While I typically reserve this blog for posts of an exploratory nature, I want to plug my new favorite digital tool: Dropbox. Dropbox is a file hosting service which allows you to store your files online and synchronize them across computers. Basic accounts come with 2GB free storage.
I have two computers in separate locations at my current job, one in my classroom and one in the communal teachers' room. Where other teachers shuffle documents and PowerPoint presentations between their computers with USB flash drives, files saved in my Dropbox folder on one machine are 1. automatically backed up online and 2. automatically appear in my Dropbox folder on my other machine. It's terribly convenient.
It's also useful to work on things at home without the worry of remembering to copy and transfer them with a flash drive.
Often, I find myself working at other computers which don't have my Dropbox folder installed. No problem. I go to the Dropbox website, access my account, and I have access to all my synchronized files. Cool, huh?
I've persuaded two coworkers to start using Dropbox, and like me, they've become pretty vocal about how much they like it. If you use it to backup some of your important files (2GB is nice, but hardly enough for everything these days), I suspect you'll like it, too.
Disclosure: if you click Dropbox here and you create and an account and download the Dropbox folder utility, you'll get 2GB free storage plus 250MB additional storage, and I'll benefit with an additional 250 MB, too, and I will love you more than I already do. Or, just go to www.dropbox.com and follow your own path.
Whatever you do, I'd love to hear what sort of digital tools get you excited.
