Google Apps in EducationSt Patrick's College,

Silverstream 

March 2010 

Agenda for Today

• Welcome• What is Cloud Computing?• Why use Cloud Computing?• Why use Google Apps?• Google Docs• Google Sites• Google Calendar• Google Video• Google Mail• Q&A

What is Cloud Computing?

• Applications traditionally run on PCs, now available on any device with Internet (mobile phone, netbook, PC, ipod etc)

• "Web-based services"• "Online applications"• "Hosted services"• See Cloud computing handout

Why use Cloud Computing?

• Applications and data available any time, anywhere by anyone - even on your mobile

• Tremendous opportunity for collaborative work online in real-time

• Minimal upfront costs• Save money by using cheap "netbooks"

instead of PCs• Latest version always available• Backups handled by someone else

Why use Google Apps?

• Free! * (for schools and homes)• Already used by many schools in NZ and

around the world• Google is by far the leader in online

applications .... and will use its huge development resources to remain so!

• Google Gears for offline access      

What is Google Apps?

            Mail (free)                        Docs (free)

            Sites (free to 100gb)            Calendar (free)

             Contacts (free)                Postini (free) 

                                Video (free to 10gb)           Chat (free)

Google Docs

• Brilliant suite of office applications - word processing, spreadsheet, online forms and presentations

• Emphasis on collaboration - multiple users working simultaneously!

• Easy to learn, upload to and from, easy to use!

• Ideal for students and most staff• Store your files online in any format • Internet down?  Google Gears! Limited at

present, coming out 2010.

Google Sites

• Exciting online web development tool• Simple for students to create their own

"point and click" websites ....• Allows a safe accessible link to learning in

classroom.• Fantastic for encouraging child speak and

reflection• right up to heavy duty HTML!• Include video, gadgets, calendars,

images, .....

Google Calendar

• Great time and resource management tool• Share amongst principal, staff, BoT, ...• Integrate work calendar with personal

calendar• Maintain privacy as required• Forget the old diary - use your mobile

phone instead!

Google Video

• Worried about kids being exposed to inappropriate material on YouTube?

• "Ring fenced" video library - download approved videos from YouTube, etc and add your own school's videos

• Complete control over content• Reduce time wastage and demand on

school Internet• 10GB per schools for free

Google Mail

• Free hosting and filtering of school mail• Unlimited number of users, each with

massive mailbox (>7GB)• Use Gmail or your own mail client eg MS

Outlook• Migration of legacy mail available • Keep your school domain• Save cost on mail servers!

Q&A

Maria Casale Watchdog Corporation Ltd

www.watchdog.net.nz