It's so interesting when you start a new position and have to re-think or re-create systems of organization that you are used to depending on day to day. It's such a nice opportunity to "clean house," so to speak. One of the things that I've done right away in order to start off in an organized way is to create a folder structure in my Google Drive that will house any docs I create or that are shared with me. I assign each folder a different color, too. As docs come in, or as I create new docs, I immediately place them into a folder, or create a new folder to accommodate a new topic/theme. When people share Google docs, it can sometimes be challenging to keep track of them all, but by adding them to a folder in my Drive, it is easier to locate and organize them. On a side note, if they were "shared with me" they will also be cross-listed under the "Shared with Me" tab as loose docs, but each doc will be labeled with the new Drive folder it's filed in. The best thing about Google Drive is that, no matter what, I can always search for a doc with a keyword, author or phrase. As we become more and more paperless, it is even more important to have a system to organize the vast amounts of electronic files and documents we create.
I'm a huge fan of Google Drive, especially the ability to create and collaborate on documents, eliminating the tangle of versions when a Word doc is shared and edited (Who has the latest version? Did I save it? Did I re-send it to everyone who needs it?)
Finding the right tool for the job is the key to effective technology integration. Teachers and administrators alike are very busy people, so by having a collaborative space to work, we can all save time and energy for the important tasks of teaching and learning.
