ICT

Individual Google Drive Logins for P5 Students

We have for over a two years been using the Google Suite of Apps for Education to support learning with children in P6 and P7.  Last year we extended the practice to P5 and are doing so this year also. Children have been given this week individual logins that give them access to online apps such as Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms & Quizzes, MyMaps and Sites.  (They are not given access to Google Mail through their school accounts or accounts with YouTube.)

There are several benefits that children receive from using these apps and the benefits from being able to collaborate with each other effectively are outstanding.  If your are interested in the pedagogy it is outlined in this video (from 6 minutes 40 seconds): https://youtu.be/gXpZYRsTnYc?t=6m40s  .

The children have individual PDO School domain logins (e.g. name@pdoschool.com) and passwords.  This will not give them access to email (or Youtube accounts) but will allow them to create through Google Drive, documents and presentations etc. which they will be able to share with others and work on simultaneously.  For example, the class might make and edit a slide show online using Google Slides with a couple of children each researching and making one individual slide together.

The use of Google Suite will also allow the children to develop their understanding of the need to behave responsibly online as part of becoming responsible digital citizens.  They are asked to comply with the following expectations being given their logins:

• I will remember my password
• I will not share my password with other children
• I will accept responsibility for everything done using my login
• I understand that my teachers will have full access to my account and all of its history
• I will always be considerate and respectful towards others with all documents online just as I would with any other written work in class

We are excited by the possibilities for new exciting ways of learning together and believe the children will both enjoy and benefit from the experience.