1. Mrs. Christye Johnson Dekalb County School District

2. What is Google Apps for Education (GAFE)? Google Apps for Education is a suite of free, secure tools that includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites. The newest application Classroom will rollout in September 2014!!

3. What is the purpose of Google Apps?

4. The Technology Vision for Dekalb County School District

5. How will Google Apps support the DCSD Technology Vision? GAFE supports the DSCD Technology Vision because it provides staff with the opportunity to use Google Applications to create interactive and engaging lessons, projects, and learning experiences. GAFE supports the DSCD Technology Vision because it provides students with the opportunity to learn 21 st century technology skills, teamwork and collaboration, document creation, website development, and project development.

6. Who can use Google Apps for Education? Any K-12 or higher educational institution that is not- for-profit and formally accredited can sign up for Google Apps for Education. All DCSD students, educators, and administrators can use GAFE.

7. Strategies for Equitable Access Google Apps for Education can be accessed from all DCSD computers, district provided laptops and tablets, as well as from home computers and devices, all public libraries and any or other places where computers are available and have access to the Internet. With the significant percentage of student and staff usage of Smartphones and devices (including all platforms- Android, iOS, Windows, etc.), it is anticipated that 80-90% of students and staff will have access to GAFE. Students, staff, and stakeholders will be notified of GAFE availability via DCSD website and internal communication to ensure access.

8. Software and Equipment for Implementation The current DCSD IT infrastructure (including desktops, tablets, laptops, and other smart devices) will sufficiently support the implementation of GAFE. GAFE does not require additional installation of software or equipment, all that is needed are devices with Internet capability.

9. Technical Support for Google Apps Google provides Technical Support for the GAFE at NO cost, as the entire platform is FREE! The DCSD IT team can feel secure in the fact that Google provides full apps support through both the Google Apps Support site, via administrator help forum with Google Apps Advisors, by phone, or by email.

10. Google Apps for Education Limitations, Ethical Concerns Google Apps for Education includes dozens of critical security features specifically designed to keep student/staff data safe and secure. Your data belongs to you, and Apps tools enable you to control it, including who you share it with and how it can be shared. In addition, Google’s data center network provides exceptional security and guarantees* reliable access to your data everyday of the year, 24 hours a day.

11. Cost of Google Apps for Education and Potential Funding Sources GAFE is completely FREE! There are NO additional costs for software, installation, or training! Google provides TONS of free resources that can be used for implementation, training, and review and current DCSD Technology Infrastructure is sufficient. In addition, Google plans to keep the core offering of Google Apps for Education free, including the addition of future incoming student and staff user accounts. There is no need for potential funding sources since additional funding is NOT needed!

12. How can Google Apps be used in the classroom? GAFE can address and satisfy course content standards and technology standards in numerous ways. Standards based assignments and activities can be created in Docs and disseminated via Gmail, Sites, and the upcoming Classroom by both teachers and students. The utilization of these 21 st century methods of collaboration and communication will strengthen the technology skills of staff and students.

13. How can Google Apps be used in the classroom? GAFE can assist DCSD teachers in assessing student learning goals in a variety of different ways. According to research conducted by Miller (2013) during her school’s GAFE rollout, she discovered that Google apps provides ways for teachers to see in real-time what standards their students are learning and be able to determine the learning goals that need to be addressed further.

14. How can Google Apps be used in the classroom? GAFE supports classroom differentiation because it will allow teachers to create varied assignments and projects with optional methods of student delivery and completion. Allowing students with various backgrounds and learning experiences to utilize the GAFE to also choose their methods of assignment completion (a Google Doc, Site, or Slide, etc.) allows for differentiated learning experiences.

15. Teachers can use GAFE to communicate in a number of ways with their students. For instance, they can use the Google Calendar to update class news, assignments, and due dates. With the addition of Google Classroom, communication will be centralized and easier to manage assignment dissemination and due dates. Also, using a teacher Google site, a teacher can share important course information and add Google Forms to collect student data and share syllabi, permission slips, etc. The communication possibilities are endless! How can Google Apps be used in the classroom?

16. Research on the Effectiveness of Google Apps in Education With the increasing popularity of GAFE for K-12 schools, more research and case studies are becoming available that detail the effectiveness of GAFE for students and educators. Quotes from Research: Nevin (2009) shares from one principal, “Our technology and information systems are a huge selling point for parents [who] may otherwise have doubts [about sending students to our school].“ Nevin (2009) further shares that “Google Apps eliminates all these problems and provides an integrated solution where students have access to their work both at school and at home in a collaborative environment without the worry of losing data. Google Apps helps make the technology easier so students can concentrate on learning.”

17. Research on the Effectiveness of Google Apps in Education Additional Quotes from Nevins’ (2009) research: Software is available for free and it does not have to be installed. Also programs do not have to take up hard drive space on the computer. Software versions are automatically updated when new features are added. Documents are automatically saved. No more lost documents even if the computer crashes. Reduces the need to print, because of access to documents at home and at school. (Another important advantage is that students are using exactly the same computer environment at home and at school. Also students receive free software for home use; this is especially good for presentation and spreadsheet software, which students often do not have at home.) Students can access Google Apps from their cell phones and any device that has access to the Internet.

18. Implementation Plan and Change Model Google has made concerted and committed efforts to assist IT administrators and schools in successfully planning for and implementing GAFE. By visiting Google Resource site, the DCSD IT staff can navigate through the GAFE deployment guide, detailed webinars, user groups, and the Guide to Going Google to guide them through the process of implementing GAFE from start to rollout.Google Resource siteGuide to Going Google Google representatives and trainers are also available as needed (by phone, via email, and online forum).

19. Professional Learning GAFE supports staff professional learning by providing an abundance of training resources, including learning guides, presentations, webinars, user groups, online training, and lesson plans. These resources are all available online for on demand training needs. In addition, DCSD educators have the opportunity to increase their GAFE knowledge by becoming a Google Certified Teacher or applying to the Google Teacher Academy.

20. Reflection In conducting my research for this project, I found that Google Apps for Education provides the solution to many of the collaborative, instructional delivery, and continuous engagement issues surrounding a school district’s lack of ability to achieve their Technology vision. In addition, providing a free solution with almost unlimited resources, technical support, professional development, and continuously evolving application use gives DCSD an opportunity to achieve our Technology vision and mission, which is to “prepare students to lead and succeed in a rapidly changing world” and equip them with the necessary 21 st century skills.

21. Images: https://sites.google.com/a/googleapps.com/k12-guide-to-going-google/get-the-word-out/logosl http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/