Sharing files on Office 365

[steven_layton_sl]

Hi all

 

This one should seem simple, but I keep drawing a blank on a good solution.

 

A teacher has created an Excel spreadsheet on their OneDrive folder. He wants each of his Maths students to each have a copy to be able to make their own changes to, using Chromebooks (not WIndows PCs) So far, the best method I can find to do this is to email each of the students a copy of this document and for them to then save a copy in their own OneDrive folder. From there, they can then edit the document.

 

I have ruled out the sharing feature, as I think this will just allow multiple people to access and edit the same document (which might mean they'd end up overwriting each others amendments?)

 

Is there a better way than email?

[EduTech]

Hey Steven,

 

If the teacher uses the share functionality he can generate a view link which the teacher can then instruct the students to go to (maybe even make a ShortURL for it).

 

When the students access the Excel Workbook they should see the '3 circles' on the top right hand corner for 'more options' and have an option to 'Download' which they can then modify accordingly.

 

I hope that helps,

 

James.

[steven_layton_sl]

Okay so that works, but I still think its a little clunky and wonder whether my colleague and I are going about this the wrong way. I feel we're only using (and I understand) a small fraction of what Office 365 can offer.

Its a semi common requirement that a member of staff will create a document and want to distribute it a group of students. Now that we're starting to use OneDrive the work flows that we used on the LAN don't seem to have a direct replacement.

[tekins]

Okay so that works, but I still think its a little clunky and wonder whether my colleague and I are going about this the wrong way. I feel we're only using (and I understand) a small fraction of what Office 365 can offer.

Its a semi common requirement that a member of staff will create a document and want to distribute it a group of students. Now that we're starting to use OneDrive the work flows that we used on the LAN don't seem to have a direct replacement.

 

Maybe look at Ruler | Connect Office 365 and Capita SIMS this integrates office 365 with SIMS (assuming you use SIMS), looks like it would make file distribution very easy.

[EduTech]

I think you need to keep an eye out for Microsoft Classroom ;-) https://classroom.microsoft.com/

 

James.

[steven_layton_sl]

@tekins Yeah, I've looked at Ruler a few months ago and really liked their Connect product, which would do all of the managing of Groups and distribution lists. Their Classroom product (File Manager in particular) looks like it'd do everything we wanted, but at last investigation £2 per student didn't fit our budget, however excellent the product looked.

 

After saying that, Microsoft look to be releasing some form of MIS connector tool. It'd be interesting to know its functionality.

[steven_layton_sl]

@EduTech Any idea when its going to be released in the UK? Also, do you know if/when the School Information System connector will be available in the UK and whether it will link to the Capita product SIMS .net?

[EduTech]

Unfortunately I can't state when we will open up the preview of Microsoft Classtoom outside of the US. I can confirm that we will add support for other geographies for Classroom and SDS over the course of FY17 according to demand and compliance limitations.

 

Keep an eye out for updates, We will have more news on roll out plans and geographies for international availability by Q1 FY17.

[jslate1980]

@EduTech Any idea when its going to be released in the UK? Also, do you know if/when the School Information System connector will be available in the UK and whether it will link to the Capita product SIMS .net?

 

I have a preview of Microsoft classroom and SDS. Also currently creating the reports in sims that are needed by SDS. If you fancy a trip over to Richmond I am happy to show you what we are doing.

[mrnoisy]

SDS doesn't work in the uk, if anyone gets it working let me know, it's a shame classroom is exactly what we need