Google Workspace for Education is a set of productivity tools and services tailored for schools. If you’re just getting started with the service or want to build on your knowledge, let’s take a look at the Google Workspace for Education fundamentals.
What’s included in Google Workspace for Education?
There are four options for organisations who want to start using Google Workspace for Education. Every edition includes essential apps for communication and collaboration:
- Gmail
- Calendar
- Google Drive
- Google Docs, Sheet, Slides and Forms
- Google Classroom
- Assignments
- Google Groups
All services can be managed by an administrator via a dedicated Admin console. This is how the four Google Workspace for Education editions differentiate:
Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals – includes essential tools for teaching and learning, such as Google Docs, Google Chat and Meet, Classroom, and Forms.
Google Workspace for Education Standard – everything that’s included in the Education Fundamentals, plus a security centre and enhanced management tools.
Teaching and Learning Upgrade – enhanced video meetings and live stream capabilities, classroom add-ons for full customisation and support for 3rd-party services.
Google Workspace for Education Plus – everything included in the previous editions, plus extra features such as attendance tracking in Google Meet and enhanced support.
What are the Google Workspace for Education fundamentals?
Google Workspace for Education apps can improve collaboration and help teachers achieve learning objectives; it also offers students a secure place to communicate and be creative. The tools are already used by millions of students in schools around the world; they are easy to operate and don’t require costly hardware.
- Seamless collaboration – Google Workspace tools for education make it easy for everyone in your school to work together.
- Enhanced productivity – Teachers have access to easy-to-use tools that simplify tasks and help them save time.
- Flexible communication – Connect everyone within your institution with unlimited access to email, chat, and video.
- Structured tasks – Keep teachers and students on track with to-do lists, reminders and scheduled meetings.
- Trusted security – Safeguard your organisation against digital threats with best-in-class, multilayered security
What are the fundamentals of using Google Workspace for Education?
Build the right organisational structure
Once you’ve set up a Google Workspace for Education account, decide on the organisational structure of your school. The admin tools allow you to segment the user base and give different permissions to each department. You can find out how organisational structures work here.
Integrate Google Workspace into the classroom
The Classroom app enables the communication between teachers and students. It helps everyone stay organised and get tasks done quickly. Instructors will be happy to hear that Google Classroom integrates with Google Drive and other apps such as Docs, Forms, Slides, and Gmail. This enables easy sharing and communication with students.
Use Google Docs with assignments
When teachers create assignments, it’s important to make sure students can open the related documents. We recommend attaching Google Docs directly from Classroom, instead of uploading other formats such as PDF. Google Docs can be used efficiently to create instructions or guides.
Google Workspace for Education is a game-changing platform for educational institutions to collaborate, communicate, store, and access data. It equips instructors, staff, and students with all of the tools they need. Google’s apps are also familiar to many users outside the education system; that’s why students are more likely to prefer Google’s suite of productivity apps and tools over other products.