": What is the difference between that and a simple directory structure http://example.com/docs, http://example.com/pics, etc. with an index file at each stage?
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository? [OT]
Understand ... we've hijacked OP's posting ... ... but the reference didn't really give a full picture. Call it a bribe or not ... one thing for sure ... and this applies to schools that really don't have curriculum for programming anything ... a teacher brave enough can act as a 'sponsor' and as such probably should be compensated for being so brave - students really teaching the teacher.
The 'technical' suggestion ... IF the files provided became 'popular', would not be able to host on servers I maintain due to usage fees. :|
'SoS', Ken
Re: Benefits of Google Drive Repository? [OT]
Well, the OP topic is popping up everywhere:
- I think we failed
- SMTP connect error with Gmail after upgrade to 3.7
Better to continue in those threads, leaving the Google beneficiaries undisturbed.
- I think we failed
- SMTP connect error with Gmail after upgrade to 3.7
Better to continue in those threads, leaving the Google beneficiaries undisturbed.