🚚 Migrate Class files to OneDrive & SharePoint (S: & T: Drive Migration)

As a part of Information Technology's ongoing efforts to migrate away from our legacy network drives to OneDrive and SharePoint (Microsoft's cloud storage offerings), we are migrating files away from the S: and T: drives. This article will help you understand the new options available for distributing, storing, and submitting files related to class work. 

Option 1: Store Files in Canvas

For files totalling less than 100MB, Canvas is a great option for making files available to students and requesting submissions from students. If you're having trouble using Canvas, or have questions about the ways you can use it for storing files, please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Option 2: Store Files in OneDrive

For files that are too large to store directly on Canvas, Information Technology recommends storing the files on your OneDrive (or on your Department's SharePoint storage), and sharing the files, or even an entire folder of files, with students using a link. 

Step 1: Upload the files.

There are quite a few ways to upload files to OneDrive. Use one of the options below to move your files into OneDrive: 

• Open OneDrive in a browser, and drag & drop files or folders into the web browser window.
• Move the files into the OneDrive folder on your computer, and let them begin syncing to the cloud.
• Drag and drop files into the "Files" tab in Microsoft Teams 

Step 2: Create a link to share. 

After your files are in OneDrive, you'll need to share the file or folder that you'd like students to be able to access.

To share a file or folder: 

• Select the file(s) or folder(s) you'd like to share in your OneDrive folder or on the OneDrive web interface.
• Right-click the files (or click the 3-dot menu in the web interface) and select Share
• Select the sharing option that best suits your needs. 
  • People in Cedarville University with the link (Recommended) - Allows anyone who has the link to access these files as long as they have a Cedarville University account. 
  • Anyone with the Link - Allows anyone in the world who has the link to access these files
  • Specific People - Allows only the people specified to access the files
  • Allow Editing (Not Recommended) - Allows anyone with access to the files to change or delete them. 
• Click Copy Link to copy the sharing link to your clipboard. 

Step 3: Publish the link to your class files on Canvas. 

Use the link you copied in the step above to direct students to the class files in OneDrive. Once they click the link, they may be asked to sign into their Cedarville University OneDrive account, but will afterwards have access to view and download the files you have shared with them. 

If a student would like to sync a shared folder to their device using the OneDrive Sync Client, they can do so using the instructions at Sync Shared Folders in OneDrive

Option 3: Request files using OneDrive

If you would like students to submit files for an assignment that are too large for Canvas to accept, you can create a File Request link that will allow students to upload their submissions. 

To create a file request: 

• Open OneDrive in a browser, and create a new folder where you'd like the submitted files to be located. 
• Right-click the folder (or use the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over the folder), and select Request Files.
• Enter a name for the file request. This name can be different from the folder name, and it can be as specific or as general as you would like -- it's possible to use a file request link for a single assignment, an entire class, or any class that you are teaching. However, it may be easier to organize files if you use more file requests that are more specific. 
• OneDrive will generate a file request link. Click Copy Link to copy the file request link to your clipboard.
• Share the link with your students Canvas. Students will be given the option to upload files, but will not be able to see any of the contents of the folder. 
• You will be notified by email when files are uploaded to your OneDrive.