Kellyville and Google Apps.
Posted on Mar 02, 2008 by Micah Choquette in News
At the beginning of last year, Kellyville Schools rolled out our new Google Apps program, with the key feature being the Gmail application. Gmail featured an easy-to-use web-based interface, a whopping 2.5 gig of email storage, and a spam filter that was second to none. The IT staff at Kellyville were able to successfully roll this program out to the entire Kellyville Faculty in less than two weeks, proving to be our fastest campus-wide application start up ever.
Gmail was just the beginning.
Many of our staff are not yet aware of it, but Google Apps holds several other applications that can be very effective across the campus and in the classroom. Google Apps for Your Domain includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Talk, The Google Start Page and the newly-added Google Sites.
Gmail
The corner stone of the Google Apps suite, gmail now has 6.5 gig of storage space, integrated chat functionality, email search tools, filters, and of course, the wonderful spam filter that we’ve come to love. The Gmail web application is accessible from anywhere, and you can even sign in from your mobile phone. Or if you prefer, you can access email from your favorite mail client like Outlook or Thunderbird using POP or IMAP at no additional cost. Click here for more information on Gmail. Includes screenshots and quick facts.
Google Docs
Actually titled Google Documents and Spreadsheets, Google Docs makes creating and collaborating on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations simple. Not only can you create and edit your own docs, but you can also have multiple people view or edit together. With Google Docs, you don’t have to manage multiple versions of the same attachment from different people. You always control who has access, whether it’s just yourself, your team, or your whole organization. You can even publish docs to the world. The Google Docs web application is accessible from anywhere, and you can even sign in and view docs from your mobile phone. Here’s more on Google Docs.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar helps individuals and whole organizations manage their time. Not only can you organize your personal calendar, invite others to meetings and events, and keep track of RSVPs, but you can also create shared calendars that multiple people can view or edit. You always control who has access, whether it’s just yourself, your team, or your whole organization. You can even publicize events to the world. The Google Calendar web application is accessible from anywhere, and you can even sign in from your mobile phone. More on Google Calendar.
Google Talk
Google Talk provides a free and simple way to connect instantly with your contacts with instant messaging and free PC-to-PC voice calls anywhere in the world. You can even exchange files with your contacts using Google Talk, with no file size restrictions. More on Google Talk.
Google Start Page
The Start Page lets you create a unique, dynamic place to preview your Gmail inbox, your Google Docs files and your Google Calendar, collect relevant information from your organization, and search the web. You can customize the layout and content, choosing from thousands of handy Google gadgets. More on Start Page. More on Google gadgets.
Google Sites
Google Sites is the easiest way to make information accessible to people who need quick, up-to-date access. People can work together on a Site to add file attachments, information from other Google applications (like Google Docs, Google Calendar, YouTube and Picasa), and new free-form content. Creating a site together is as easy as editing a document, and you always control who has access, whether it’s just yourself, your team, or your whole organization. You can even publish Sites to the world. The Google Sites web application is accessible from any internet connected computer. More on the new Google Sites.