Google Workspace for Education is specifically designed for educators and offers a comprehensive suite of online tools that foster innovation, collaboration, and effective learning in today's dynamic classroom granting teachers control while allowing students the freedom to explore and learn. 

It's more than just a collection of apps; it's a secure and versatile platform built to empower educators, enhance the educational experience for students, and ultimately, prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world. 

Google Workspace for Education recognises that teachers need the freedom to explore new pedagogical approaches and challenge their students to work in innovative ways. Simultaneously, it understands the importance of student agency, allowing them to explore concepts independently and collaboratively. Critically, it gives teachers the necessary control and oversight to ensure a safe and focused learning environment.

A closer look at the key features and applications for teachers in Google Workspace for Education:

• Gmail: More than just email, Gmail provides a safe and reliable communication channel connecting teachers with students, parents, and colleagues. Features like email filtering, labels, and archiving help teachers manage communication efficiently, while integration with other Workspace apps streamlines workflows. For example, teachers can easily share Drive files directly within emails.

• ‍Calendar: Effective time management is crucial in education. Google Calendar allows teachers to organise their schedules, assignments, and school events with ease. Sharing options simplifies collaboration with colleagues, students, and parents, ensuring everyone stays informed. Reminders and notifications help teachers stay on top of deadlines and appointments.

• Google Meet: Bridging the gap between physical and virtual learning, Google Meet enables teachers to conduct virtual classes, meetings, and presentations. Interactive features like screen sharing, chat, breakout rooms, and recording facilitate engaging online experiences. Meet also allows for easy connection with parents for meetings and conferences.

• Google Groups: Fostering a sense of community is essential for learning. Google Groups provides a platform for creating forums for class discussions, Q&A sessions, and collaborative learning projects. Teachers can moderate discussions, ensuring a respectful and productive environment.

• Google Drive: Serving as a central hub for all educational resources, Google Drive offers secure cloud storage for files, documents, and multimedia. Its accessibility from any device, anytime, anywhere, promotes flexibility and ensures that learning materials are always within reach. Version control and collaborative editing features streamline teamwork.

• Docs, Sheets & Slides: These core applications empower the collaborative creation, editing, and sharing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real-time. Students can work together on projects, providing valuable experience in teamwork and communication. Teachers can give feedback and track changes, fostering a dynamic learning process

• Google Forms: Creating quizzes, surveys, and assessments becomes simple and efficient with Google Forms. Automated marking and analysis features save teachers valuable time while providing insights into student understanding. Data visualisation tools help teachers identify areas where students might need additional support.

• Google Sites: Building interactive websites for curriculum resources, student projects, and general classroom information becomes accessible to all with Google Sites. Teachers can create engaging online spaces to share content, communicate with students and parents, and showcase student work.

• Jamboard: Transforming any screen into an interactive whiteboard, Jamboard facilitates brainstorming, visual learning, and collaborative activities. Its intuitive interface and real-time collaboration features make it a powerful tool for engaging students in dynamic learning experiences.

• Google Classroom: The central nervous system of the digital classroom, Google Classroom provides a unified platform for managing assignments, providing feedback, and tracking student progress. It streamlines communication, simplifies grading, and fosters a more organised learning environment.

• Google Vault: Keep all data safe by configuring your security settings to the standards dictated by your school or district. It allows for managing and retaining user data in a safe and secure manner with Google Workspace.

Teachers can streamline workflows

Google Workspace for Education excels at streamlining administrative tasks, simplifying communication, and promoting collaboration among teachers, students, and parents. From administrative tasks to assigning and marking work, it is all based in one place. 

One of the stand out aspects is the cloud-based nature of the tools. This ensures easy access from any device, anytime, anywhere, fostering a truly flexible online learning environment. 

This ease of access extends beyond the classroom, allowing for learning to continue outside of traditional school hours. When everything is at your fingertips like this, teachers often find that there is more space for lateral thinking. They are able to really challenge their students to engage with the curriculum and to think critically.

Connectivity builds a supportive environment.

You can connect with your students instantly, and they can connect with each other. This will help to build a real sense of community within your classroom. Troubleshooting problems becomes easier as students actively engage with each other. You are also there to help steer conversations when needed.

This level of connectivity also helps teachers to see how well their students are grasping the lessons. This gives them the freedom to tailor lessons for the individuals in their classroom but still ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal.

Track your students’ progress

Google Classroom allows you to see a snapshot of where you are in your curriculum. It holds all of the assignments you’ve handed out, as well as the ones that are coming up. It also has all of the grades you’ve given for each piece of work. 

This is an essential part of ensuring that your students understand the syllabus and won’t get left behind come exam time. 

As the teacher, you also have all the necessary information at your fingertips to adjust lesson plans or assign extra tasks to the students that need it.

Pair this tool with the Mobile Guardian classroom management solution, and you’ll have unprecedented access to information about how your students are doing. You’ll also be able to see what they’re getting up to in and out of class.

Built-in Security Vault

Recognising the sensitive nature of student data, Google Workspace for Education prioritises data security and privacy. Through Google Vault, educators are able to ensure student and institutional data is protected. 

Compliance with regulations like COPPA and FERPA ensures that student information is protected. Robust security measures safeguard against unauthorised access and maintain a safe online learning environment.

Google Vault provides schools with functionality that helps schools retain their data, govern information through defining data retention and deletion policies, improve security via managing access controls and audit logs to ensure that only authorised users are able to manage and access sensitive data.

Maximize Your Google Workspace Investment with Mobile Guardian

Ready to take your school's digital learning environment to the next level?  

Integrating Mobile Guardian with your Google Workspace for Education deployment offers a powerful combination of collaboration and control.  

Learn more about how Mobile Guardian’s Campus solution can help you.

• A Complete Platform for Digital Classrooms.
• Request a Demonstration. We would love to show you our product!

For insights into how Google Workspace for Education supports administrators, check out our companion blog post on the Benefits of Integrating Google Workspace for Education with your MDM. 

This blog explores the benefits of Google Workspace from an administrative perspective, highlighting features that streamline school management and enhance IT efficiency.

Use Google Workspace for Education for educators in your classroom

In conclusion, Google Workspace for Education empowers teachers with innovative tools to enhance their teaching practices and create engaging learning experiences for students. By fostering collaboration, streamlining workflows, and prioritising security, Google Workspace revolutionises the modern classroom.

Onwards,

Robyn Hobson

Team Mobile Guardian