UChicago offers a variety of platforms to students, faculty and staff for storing and sharing files. Among these, Google Drive and Box are the most useful for teaching purposes as they are FERPA compliant and have features that support collaboration. Below is a comparison of their features and a list of resources to help you choose which is most suitable for your needs.
Box |
Google Drive |
|
|---|---|---|
| Collaborative Features | – Upload, store, share, and sync any file type. – Create, edit, and collaborate on Box Note, Google Doc, Google Spreadsheet, Word, PowerPoint, Excel Spreadsheet. – Task Assignment, file/folder tagging, and activity logging. |
– Upload, store, share and sync any file type. – Create, edit, and collaborate on Google App Files (Google Doc, Google Forms, Google Maps, Google Slides, Google Spreadsheet, LucidChart, LucidPress). – Collaborators see edits as you make them. – Real-time collaboration using chat, comments, revision history) in Google Apps. – Up to 50 users can edit and 200 users can view Google App files simultaneously. |
| Sensitive Data (UChicago accounts only) | FERPA compliant Not HIPAA compliant |
FERPA compliant Not HIPAA compliant |
| Permission Capabilities | – Users can share folder, subfolder, and/or individual files. – Users can choose what others can do with their files and folders. – Users can share files via system generated email or links. |
– Users can share folder, subfolder, and/or individual files. – Users can choose what others can do with their files and folders. – Users can share files via system generated email or links. |
| Integration | Integration with Microsoft Office and Outlook | Integration with Canvas (LMS) |
| Offline Access | – Access files without a network connection using desktop apps. – Files auto-sync upon next connection. |
– Access files without a network connection using desktop apps. – Files auto-sync upon next connection. |
| File Space | 50 GB Storage Limit | Unlimited Storage |
| Apps | Web, PC, Mac, Tablet, Smartphone | Web, PC, Mac, Tablet, Smartphone |
| Access After Leaving UChicago | Alumni need to reset the password; all other users will lose their accounts. See details. | All users will lose their accounts. See details. |
Resources
If you need help integrating these tools with your course, or want to further explore their pedagogical uses, please contact ATS.
