What is Google Suite for Education?
Google Suite for Education (GSfE or G:Suite) is a suite of tools that allows students and teachers to collaborate in real-time to create documents, presentations, surveys, spreadsheets and even websites. All tools are free, ad-free, reliable and secure. We encourage parents to sit down with their children to look at the school work stored within their child’s Google Drive, just as we encourage pupils to share their work with their parents.
Why is St. Geradl's DLS College using G:Suite?
G:Suite provides the ability for students and teachers to communicate, store files and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations from school or home, all within a secure “closed campus” online environment. It is important to remember an educational Google account is structured and managed different to a “consumer” or “personal” google account.
What tools are available in G:Suite?
There are many tools available - some of the more common tools we may use are as follows:
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Name
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How do I access?
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What is it?
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Google Drive
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drive.google.com
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cloud storage for all file types including images, videos and audio files. Students have unlimited storage and can access their files from any device, anywhere they have an internet connection.
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Google Classroom
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classroom.google.com
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A blended learning platform that integrates Google Suite to allow teachers to assign and collect work from students.
Classroom creates a paperless environment and saves time providing a way for teachers and students to easily communicate and stay organized.
Parents can get update emails about the work going on in Google Classroom.
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Name
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How do I access?
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What is it?
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Google Slides
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slides.google.com
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Presentation tool that allows students to collaborate together on the same presentation and easily add images, videos and graphics to tell a story.
Students can choose from templates or create their own slide format.
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Google Docs
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docs.google.com
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Word processing tool to allow students to create and edit text and paragraphs. Students can collaborate on the same document and teachers can easily provide feedback while students are working.
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Google Sheets
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sheets.google.com
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Spreadsheet tool for analysing, visualizing and charting data. Similar to the other G:Suite tools, students can easily share and collaborate in real-time.
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Google Calendar
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calendar.google.com
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Online calendar that integrates with Google Classroom to help students to be aware of assignments and/or appointments.
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Google Sites
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sites.google.com
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Collaborative webpage creation tool for publishing to a real-life audience.
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Parents' Guide to Google Classroom
(please click on the image to view PDF)
Common questions
Q: Are all students using Google Apps?
A: St. Gerald's DLS College implemented G:Suite in March 2017. Teachers are not required to use any certain Google Tools, however, they have/will receive training and the actual use is up to the individual teacher. The aim is that G:Suite supplements the high quality learning and teaching that goes on across the school.
Q: Will my child be able to access YouTube while at school?
A: YouTube Edu is used in school - this means that only approved videos with educational value are viewable.
Q: How do I get information about my child’s work in G:Suite?
A: Ask your child to show you their work. You can also ask your child’s Teacher to get your email address added to Google Classroom - this gives you a summary of the tasks.