5. The following tutorial serves as an introduction to Google Cloud Connect for both instructors and students. The video gives a brief overview of Google Cloud Connect, the versatility it offers, the general functions, and links to additional resources available.
6. The video covers the 3 main functions of Google Cloud Connect; Syncing Documents, Sharing Documents, & Revising/Collaborating with others on documents.
7. “ Google Cloud Connect is a plug-in for Microsoft Office® 2003, 2007, and 2010 that lets you share and edit Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents simultaneously with other people in your organization. You get the collaboration benefits of Google Docs, while still using Microsoft Office ().”
9. Google Cloud Connect is available to anyone with a Gmail account, if you do not have access to a Gmail account you can open one for free. As a student at Georgia Southern University, you gain access to Google services by way of your university email.
13. Once you have signed in to your Google account, you will need to download and install the Google Cloud Connect Plug-in, following the instructions provided. The link to the left will take you to the download
19. One of the options Google Cloud Connect offers users is the ability to configure it to automatically sync all your Microsoft Office documents with Google Docs.
20. You also have the option of manually choosing which files to sync.
21. After saving your document with Google Cloud Connect, you will receive a URL particular to your document.
22. The URL can be found directly under the toolbar, as shown in the picture above
23. By sharing that URL with group members or instructors, you can allow them access to your document.
24. “ Google Cloud Connect tracks, manages, and syncs all changes on your Microsoft Office documents into one updated version for each document. Each document that you sync through Google Cloud Connect gets a unique URL or web address that you can share with collaborators through IM or email. Depending on the privacy setting you’ve selected for the document, other people will be able to click this link and view the document in the browser.”
26. The Google Cloud Connect Plug-in for Microsoft Office allows users to easily share documents between people.
27. By clicking the SHARE button (far right side of the screen) directly from the Microsoft Word document, you can designate specific people to share the file with.
28. You can also give others permission to revise the document.
29. If a group member has also downloaded the plug-in, both members can simultaneously revise the file.
30. “ Because data in Google Apps is stored in the cloud instead of on employee computers, multiple users can access and contribute to projects simultaneously without worrying about using the same operating system, software, or browser. For example, instead of collaborating on a document by sending back and forth revisions after revision as attachments, documents are stored in the cloud with Google Apps. Coworkers can access the web-based document simultaneously in their browsers, and even make changes that other authorized users can see in real-time. Eliminating attachment round-trips by storing data in the cloud saves time and reduces frustrations for teams who need to work together efficiently ().”
32. Google Cloud allows users the ability to edit documents while working online or offline.
33. Each time you edit a document; it syncs automatically with the Google Doc version. This allows you to easily transition or refer back to a previous version.
34. To see your complete revision history: Click the document button, to the left of the document URL, and “revision history” will be in the drop down menu.
35. Each URL takes you to a different version of the document, compiling and backing up each stage of your paper. After saving a document in Microsoft word, you will receive a URL that takes you directly to the Google Documents Version.
![An Introduction to Google Cloud Connect ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/psa1-110425223212-phpapp02/85/Introduction-to-Google-Cloud-Connect-1-320.jpg)
