Getting Started with Google Drive: A K12 Montana Guide for School Staff

If you've just been set up on Google Workspace by K12 Montana, Google Drive is about to become your digital file cabinet. Everything you save there is automatically backed up, accessible from any device, and easy to share with colleagues. No more emailing yourself files or hunting for USB drives.

Here's a friendly intro to the basics.

Google Suite vs. Microsoft Office: A Quick Reference

If you're coming from a Microsoft background, here's how the tools map over:

* Google Docs = Microsoft Word
* Google Sheets = Microsoft Excel
* Google Slides = Microsoft PowerPoint

Uploading Files

Go to drive.google.com. Click the New button in the top left, then select File Upload (for a single file) or Folder Upload (for a whole folder). Find the file on your computer and click Open. It'll upload in seconds.

Everything in Google Drive saves automatically every few minutes. No more losing work to a crash.

Creating New Files

Click New, then choose what you want to create: Google Doc, Google Sheet, Google Slides, etc. A new blank document opens in a new tab. Start working - it's already saving.

Sharing Files and Folders

Open the file you want to share. Click the Share button in the top right corner. Type in the name or email address of who you want to share with. Choose their permission level: Viewer (can only read), Commenter (can leave comments), or Editor (can make changes). Click Send.

Converting Microsoft Files to Google Format

Upload a Word doc or Excel spreadsheet to Drive, then double-click it to open. At the top, click Open with Google Docs or Open with Google Sheets. This creates a Google-native version while leaving your original file untouched.

New to Google Workspace and need a hand getting oriented? K12 Montana Inc. provides onboarding support and training for school staff across Montana. Give us a call.