GAFE Introductions

Last week, I began introducing the new Google Apps For Education accounts to the Fifth Grade classes. I met with each class and students logged into their account, explored where the different features are, what they looked like, and what the limitations were. For example in email, students can communicate with teachers and teachers to students, but students cannot email other students or send/receive email from outside of our Round Rock ISD domain. I explained that this is all part of keeping students safe in our education environment. They enjoyed exploring Google Drive and discovering ways that they can use it to streamline projects that they will be working on throughout the school year. Student's brainstormed that they wouldn't have to bring/remember their USB memory drive anymore and that they could collaborate on a project with the same students whether they were at home or at school. It blew their minds a little when I described writing an essay on a Google Doc, sharing it with their teacher and then turning in...nothing! Save a tree and still complete your assignment!