An Introduction to Google Apps for Education By Steven Hall, RIS K-12 Technology Coordinator

This Presentation: What is Google Apps (GApps)? What is GApps for Education? Why Do We Need GApps for RIS/T ? Benefits of GApps for RIS/T GApps for RIS/T Tour GApps for RIS/T Class Wikis Other Schools Using GApps Future Considerations

What is Google Apps (GApps)?

What is GApps for Education?

Why Do We Need GApps for RIS/T ?

Benefits of GApps for RIS/T

GApps for RIS/T Tour

GApps for RIS/T Class Wikis

Other Schools Using GApps

Future Considerations

What is Google Apps ( GApps )? Google “Applications” is a cloud based groupware product It’s a suite of various applications that permit communication & collaboration Other examples: LotusNotes, MS Exchange, FirstClass, Live.edu, Adobe, Yahoo Apps

Google “Applications” is a cloud based groupware product

It’s a suite of various applications that permit communication & collaboration

Other examples: LotusNotes, MS Exchange, FirstClass, Live.edu, Adobe, Yahoo Apps

What is Google Apps for Education ? “ GApps for Education” is a specific grouping of applications tailored for use in schools. These include: StartPage Calendar Documents Sites Talk Gmail (we currently have this turned off)

“ GApps for Education” is a specific grouping of applications tailored for use in schools. These include:

StartPage

Calendar

Documents

Sites

Talk

Gmail (we currently have this turned off)

The Google Apps Suite

Why Do We Need GApps for RIS/T ? Staff needs access to an up-to-date school calendar Staff needs a way to easily create and update websites: class wikis, departmental intranets, etc. Staff needs to work and communicate with peers & students from any device at any location, anytime

Staff needs access to an up-to-date school calendar

Staff needs a way to easily create and update websites: class wikis, departmental intranets, etc.

Staff needs to work and communicate with peers & students from any device at any location, anytime

BENEFITS 10 Reasons Why Google Apps Can Benefit RIS/T

Benefit 1: Control GApps allows centralized control & administration of all content Wikispaces , Wetpaint , Weebly , etc. do not allow any real administrative control When staff leaves RIS/T, their associated GApps content disappears also

GApps allows centralized control & administration of all content

Wikispaces , Wetpaint , Weebly , etc. do not allow any real administrative control

When staff leaves RIS/T, their associated GApps content disappears also

Benefit 2: Collaboration Users can create: Documents , spreadsheets , surveys , quizzes , slideshows , websites , intranets , wikis , calendars , instant message groups and videoconferences These creations can be shared with or edited by students, peers or parents… or kept entirely private Students and staff can log in anywhere/anytime to collaborate and communicate

Users can create: Documents , spreadsheets , surveys , quizzes , slideshows , websites , intranets , wikis , calendars , instant message groups and videoconferences

These creations can be shared with or edited by students, peers or parents… or kept entirely private

Students and staff can log in anywhere/anytime to collaborate and communicate

Benefit 3: No Software Needed No Cost (MS Office is certainly not free!) No security issues (hacked software, etc.) No legal issues No compatibility issues (.doc vs .docx, Mac vs PC.) No maintenance (software installation, updating, troubleshooting)

No Cost (MS Office is certainly not free!)

No security issues (hacked software, etc.)

No legal issues

No compatibility issues (.doc vs .docx, Mac vs PC.)

No maintenance (software installation, updating, troubleshooting)

Benefit 4: Compatible w/ all OSs Works on PC Works on Mac Works on Linux Works on any smart phone, iTouch, etc. Accessible 24/7 from any internet-connected device

Works on PC

Works on Mac

Works on Linux

Works on any smart phone, iTouch, etc.

