Files and Cloud Storage

Why it matters

Losing an assignment the night before it's due, or searching for "that PDF" for twenty minutes, costs you time and marks. A simple system fixes both.

A folder structure that works

Make one main folder for school, then one folder per session and course:

School/
  2025-2026/
    ECO 201 - Microeconomics/
      Lecture notes/
      Assignments/
      Past questions/
    STA 211 - Statistics/
  Personal/
    CV and applications/
    Certificates/

Keep it shallow: three or four levels is enough.

Name files well

A good file name tells you what it is without opening it:

Tips: put the course code first so files sort together, use dates as YYYY-MM-DD so they sort in order, and avoid spaces and symbols in files you'll upload.

Back up to the cloud

If your laptop is stolen or your phone falls in water, anything that's only on the device is gone. Cloud storage keeps a copy online:

Install the desktop app (Google Drive for desktop or OneDrive) and keep your School folder inside it. It then backs up automatically.

Share safely

• Share with specific people when you can, rather than "anyone with the link".
• Give Viewer access unless someone needs to edit.
• To send a big file, share a link instead of attaching it.
• Remove access when a group project is finished.

Try it

1. Create a School folder with the structure above for your current courses.
2. Rename five files from your downloads so their names make sense.
3. Install Google Drive or OneDrive on your computer and move your School folder into it.
4. Share one file with a friend as Viewer, then check what they see.