Chromebooks for Students:

Students at Serra Catholic are provided with Chromebooks by the school for daily use in the classroom. If students forget, lose, or need to charge their device, they can temporarily use a Classroom Loaner Chromebook or a Chromebook from the Tech Center Chromebook cart. These loaners ensure that students can continue their learning without disruption.

Chromebooks are lightweight, weighing just three pounds, offer over six hours of battery life, and start up in eight seconds, making them ideal for classroom learning. Additionally, students have access to Google Workspace for Education, which includes Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. These resources help students stay organized, collaborate, and complete assignments with ease.

FACULTY:

All faculty members at Serra Catholic are equipped with laptops to efficiently manage their daily classroom activities. Teachers utilize various collaborative tools through Google for Education to engage with students, including Google Classroom for assignments, announcements, and discussions. Additionally, teachers enhance the learning experience with applications and extensions.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Serra Catholic Faculty and Administration effectively transitioned to virtual learning using Google Apps and video conferencing. Moving forward, we are fully prepared to deliver both in-person and virtual instruction through Lessonbank, an AI-powered lesson streaming tool. This ensures students feel engaged in the classroom experience regardless of their location.

What is Google Workspace for Education?

Google Workspace for Education (formerly known as Google Suite) is a comprehensive set of essential tools designed to support both students and educators in their academic journey. These cloud-based services provide a wide range of applications that promote collaboration, productivity, and organization.

Key tools within Google Workspace for Education include:

• Gmail: A secure, school-managed email service for communication between students, teachers, and staff.
• Google Calendar: A scheduling tool for organizing assignments, events, and deadlines.
• Chrome Sync: Synchronizes data across devices, ensuring that users have access to their browser settings, bookmarks, and history.
• Google Classroom: A central hub for assignments, announcements, and discussions, allowing teachers and students to interact seamlessly.
• Google Contacts: A tool for managing and accessing contact information for classmates, teachers, and staff members.
• Google Drive: A cloud storage service where students and teachers can store and share files, documents, and presentations.
• Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides: Collaborative word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools that make it easy to work on projects and assignments together in real time.
• Google Forms: A tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and forms for collecting information and feedback.
• Google Groups: A platform for creating online communities, allowing students and teachers to communicate and share resources.
• Google Sites: A user-friendly website creation tool for building and sharing personal or group websites.
• Google Hangouts: A communication tool for video conferencing, messaging, and voice calls, supporting both virtual classrooms and personal meetings.
• Google Vault: A data retention and eDiscovery tool that helps schools manage and preserve their data securely.

These tools are integrated within the Google ecosystem to provide a streamlined, collaborative, and organized learning experience. Google Workspace for Education helps students stay on top of their assignments, collaborate easily with classmates, and engage with teachers in a secure online environment.

SCHOOL-WIDE UPGRADES (2017-2025):

• 2017-2018: Introduced Infocus JTouch Whiteboards in all classrooms, offering smart touch functionality, web browsing, and device casting to enhance interactive learning. Additionally, a new clock system was installed to maintain synchronized time across the campus.
  
• 2018-2019: Strengthened our technology infrastructure by installing WiFi access points in every classroom and upgrading the camera system. An AV Studio for student productions was launched, alongside the addition of a 3D printer in the Tech Center to foster creativity and innovation.
  
• 2020-2021: Implemented Lessonbank, an innovative tool on the Google Education Platform that simulcasts teacher instruction, converts lessons into text, and automatically uploads content to students' Google Drive. This tool played a critical role in our smooth transition to virtual learning during the pandemic.
  
• 2022: Secured grants to upgrade faculty and staff hardware and software, ensuring seamless integration of technology in education, providing our educators with the best tools for effective teaching.
  
• 2024: Focused on expanding communication and security by installing IP phones in all classrooms. Additional upgrades included the installation of vape smoking detectors in all bathrooms, a new camera system for enhanced security, and the setup of a Hudl camera in our gym to improve coverage of sporting events.
  
• 2025: Made the transition from traditional classroom boards to Clear Touch 6000A+ series interactive panels, the first EDLA-Certified panels for education. In addition, we upgraded wireless network access points and user interfaces to improve connectivity across the campus, and we installed a new bell system to streamline scheduling and communication.

SCHOOL-WIDE TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION: Beyond Chromebooks, Infocus JTouch Whiteboards, and teacher laptops, we are continuously modernizing our technology infrastructure. With support from Cloudcast Computing, we are enhancing network security, expanding WiFi access points, upgrading camera systems, and installing new phone systems in every classroom. These advancements ensure increased productivity and connectivity across the Serra Catholic campus.

For inquiries or concerns, please contact Michael Gaitaniella, Director of Technology, at Gaitaniellam@serrahs.org or 412-751-2020 ext. 110.