A Quick Overview of The Latest Google Drive Updates for Teachers

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February 13, 2016
Since the start of the new year, Google Drive has released a number of key features and updates for both the web based version and the mobile apps. Here is a brief overview of some of the important updates as featured in Google Apps blog.


1- New Google Forms has become the default option for Form users
After having been opt-in only for few months, new Google Forms is now the default Form creator you will be using to design your forms. This revamped version of Google Forms has a number of added features and scripts which we will review in an upcoming post. Meanwhile,  for those of you not yet familiar with new Google Forms, here is a step by step guide to help you learn more about how to create and share forms in new Google Forms.

2- More formats, languages and filtering functionality are now supported in Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android
Android Drive users can now import and export different file formats including: (Import .txt, .rtf, and .html (in Docs)), and (Export - .docx, .rtf, .pdf, .txt., and .html (from Docs), .xlsx, .pdf, .html, .csv, and .tsv (from Sheets), and .pptx, .pdf, and .txt (from Slides). Users can also open, view, and edit spreadsheets that are formatted as .csv or .tsv files.

3- Enhanced commenting features in Docs, Sheets and Slides
With this new update Google Docs for the web allows you to instantly add a comment by simply highlighting or hovering over the edge of a page. Additionally, Docs users can type in someone’s name and a list of suggested contacts will show up. With one click you can pick up a name from the list and send them an email notification.

4- Easily organize your folders and files in Google Drive
‘When looking at Search results or items in the Shared with me, Recent, or Starred views in Drive, you’ll now see one of two options in the toolbar at the top of the screen. If the item you’ve selected is not already located in My Drive, you’ll continue to see the option to Add to My Drive. Clicking on that option will add the item to My Drive and then allow you to move it to various folders.’