Warm-up (30 seconds): Think about your Digital Portfolio folder from previous lessons. Where is it saved right now? On the computer's hard drive or already in the cloud?

Today you'll learn how cloud storage keeps your school work safe and accessible from any computer — essential for sharing your Something Real project with teachers and classmates.

Cloud Storage Basics

• Cloud storage = files saved on internet servers, not just your computer
• Syncing = automatic copying between your computer and the cloud
• Version history = cloud keeps all previous versions of your files if you make a mistake
• School accounts = your school email provides access to cloud storage with limits managed at the school/tenant level (often 100GB–1TB per user depending on Microsoft 365/Google Workspace license type and pooled allocation). Check with your teacher for your specific quota.

Why This Matters for Your Portfolio

Your Something Real project lives in the Digital Portfolio folder. Cloud storage means:

• Access from home, library, or any school computer
• Automatic backups — no lost work
• Easy sharing with teachers and classmates (Lessons 8-10)
• Safe sign-out from shared classroom computers

Follow these instructions to sign into your school cloud storage and create a test file. Stay signed in for the next activities (Portfolio Build and Reflection). This uses your school account (not personal Gmail/Hotmail).

Now move your Digital Portfolio folder to cloud storage. This creates your stable cloud home for all 10 weeks.