Easy classroom file sharing with box.net

Box is an easy to use file sharing service that I use to share files in my courses and for my projects. Files can be shared from your desktop computer or mobile device. Box also includes collaboration tools so others can contribute to your shared folders. The Box service is located at http://www.box.net.



After you sign up for the free account, you are ready to start uploading and sharing your files. You have 5 gigs of storage with the free account. Paid accounts give you more storage, security and branding options. A complete list of features can be found at http://www.box.net/features/complete_list.

Using the Box interface for adding files is simple…just drag-and-drop from your desktop to the browser window. Some mobile apps have Box support built-in so files can be saved directly to folders in your Box account.

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You can create folders in Box to organize your files. I created a folder for each course I teach and added files relevant to the course such as the course syllabus and project files. I also use box to share files from my own projects. You can utilize drag-and-drop to organize your files and folders within the Box interface.



Here is a view from the Box iPhone app.



Box displays the URL of the selected folder or file in the Box interface. Just copy the link and paste it into an email to allow others access to your folders or files. Of course, they only have access to files that you have marked for public consumption.



Box also gives you an embed code to insert a Box widget into your learning management system (LMS) or website. A group of folders or single folder can be shared in this way. This saves me a lot of time managing files since the files are dynamically updated where ever the widget is located. I no longer have to upload files to my web server and edit the web page to include the links nor do I have to access my LMS and manage my file links. Using the Box interface, I can easily rename, add, update and delete files.



If you have a mobile app that supports Box then you can update files that the app supports. For example, if I need to update a Word document, I can edit the document with an app on my mobile device, save the document and it is instantly updated on my website and LMS.
Here is an example of what a Box widget looks like. The student or user simply clicks on the file they want to download. Students can also use Box to share files for group projects and assignments.