We conducted an information survey last month (Sept 2013) to find out what is happening in NH schools in regards to Google Apps for Education. This very informal and unscientific survey indicates that the vast majority of NH schools have some type of Google Apps for Education implemented. Most schools who reporting having 'GAFE' indicate that they have 'fully implemented' it as opposed to bits and pieces. Only a few schools report using it for email only.

The demands in education have never been greater and there are a plethora of technology options in regards to infrastructure, devices, wireless options, software, web tools, professional development and more. Quite frankly, it makes my head spin. Maybe that is why I love Google Apps for Education so much. It solves so many problems and presents so many solutions for educators and students (as well as administrators).

I often refer to Google Apps for Education as a 'Treasure Trove of Opportunity' because so many of the gems go hidden and undiscovered, like Storybuilder, Chrome App Extensions, Google A Day, Cultural Institute, Scripts like gClass Folders, Google+ Communites, etc.

Beyond the tool is the 'use' or 'application of.' Our amazing community of brilliant educators find innovative and constructive ways to use the core suite and extended Google apps tools and resources and share with each other in forums, conferences, webinars, shared presentations, blogs, twitter and other social media venues.

The unique opportunityhat all of these things are tied to a single account. One login. One password. Anytime. Anywhere. Endless possibilities. You don't have to sign up for something new or reinvent the wheel every time you get a new idea or what to do something 'else.'

Before using Google Apps for Education, I worked collaboratively with social studies teacher, Liam Coyle, to bring the three ring binder for his infamous 'Project Adopt A Country' to a digital portfolio.
Find a web tool (wiki) that will allow for online publishing that is free for the entire class that each student can access without having an email address.
Students wait up to 15 minutes to get logged in and into a network folder to access work.
Use Microsoft Word to draft and complete written work.
Save files to network drive which are only accessible during school hours if you can log in.
Save Word files to pen drive to bring home and work on them. Forget to bring pen drive to school.
Create Powerpoints and then upload to wiki (but then had to be downloaded elsewhere for viewing)
Some web tools couldn't be embedded so they were linked.
It was possible, but it was not easy.

Then Google Apps for Education came along and for this project:
Docs, Slides and Sheets vs. Microsoft ~ Anytime access, easy feedback and commenting,
Sites for portfolio ~ Insert from Drive ~ Charts, presentations, essays, maps,
Research tool ~ easy access to information, images and 'auto cite' for easy & accurate citations.
Sites was the 'portfolio' and most of the work was developed logged into a single Google Apps Account.
Cloud based ~ Chromebook Carts eliminate Network Login Delays
Everything Accessible in Real Time
One version of any one document with revision history
Portfolio tied to Google Apps Account
Teacher has EASY access to everything for formative assessment and feedback throughout
Transferable skills ~ what they learn here can be used in other classes because they use GAFE