Using Dropbox in education: 50-million users can’t be wrong!

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Dropbox: Beloved by all, but not officially endorsed by my college

• Dropbox is the technology tool most recommended by students, educators, and IT staff at my college.

• IT department staff uses it, but “can’t” recommend it to students and teachers.

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How could a so widely used technology tool not be worthy of the classroom?

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What is Dropbox?

• A free Web and mobile app tool.

• Stores and syncs files: access, update and share from anywhere, using a laptop, desktop, smartphone, or tablet.

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“Dropbox is the embodiment of the consumerization of IT. It makes saving files online mindlessly simple. Want to give a bunch of people access to your 12-MB PowerPoint presentation without crushing their inboxes? Save it to Dropbox and give them access.”

– Chris Murphy (2012)

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What’s the controversy?

• Are there problems of “privacy, performance, and security?”

• My school doesn’t control or own Dropbox, so if Dropbox has a security breach, who is responsible (ethically or legally) for recommending or implementing it?

• These concerns about online security have some merit:

• Twitter and the New York Times have had recent cyber attacks.

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What’s the alternative?

Using the college’s internal folder system.

• The issues:

• You need two folders to share files: “shared public folder” and “secure private folder.”

• Each requires a distinct password.

• System is vulnerable to blackouts and security issues.

• You’re unable to access or share files using a mobile device.

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“Mobile devices will increase pressure to provide an easy way to move things created on a PC to a smartphone or tablet, and to share huge files without exceeding corporate inbox limits (or resorting to Gmail).”

– Chris Murphy

How do you set up Dropbox?

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Downloading and setting up Dropbox for yourself:

• Visit Dropbox.com.

• Start a free account.

• Run the installer.

• Double-click on the Dropbox icon in the pop-up box.

• A Dropbox widget appears on the top of your laptop’s menu screen. You can create folders in your Dropbox, and simply drag and drop files into the widget to save them.

• Download the Dropbox app to your smartphone or tablet. Sign in with the same account and you can access your files.

Downloading and setting up Dropbox in the classroom:

• Visit Dropbox.com.

• Sign in using the account you created.

• Create folders for each of your classes or subjects.

• Click on any folder in Dropbox and “invite to folder” using students’ emails. Once you’ve invited everyone, the folder is “shared.” Everyone can add, edit, and delete content. You, the Dropbox owner, can “show deleted files” and restore them. If you don’t want students to edit files, you can upload PDFs.

• Encourage students to download the Dropbox app on their smartphones and tablets.

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How can you use Dropbox in the classroom?

1. Share assignments and readings.

2. Backup important files

3. Collect students’ homework.

4. Evaluate students’ homework and portfolios.

5. Have discussions and work collaboratively.

6. Be creative and open to suggestions on how you can use it in the classroom.

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TIP: You can provide each student with a Dropbox folder, so only you and that student can see it. ✔

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How can Dropbox increase student motivation and achievement?

• Dropbox takes very little training, so there’s almost no learning curve.

• Dropbox is compatible with other great mobile apps: Readdle Docs, GoodReader, Documents to Go, Evernote.

• Mobile apps can be the gateway to using tablets and smartphones in the classroom.

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Consider Dropbox the gateway to a larger world of iPad apps, cloud computing, and mobile technology.

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Case study: Justo de Jorge Moreno (2012) studied using “networking and Dropbox in blended learning by university students.”

The study measured “autonomous, collaborative, and proactive learning of students” as they correlate to online and face-to-face learning when students use social networking and Dropbox:

• “The implementation of blended learning has a positive effect on in learning outcomes.”

• “Students with higher levels of learning are related to the increased use of resources…and more proactive in blended learning.”

• “The implementation of blended learning has a positive effect on in learning outcomes (raising exam and work pass rates) in the subject.”

• “The use of ICTs (information and communication technology standards) can help by allowing more interaction between students and the teacher and ultimately improve the necessary process of student learning.”

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Case study: Eugene Geist (2011) examined “the practicality and efficacy of using tablet computers in the higher education classroom.”

The research involved supplying iPads to “students in a senior-level teacher preparation class” for 10 weeks and encouraging students “to use them in the way that felt the most natural and beneficial.”  

• “They allow children to explore independently. The intuitive interface allows children to manipulate objects in a natural way with little adult intervention.”

• “They give children choice of the games and experiences. On a traditional laptop, an adult is often required to change programs or experiences.”

• “They give the child control over their computer experience.”

• “The experience is an active rather than passive experience. The touch screen interface allows for active interaction with the programs at a level not possible for young children on traditional computers.”

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• Dropbox is not just the tip of the iceberg for tablets and apps, but perhaps also

the canary in the coalmine for traditional IT.

• While my college’s IT department is well-intentioned, it’s “fighting a losing battle”

(Geist) and missing the larger point: the technology is not only about apps and

mobile, but changing one’s mindset about education altogether.

• There will always be privacy and security concerns around technology. There is

little evidence to suggest that Dropbox is any worse than Facebook, Twitter,

LinkedIn or Amazon, which hundreds of millions of people use every day.

• “Mobile technology is moving speedily forward whether teachers and university

faculty like it or not.” (Geist)

Net takeaway: schools need to keep up with this shift and lead the way.

Getting left behind is not an option.

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Want to learn more about Dropbox?

• Dropbox online tour: https://www.dropbox.com/tour/1

• YouTube video: http://youtu.be/OFb0NaeRmdg

• Dropbox’s website: https://www.dropbox.com/

• Dropbox on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8

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References

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• de Jorge Moreno, J. 2012. Using social network and dropbox in blended learning: an application to university education, Business, Management and Education 10(2): 220–231. http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/bme.2012.16

• Feldman, Jonathan. "Don't Be Too Quick To Ditch Dropbox." InformationWeek 10 Dec. 2012: 3. General OneFile. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. http://0-go.galegroup.com.catalog.lib.cmich.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA311564850&v=2.1&u=lom_cmichu&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w

• Geist, Eugene. "The game changer: using iPads in college teacher education classes." College Student Journal 45.4 (2011): 758+. Academic OneFile. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. http://0-go.galegroup.com.catalog.lib.cmich.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA278276699&v=2.1&u=lom_cmichu&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

• McCallum, Brian Smith. "Getting Started With Cloud Computing: A LITA Guide." Public Libraries Mar.-Apr. 2012: 49. General Reference Center GOLD. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. http://0-go.galegroup.com.catalog.lib.cmich.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA288536309&v=2.1&u=lom_cmichu&it=r&p=GRGM&sw=

• Meloni, Julie. "Technologies for Teaching Online: Strategies and Pitfalls." The Chronicle of Higher Education57.11 (2010). Academic OneFile. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. http://0-go.galegroup.com.catalog.lib.cmich.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA241119176&v=2.1&u=lom_cmichu&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

• Murphy, Chris. "If Bono Loves Dropbox, Shouldn't You?" InformationWeek 23 Apr. 2012: 12. General OneFile. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. http://0-go.galegroup.com.catalog.lib.cmich.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA287367750&v=2.1&u=lom_cmichu&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w

Videos and presentations:

•  Dropbox. (Date unknown). What is Dropbox?. In Dropbox. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2013, from https://www.dropbox.com/tour/1.

•  Santos, P. (Sept. 29, 2009). What is Dropbox?. In YouTube. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2013, from http://youtu.be/OFb0NaeRmdg.