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What are your Digital Learning Options for Your Classroom?

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In today’s world, technology is everywhere. Technology is everything. Technology is awesome! But, technology is also overwhelming and everything seems to sound and look alike, making what should be stress-free, stressful. As a teacher who is either interested in going paperless, or already paperless, you and your students have options, but sometimes those digital learning options are confusing and you may be referring to one thing but really mean another. As a blended learning/paperless teacher myself, I totally understand the frustration.


Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

I have broken down four of the main cloud-based digital learning options you may use in your paperless classroom:


Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.
Google Classroom is a virtual classroom, set up by the teacher, filled with your actual classroom students. This website allows for your students to join their virtual classroom, receive assignments and documents from you, turn in assignments and projects and provide and receive comments from their classmates and yourself. Documents you create using Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Forms can be easily linked to Google Classroom for your students to view and download to their own files. The teacher can grade assignments, leave feedback on assignments and provide notifications and alerts if needed. The teacher can also sync their classroom calendar to their student’s calendar so there are no more missed due dates.

Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

Google Drive:

Google Drive is the central location where all of your Google-made documents are held. Your drive contains the folders you create for specific classes or specific topics. It shows you all documents that have been shared with you from other users. The “new” button links you to other Google Apps (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms) to start a new document. The trash bin shows you what files you’ve recently deleted. Google Drive is the starting place for you, as the teacher, to create your Interactive Notebook activities.

Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

Microsoft365:

If you are not ready to explore the Google world and are more comfortable in the Microsoft world and the Microsoft programs, but don’t want to pay a lot of money for new editions, this one of the digital learning options is for you. Microsoft365 utilizes the Cloud technology, meaning everything is stored online. Microsoft365 offers the traditional programs such as Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Publisher, Outlook, Access, and OneNote. They are available from any Internet-capable device and for a small fee updates annually.

Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

OneDrive:

OneDrive is the central location where all of your Microsoft files are stored. All documents you have created using the Microsoft programs are stored on this website and are accessible from any device. They are kept within user-created folders and you are given the option to share documents with others.

Now that you’ve gotten a basic breakdown of each of the main types of programs available, let’s compare and contrast a few of them to erase some of your confusion.

Google Drive vs. OneDrive

Same:

  1. Holding spots for all of your files
  2. Links to documents for creation (Word processing, presentations, spreadsheets)
  3. Cloud-based
  4. Accessible from any Internet-ready device
  5. You can share documents between users
Different:
  1. Google using Google Apps only
  2. OneDrive uses Microsoft programs only
  3. Can not be shared between the two for storage

Google Drive vs. Google Classroom

Same:

  1. Utilizes all Google Apps
  2. Can easily transition between the two
  3. Share documents between each and to other users
  4. Cloud-based
  5. Accessible from any Internet-ready device
  6. Free for users


Different:
  1. Drive is the holding spot for all user-created, and shared documents
  2. Classroom is your virtual classroom for your students to use
  3. Drive is for the creation of folders and files to be sent to Classroom
  4. Classroom receives the files from Drive
  5. Classroom is designed for your students to complete and turn in assignments, receive alerts and notifications from their teacher, and receive feedback from their classmates.
  6. Drive is designed for collaboration on specific assignments such as an essay, report, spreadsheet or presentation.
  7. Classroom requires an education/school e-mail for setup

Microsoft 365 vs. OneDrive

Same:

  1. Cloud based
  2. Accessible from any Internet-ready device
  3. Both utilize Microsoft programs
  4. Documents can be shared amongst users


Different:
  1. 365 is designed for the creation of documents in Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Publisher, etc
  2. OneDrive is the main storage location for all created folders and files
  3. 365 documents are saved to OneDrive
  4. 365 is available for a fee


My hopes are that after reading this, your confusion with the digital learning options has diminished and you’re able to distinguish between the different programs. It may seem overwhelming, but that’s what I am here for!

Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

Are you wondering what your digital learning options are for your classroom? Between Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Classroom, and Microsoft 365 - this post has you covered! Learn about the similarities of each through a detailed comparison of each one. Whether you teach primary students, upper elementary, middle school, or high school - this article will ensure you know what technology to use in your classroom to help your students find success with your online teaching.

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I’m so glad you are here! My name is Danielle. I am passionate about helping teachers and homeschool parents promote critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication with their students. 

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