Google Offers Guidelines of Effective Technology Implementation

  • By:  Sherlyn Summers | Education News
     

    Google has taken the next step in its efforts to power forward education by releasing guidelines that facilitate schools’ plans to adopt education technology. Aimed to assist teachers and IT administrators, the new guide is aligned with the latest trends in equipping classrooms with a framework of web access.

     

    Appropriately called “Bringing Learning Online: A Guide to Activating Technology in Schools,” the guidelines set out by Google to effectively transition to educational technology highlight the need for schools to plan and apply “wise counsel” when preparing to integrate technology into their educational institutions. Lack of proper strategy lengthens the process and causes it to become more expensive, writes Justin Diaz of Android Headlines.

    Set out in five simple steps, Google navigates education systems in the right direction for proper education technology use, ensuring methods that make the process more time effective and cost economic.

     

    The first step is called “defining your goals” and calls for institutions seeking to integrate technology to have an outline of what they are hoping to achieve. Requesting to adapt the mantra “start with the learning” this step encourages setting clear goals, such as improving grades or enhancing student engagement, before selecting technological solutions and draw examples from other institutions already proficient with the technology.

     

    The second step is called “invest in access” and encourages institutions to ensure proper Internet access before setting up the new systems. Schools must arrange proper Internet connectivity (through improved bandwidth, network control and network monitoring) that is optimized and scaled to the ease of access by students and staff. With schools generally growing larger in size, the Internet should be developed to cater to the need of thousands of students. The guidelines also persuade schools to upgrade their infrastructure management for a smarter selection of tech equipment.

     

    The third step, defined “build your team,” directs institutions to get their educational upgrade plans going with the aid of a self built internal support team which sets the plan in motion. A deployment team is also essential to drive the implementation of the technological option taken up by the institute.

     

    The fourth step is called “offer web tools,” and pushes schools to utilize various web based learning techniques to improve the success of their aims.

     

    The last step, “manage change,” focuses on equipping the management accessing the technology with the proper training and tools to monitor progress follow up and ensure things are taking root.

    Google is releasing the guide in 10 languages in order to target educational institutes globally. The site has also provided a video to share some insight on Google’s vision and has integrated Google Apps for Education, Google Sites, and more; writes Zac Hall of 9 To 5 Google.

     

    This is the latesttep Google has taken to propel education. They initially established their presence in classrooms through the introduction of various apps for education programs as well as encouraging schools to utilize Chromebooks as the primary computers in classrooms.