As a newly certified Google Apps for Education Trainer, I’ve been meaning to write about using GAFE in education, amazing apps and extensions, or some other wonderfully insightful post. But as I navigate this new role, the trainer groups and all the resources out there in the community, I have come to a conclusion that I need to start with those. So, here’s my top 3 ‘go to’ places to find out about Google Apps for Education.
The Gooru: Your complete guide to everything Google. Sign up for the newsletter, download the ultimate guides (Drive, Gmail and Admin) and you’ll have everything you need.
How I use: I have the guides and refer to them if I have specific areas to learn about. All the posts and information can be a bit overwhelming and that is why I subscribe to their newsletter. When the email comes to my inbox I scan it to see what the highlights are and if it is something that peaks my interest (or I have a need to know right now) I click on it and read it.
Control Alt Achieve: Transforming Education with Technology. Eric Curtis is a Google Apps for Education Genius, and his blog is a plethora of current ‘need to know Google know how’. Just recently I got Jeopardy templates for Google Slides, learned about Virtual ruler and protractor for Chrome, and How to Play Youtube Videos Safely in Schools. Eric also has a Youtube channel and newsletter. You should follow, subscribe and check his resources out. His posts are easy to follow and packed full of useful information.
Google+ Communities I would be remiss if I didn’t include all the wonderful Google+ Communities that are available for you to join and learn from. Whenever I have a question, or I get a question from a teacher that I don’t know, I immediately go to my communities and within minutes usually have multiple answers.
And that is the best part about Google Apps for Education. When you are a GAFE user, you are a part of an amazing community with people who share, learn and grow together.