Hornick_Dropbox

Using www.dropbox.com as a poor man's LMS
=What is dropbox? = = media type="custom" key="22016302" =

__**Topic **__ T he topic I chose for my presentation is the use of [|www.dropbox.com] as a means of submitting assignments online with multiple files per assignment.

Currently, I teach an HTML programming course that involves the students submitting many files of code to me. The standard way of appraising their work has always been to either have the students print their files or to simply show me their web pages from their computer. Printing wasted too much paper, and simply viewing their end result did not allow me to coach them on coding best practices. I was dissatisfied with both options and began to ponder how the situation could be improved. My first thought was to use the dropbox within our learning management system (LMS) for grades, but the LMS only allowed for one submission and our assignments usually encompass many files. The same was true for submissions delivered through the school classroom portal.

Finally, I decided to try [|www.dropbox.com]. Although typically used as a simple repository for files or pictures, I thought it might prove to be an adequate interactive system for my students and I to use for communications without the cumbersome awkwardness of emailing homework back and forth.

With a little creativity, I soon found that it was a perfect solution!

 (You must download the video - it was over the size limit to install in the wiki, but is less than three minutes.) || Outside the box video ||  ||
 * == __ Presentation Materials __ == || == __ Links __ == ||
 * ==== Main Presentation  ==== || media type="custom" key="22175718" ||
 * =  **Classroom Creation** in Dropbox handout ||= [[file:Dropbox presentation.docx]] ||
 * = Jing **How To** Video || How To Video ||=  ||
 * **Think outside the box - Creative ways to use Dropbox! **

__**Here are some articles that support the use of this technology **__ 1. Comparison between Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, SugarSync, and others: [] ====2. CNet review - If you're not already using Dropbox, what are you waiting for?  [] ==== 3. TopTenReviews article :  [] 4. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Video website from above: []

__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Content uses of this technology **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Dropbox, while often used as cloud-based storage, is also an excellent way to interactively share files in a classroom between teacher-student, student-teacher, and teacher-class. A few seconds of uploading or downloading and the files can be viewed and ideas then exchanged between participants without the hassles of emailing attachments. Security can be implemented on a folder by folder basis, ensuring that privacy is maintained between students’ submissions and the graded reviews. Extra benefits include having a shared folder accessible by the entire class. This class folder can contain documents such as lecture presentations for student review or assignment documents that were discussed in class. Students that miss class or have misplaced their assignments can then retrieve them at any time from this class folder without having to request them from the teacher. Any subject taught could be accommodated within this structured environment.

__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Pedagogical Considerations for this technology **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Because icloud storage methods are becoming common for many devices such as phones, ipods, ipads, and others, it is a familiar technology to students in general. In fact, my students are continuing to expand my original scope of the dropbox use because of their knowledge of it and their desire to push its limitations to the max. It was their idea to create a shared classroom folder so that they could refer back to class presentations while doing homework on their own time. It creates a great learning cycle with each of us learning from the other! The students become excited to be able to work at their own pace and submit assignments from home and appreciate being able to see grades as I upload them, motivating them to complete tasks quickly.

//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I believe by incorporating dropbox into my classroom management, the following Nets for Teachers (NETS•T) standards and performance indicators are being implemented. //
 * === Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity ===
 * Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
 * Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify ’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
 * === Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments ===
 * Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
 * Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own education goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
 * === Model Digital Age Work and Learning ===
 * Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
 * Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success.
 * === Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility ===
 * Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
 * === Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership ===
 * Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.

__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18.6667px;">Where to purchase or acquire **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The basic Dropbox can be installed for free from [|www.dropbox.com] and offers an initial 2GB of storage space. Additional space can be “earned” in a variety of ways: inviting others to join dropbox, installing it on your computer, mobile device, etc. I have attached a screen print below of ways I have gained free storage. Since students/coworkers will accept your invitation to join dropbox and view folders, extra space should be easily obtained. This semester is my first time trying this out in a class setting and currently I have gained an extra 1.5GB and am using 9% of my total available. If space does become a problem, then dropbox offers a monthly or yearly paid subscription.