There have been many times during my work days when trying to send large video files, or just sending numerous presentations to multiple participants via email has turned into an arduous scenario. Forward progress has been bogged down due to file size restrictions in my outgoing email, or multiple recipients email boxes are stuffed to the gills and full!!!!! Then hours or minutes later multiple emails with my large attachments bouncing through cyber space are back. I finally remembered an old adage from my army days “work smarter - not harder.”
I had been using a file sharing service to ferry my online homework to my graduate instructor in Nebraska for quite some time and realized this may help for my work conundrum as well. The file sharing service I use is called Drop.IO and can be found at http://drop.io/ . It is extremely easy to use and has video tutorials to get you started. After a few trials I have started using a simple naming convention to keep track of all my drops. You can create as many free drops as you want, but there are limitations to the free drops, of course. You have limited file size and length of time to have the files available on the site. So consider them temporary solutions for temporary situations.
You can upgrade to a more permanent site if you see the need for ongoing uses to your file storage. An example might be for a semester long housing of multiple video or presentation files with many students accessing the files using streaming technology. I have recommended this solution to many of my Distance Education instructors, as they can use their DE fees to pay for a Drop.IO site to house and download audio and video podcasts.
The Drop.IO sites I have used for my DE faculty, conference presentations and my own class homework have really streamlined my email and life. I would highly suggest Drop.IO or many of the other online collaboration products out there like 4shared, Mediafire or Binfire. I have not tried these sites personally, so wade in with caution and read the fine print first.
Please feel free to contact me or any of the Instructional designers:
Valerie ShapkoSenior Instructional Design Specialist, Houston Centervshapko@twu.edu713.794.2042
Tracey Mac GowanSenior Instructional Design Specialist, College of Professional Educationtmacgowan@twu.edu940.898.2773
Jake McBeeInstructional Design Specialist II, College of Arts and Sciencesjmcbee@twu.edu940.898.2784
Diann MaurerInstructional Design Specialist Idmaurer@twu.edu