Accessible 24/7 from any internet-connected device

Benefit 5: Multiple Administrators There is no “sole” gatekeeper of GApps for RIS/T If one of us disappears, the others can maintain the system, anytime/anywhere Tony, Liang & I are administrators

There is no “sole” gatekeeper of GApps for RIS/T

If one of us disappears, the others can maintain the system, anytime/anywhere

Tony, Liang & I are administrators

Benefit 6: Allows Tech “ Leapfrogging ” Other schools have previously invested in older, complicated & expensive groupware GApps is easier to use & manage, and is FREE Shows the world that RIS/T is taking a lead in the use of new technologies

Other schools have previously invested in older, complicated & expensive groupware

GApps is easier to use & manage, and is FREE

Shows the world that RIS/T is taking a lead in the use of new technologies

Benefit 7: Helps in Emergencies In the event of a medical or political crisis, GApps can make staff/student/parent communication & collaboration possible Courses can be run “virturally” through the use of class wikis, blogs, calendars, IM & videoconferencing

In the event of a medical or political crisis, GApps can make staff/student/parent communication & collaboration possible

Courses can be run “virturally” through the use of class wikis, blogs, calendars, IM & videoconferencing

Benefit 8: Only 1 Login GApps requires just one login to access multiple applications Other options such as Netvibes , Wikispaces , WordPress , Yahoo , Skype , etc. provide applications “individually,” forcing users to login separately for each!

GApps requires just one login to access multiple applications

Other options such as Netvibes , Wikispaces , WordPress , Yahoo , Skype , etc. provide applications “individually,” forcing users to login separately for each!

Benefit 9: Skills Transfer Learning how to use GApps is a valuable skill These skills will help staff and students be prepared for learning & working in the 21 st century Google is here to stay & learning the “Google way” will pay off Putting effort into learning the “Wetpaint way” or the “Zoho way” might be wasted effort

Learning how to use GApps is a valuable skill

These skills will help staff and students be prepared for learning & working in the 21 st century

Google is here to stay & learning the “Google way” will pay off

Putting effort into learning the “Wetpaint way” or the “Zoho way” might be wasted effort

Benefit 10: Brings Unity People are overwhelmed and frustrated by all the technological choices these days The GApps “ umbrella ” of services is simple to use (fun, even!) and provides a unified solution for many needs Helps unify our campus

People are overwhelmed and frustrated by all the technological choices these days

The GApps “ umbrella ” of services is simple to use (fun, even!) and provides a unified solution for many needs

Helps unify our campus

Google Apps for RIS/T Tour: Start Page (start.rism.ac.th) Calendar (calendar.rism.ac.th) Docs (docs.rism.ac.th) Sites (sites.rism.ac.th) Talk

Start Page (start.rism.ac.th)

Calendar (calendar.rism.ac.th)

Docs (docs.rism.ac.th)

Sites (sites.rism.ac.th)

Talk

GApps for RIS/T Wikis Ms. Vivian ( Mandarin Weather Project ) Ms. Junko ( Japanese Class ) Mr. Alex ( English Skills 11 ) Ms. Mendy ( Bio 10 Self-Assessment ) Ms. Jenny ( Accelerated 9 Math ) Ms. Gail ( Teaching ESL in the Mainstream ) Ms. Rachel ( Week Without Walls ) Ms. Jennifer ( UNEP Ozone Project ) Mr. Steve ( IT Dept )

Ms. Vivian ( Mandarin Weather Project )

Ms. Junko ( Japanese Class )

Mr. Alex ( English Skills 11 )

Ms. Mendy ( Bio 10 Self-Assessment )

Ms. Jenny ( Accelerated 9 Math )

Ms. Gail ( Teaching ESL in the Mainstream )

Ms. Rachel ( Week Without Walls )

Ms. Jennifer ( UNEP Ozone Project )

Mr. Steve ( IT Dept )

Other Schools Using GApps: Prem Tinsulanonda of Chiang Mai American School of Japan Yokohama International School International School of Kuala Lumpur Busan Foreign School King George V School of Hong Kong Carol Morgan School

Prem Tinsulanonda of Chiang Mai

American School of Japan

Yokohama International School

International School of Kuala Lumpur

Busan Foreign School

King George V School of Hong Kong

Carol Morgan School

Future Considerations Gmail for next year? Google Earth Pro – 200 free licenses Google SketchUp Pro – licenses coming May RIS/T be on path to becoming a “ Google School ”? Importance of Internet bandwidth Importance of students using RIS email

Gmail for next year?

Google Earth Pro – 200 free licenses

Google SketchUp Pro – licenses coming

May RIS/T be on path to becoming a “ Google School ”?

Importance of Internet bandwidth

Importance of students using RIS email

That’s I T .