What is it?
In line with the District’s vision to provide students with 21st Century Skills facilitated by the use of 21st century tools, West Covina Unified School District will make available Google Apps for Education to all teachers and secondary students.
Beginning fall 2010, students in Grades 6-12 (with permission from their parents) will receive a District-sponsored email account that they can use to communicate and collaborate with each other and their teachers.
THESE TOOLS WILL EMPOWER STUDENTS TO:
- Communicate using Google Email, a powerful email program without the advertisements. This service includes over 7GB of space that’s constantly growing.
- Manage time and schedules with an online calendar. Students will be able to keep a calendar that may be shared with others.
- Collaborate around documents: easily create documents, spreadsheets, or presentations and export them to traditional desktop programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Documents created with Google Docs may be shared with group members and changes may be made together in real time.
How Does it Work?
Students will need to use a username and password to log into Google’s web-based applications through the WCUSD website or by going directly to http://www.wcusd.net.
Once students have activated their Google Apps at WCUSD accounts, they will be able to use Gmail at WCUSD, the District's official email communication tool for students. In addition, they will be able to use Google's word-processing, presentation, spreadsheet and other productivity software.
Google Apps at WCUSD also allows users to store electronic files including documents, images, presentations, etc., online. For students with limited or no access to computers, the suite of productivity tools available through Google Docs allows users to create and edit documents online that are compatible with existing software found at school sites. Electronic files will be stored in the “cloud” where they may be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.
Google Apps at WCUSD and Gmail
Students at West Covina Unified School District in grades 6-12 are eligible to use a District-sponsored Gmail account. To receive an account, students must first secure permission from their parents and complete the appropriate permission form. WCUSD scans all emails and attachments for viruses and other inappropriate materials.
Student Safety and The Internet
In order to prepare all students with 21st Century Skills and tools, and provide all students with a high quality education in a safe and secure environment, it is essential that students and staff have access to the Internet and understand how to responsibly leverage technology as a tool in support of student achievement and educational excellence at West Covina Unified School District. The purpose for publishing an Acceptable Use Policy is to protect students, staff, community partners and the District from illegal and damaging actions by individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly.
District-purchased computer equipment, software, operating systems, storage media, network accounts providing email, www browsing and Internet-related systems are property of West Covina Unified School District and have a limited educational purpose. Appropriate use and effective security is a team effort involving the participation and support of every user. It is the responsibility of every user to know these guidelines, those set forth by the Acceptable Use Policy and to conduct their activities accordingly.
Literature Review
- Bugenhagen, Keri. "How-Winn goes 'online' in the classroom using Google technology." The Cresco Times Plain Dealer. 11/22 (2011). 11/23/2011 <http://www.crescotimes.com/articles/2011/11/22/news/doc4ecbc494e8c73649703168.txt>.
