How to get started
We recommend you use the following pages as a checklist – tick off what your school is already doing, and explore what you could be doing next. It is possible to be on different levels throughout the areas. Use this tool as a guide to help get the most out of Google products.
Explore what’s possible with Google for Education
Google for Education products are designed to spark teaching and learning in classrooms all over the world. With the Digital Maturity Framework, we want to help you identify where you are at with your school today and how to progress to the next level.
Helping you map out your school’s digital journey
Discover how Google for Education technologies could be used across your school community. Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education are built with all users in mind so we recommend assessing your school’s progress on 5 areas. From the basics through to advanced features, see how these products can have a positive impact on your students, staff, parents, digital infrastructure and extracurricular activities.
Any questions?
Explore free technology training and resources for educators in the Teacher Center.
Join a local Google Educator Group to share best practices amongst Google schools in Ireland.
Keep up to date with UK & Ireland trainings and events.
Students
Help students realise their full potential in a collaborative, controlled environment while improving educational outcomes
Staff
Equip staff with the tools to plan and deliver engaging lessons, communicate and collaborate with ease
Parents
Enable parents to participate in the school community and build clear communication channels
Digital infrastructure
Enable digital transformation with secure EdTech solutions that are easy to deploy and to manage
Extracurricular
Help staff, students, and families plan and manage the activities your school offers
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Google Workspace for Education has transformed the teaching and learning experience in St. Aidan’s SNS. As teachers, we have noticed a significant increase in engagement and confidence of our students during the past year.
Teacher, St. Aidan’s SNS, Primary School, Ireland
Beginner
It all starts here
Schools that are just starting to adopt digital tools and technologies have an exciting journey ahead. They can see its potential to help transform teaching and learning.
What stage is your school at? Below are the fundamentals that many schools use Google for Education tools for.
Students
School account/email for each student
Students receive training about Google Classroom and Google Drive
Staff
Communications via school email
School schedule (classes and events) in shared calendars
Staff members are comfortable using Google Drive and shared files (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
Parents
Google Forms used for correspondence
Digital infrastructure
Adequate internet connection
Basic set-up of a cloud platform (staff and student accounts are created)
Extracurricular
Activities scheduled on Google Calendar
Ticked everything off? This means your school is set up with the fundamentals of Google Workspace for Education and is ready to start exploring the use of Chromebooks and more extensive use of Google Workspace for education tools - explore where you could go next
Resources to help you �go further
Getting started 8 week email series for teachers
How to get started with Google Workspace for Education
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Intermediate
Opening up new possibilities
As schools embrace more technologies in the classroom and at home, the potential to transform teaching and learning grows.
Which of these tools is your school using?
170 million+
students and teachers globally use Google Workspace for Education and 150 million+ use Google Classroom
Students
Sharing materials and assignments through Google Classroom for chosen subjects
Jamboard used for brainstorming and collaborative problem solving
Google Slides and Sites used for transition year projects, CBAs and digital portfolios
Students coding using Scratch for CS First
Digital Media Literacy class integrated into curriculum
Staff
Resources digitised and shared on Google Drive
Lead teachers use Chromebooks to support class
Lead teachers obtain L1 and L2 educator certifications
Teachers analyse and track student progress using Workspace tools (digitalised transcripts)
Parents
Calendar and Meet are used for parent teacher meetings and parent information evenings
Digital infrastructure
Class sets of Chromebooks purchased and managed by the school’s IT admin
Infrastructure set up for Chromebook management (charging stations and trolleys)
Extracurricular
Workspace used for planning school events e.g. Google Sheets for scheduling trips and Forms for signups
CS First used in extracurricular coding/science club
Ready to take your school to the next level? Explore additional tools here
Resources to help you go to the next level
Fundamentals of Google Workspace for Education training
Digital Safety Course for Students
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Advanced
Embracing a digital future
Schools that have fully embraced Google for Education tools are reaping incredible results. These schools recognise the critical role that technology plays in education today and have their sights set on a bright future.
Is your school working on any of the below topics?
Each student now has a Chromebook and we are amazed at how students who struggled to express themselves using traditional methods have excelled in their educational attainment using the Chromebook. They are simple to use and no work is ever lost because of cloud storage.
Principal, Scoil Bernadette, Post Primary School, Ireland
Students
Google Classroom is used for every class
Assessments conducted via Forms/Docs on Chromebooks
CS First integrated into Google Classroom
3rd-party tools integrated into Google Classroom where needed
Chromebooks used in class and at home
Staff
Majority of teachers complete Google Certified Educator L1 and L2
Lead teachers obtain Google Certified Coach / Trainer / Innovator
Teachers track student progress through built-in CS First Dashboards
All staff uses Workspace for internal and external communications & training
Parents
Google Sites used for parent communications
Digital infrastructure
Established system for Chromebook loaning process (Calendar, Sheets, Form)
1:1 Chromebook-student ratio
Upgraded to Google Workspace for Education Plus
Extracurricular
Google Classroom used for extracurricular activities (e.g. sports classes)
Resources to help you with advanced adoption
Want to go even further?
New features and product updates are introduced regularly. To stay up to date with all our solutions, subscribe to the education newsletter here.
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