What is Google Apps for Education?
Google Apps for Education is a free, web-based word-processing, presentation, drawing, forms, email, and spreadsheet program. Google Apps for Education was introduced to students in Grade 9-12 in Columbia High School on February 1, 2016 and to students in grades 6-8 at Goff Middle School in September 2016.
Access is via the Internet using a web browser like Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome or Safari. And, since documents are all stored safely on Google servers in the cloud, we don’t have to worry about losing data from a hard drive crash or other computer glitch. Documents can be accessed anywhere there is Internet access.
What does this mean for you and your children?
- When students work in Google Apps their work is stored securely on Google servers and can be accessed from school, home or any place with an Internet connection without worrying about software compatibility or using flash drives to transport work back and forth. Google Apps works on PC, Mac, and mobile devices.
- Access is determined by grade level:
- Grades K-2 will have no access to Google Apps.
- Grades 3-8 will have limited access to Email and only be allowed to email EGCSD teachers and students. They will be able to email a teacher from home. They will also have access to Google Calendar, Assignment Tasks, Cloud Document Storage and Docs.
- Grades 9-12 will have full Email, Calendar, Tasks, Cloud Storage and Docs.
- Google is a great collaboration tool for students and staff. Documents can easily be shared with other students and the teacher. Students acquire 21st century computer, work, and collaboration skills using real technology tools.
- Documents created in Google Docs are saved every 3 seconds. Even if something is deleted, all information can be easily retrieved from the server. Students need to be aware that what they write and share is not private.
- Students go to www.google.com from anywhere there is an internet connection to access their accounts, and log in with their username and password.
- All Students will have the opportunity to receive training in Digital Citizenship. This training may be found on the EGCSD website on the Curriculum and Instruction Page.
- Parents should monitor their children’s Internet usage at home to be sure they are behaving in a safe manner and making good choices.
- Google Apps may not be used in the following ways:
- unlawful activities
- commercial purposes
- false identity in communications
- inappropriate sexual or other offensive content
- threatening another student or adult
- interference with school technology operations.
- Access to, and use of, student accounts is considered a privilege granted at the discretion of the District. The District maintains the right to immediately withdraw the access and use of a student account when there is reason to believe that violations of District policies, or of law, have occurred. In such cases, the alleged violation will be referred to the Principal for further investigation and for possible account suspension or termination.
- The District cannot, and does not, guarantee the security of electronic files located on the Google system. Although Google does have a powerful content filter in place, the District cannot assure that users will not be exposed to unsolicited information.
- Users of student accounts are strictly prohibited from accessing files and information other than their own. The District reserves the right to access the Google Mail system, including current and archival files of user accounts when there is reasonable suspicion that any unacceptable use has occurred.