Google Calendar & Gmail

1. Google Calendar & Gmail Collaboration

2. Both Google Calendar and Gmail • Free for Educators • Web-based programs • Ease of use is simple for all levels • Educators should sign up for a Gmail account so that it links to your Google Account where you can have access to all Google Apps.

3. Organization of Calendar by Class or group • Set to allow invites and updates • Easy to embed into Webpage • Public or Private Settings • These options offer the ability to have secure calendar sharing to or from another calendar Implementation of Google Calendar

4. Additional Advantages • Assessable 24/7 • Offers the chance to use several calendars for your classes or groups • Organization of public and personal life in one calendar • Quick mode editing • Subscribe to multiple calendars • Can view in offline mode • Displays in agenda, month, or weekly mode • Store time-related information • Team schedules • Assignment Deadlines • School holidays • Snow days • Meetings • Conferences • Tutoring schedules for staff • Computer labs Multiple Uses

5. Posting of Student Assignments • Constant communication with parents and students • Use as a plan book to track content pacing • Embed into igoogle homepage or webpage for up to date information • Easy to copy information from other calendars into your own • Classroom application for • Elapsed time • Historical Moments Application of Google Calendar Teachers

6. Ability to retrieve homework information and due dates • Access to post information to the teacher or upcoming birthdays or important events • Allows for increased organization Application of Google Calendar Students

7. Communication with teacher on homework deadlines and assignments • Allows for copying into parent calendar for reminders Application of Google Calendar Parents

8. Disadvantages • Requires a Google account and email address • Offline gives you read only access • Possible to have information deleted or modified on calendar • Syncs with Microsoft outlook versions 2003, 2007, 2010, Windows xp, Vista, and Windows 7 • Issue of Double Syncing

9. Educational Value • Reinforces organizational skills in the classroom, personal life, and professional life for teachers as well as students. • Cost is right for any Educational institute

10. Gmail Advantages • Sign up is Simple • Upload Contacts from other accounts • Web-based so you can access from anywhere • Offers 7 GB of email storage per user • No software or maintenance • Allows access to all Google Apps • Transferable from existing email accounts; allowing you to still send replies from original email accounts • Access on a Smartphone • Chat available for those in contact list

11. Parent and Students can sub-email addresses • Allows for Organizing of incoming emails based on student • Example: • Teacher email account: • llkissner@gmail.com • Student email account: • Llkissner+janedoe@gmail.com Application of Email Classroom

12. Disadvantages • Regulating Email Accounts • Current school email accounts are monitored by the State as well as technology administrators in districts

13. Overall Benefit to Gmail • The Students are now enjoying the benefits of the switch to Gmail. With 7 GB of storage, they no longer have to delete their emails.” (Case Study) • “Total cost of ownership was reduced by approximately 66%.” (Case Study) New South Wales Government Department of Education and Training 2010 • Phasing in of Google Calendar and Gmail into an educational setting sets the stage for the integration of Google Apps in the classroom offering additional digital tools to create authentic learning situations.