I’ve written about Dropbox before. It’s probably one of my favourite applications for a long time. As someone who needs to access files on several computers, and on the move, I find it invaluable.
If you’ve not used Dropbox, it gives you 2GB of online storage space for free. Even better you can run an application on your computer that gives you a Dropbox folder in your documents folder. Any files you put into that folder are automatically synced with the online storage space. If you run Dropbox on a second computer/laptop it will also copy that folder to that machine. The next time you log that machine on, any changed files will be synced.
I was always getting confused when producing materials for training sessions in that I’d lose track of which was the most recently updated version, and which machine it was on. Now if i keep the important files in my Dropbox, if I change it on my main PC I get the updated version on my laptop. If I change it on my laptop my main PC also gets the update. It’s brilliant.
As a final thing – I can always access my dropbox via a web browser, so if I want a file and I am not on my own PC, I can still download it. You can also get a free app for your iPhone/iPad which lets you read the files on those devices too.
If you want to try Dropbox, click this link and sign up. (and I get a little extra space for the referral. Refer your colleagues to boost your own Dropbox too!)
As an extra little thing – one great addition is a site called DROPitTo.Me – this site lets you set up a password protected area where students, or colleagues can go to and upload a file straight into a folder in your Dropbox.
It would be a great way of collecting in homework activities from students.
Students can go to a DROPitTo.Me address such as http://dropitto.me/YOURNAME HERE They would then see a browse /upload button. Once they’ve chosen the file to upload they will need to know the password which you will have told them in advance,and then the file will be uploaded into your Dropbox. It’s a brilliant idea, and again is totally free. Which is even better!
You can sign up for DROPitTO.Me here http://dropitto.me/
My students are not able to access anything when they click choose file. They are only able to choose from what is in their photos or videos. Any ideas on why this is?