Cloud services and distance learning
The pandemic has illustrated the cloud’s potential, accelerating and enabling distance learning and enhancing collaboration between teachers, learners and parents. Cloud services can also increase productivity, flexibility and reduce costs.
How you incorporate cloud computing into your school will depend on several factors and it needs to be considered carefully. We can advise you on the options and help you to put together a cloud computing strategy that’s right for your school.
Some schools may access everything in the cloud but others may opt for a hybrid solution with a mix of cloud and locally-hosted systems or services. We work with you to identify the best service for your school by considering the factors below.
The cloud-based services you use currently
Whether those services deliver what you need – e.g., efficiency, flexibility and security
If your current school infrastructure could support a move to the cloud, and
Whether your staff know how to use these technologies and feel comfortable with them.
As you can see, a move to the cloud can provide many benefits but you need advice and some careful consideration first. That’s where we come in!
Microsoft Teams and Google for Education
There are two superb suites of tools available in the cloud for schools, namely Microsoft 365/Teams and Google Workspaces. Both are very capable of delivering what most schools need; each with its pros and cons. Which one should you opt for? Generally it depends on usability and workflow required; many secondary schools use both.
Microsoft 365 and Teams
Many know Microsoft through using Windows and Office. Office 365 provides a wide range of tools such as email and office applications but Microsoft Teams is the main focus in education.
Teams allows groups of users to work collaboratively. You can assign tasks, quizzes and homework as well as shared editing of documents and video meetings. Teams also fully integrates with Office and other Microsoft products. Additional licensing can provide enhanced features but the basic Teams package should cover all you need.
Google Workspace for Education
Google Workspace for Education provides free and licensed tools that are tailored for schools to collaborate, streamline instruction, and keep learning safe.
For a school to successfully build its own public cloud infrastructure would be a major undertaking. Google has a purpose-built platform for schools wishing to move their curriculum to the cloud. Google Workspace for Education is a comprehensive hosted suite of free cloud-driven services that provide productivity tools for teaching and learning.
To ensure maximum productivity, you need to be able to access data from anywhere whether in school, at home or on the move. Learners can look up previous classroom work, review teacher material and submit homework. Staff can also manage email, assignments, homework and prepare for the next lesson and all they need is access to the internet.
A key aspect to Workspace is the use of Chromebooks: shareable, web-based devices that you can use to access the internet with enriching apps and Google Classroom. With automatic updates and multi-layer security, Chromebooks are ideal for classroom use and offer significant savings over traditional laptop technology. They can also increase lesson time by reducing log-on times and removing the complexity of lost and forgotten passwords. This simple step can increase classroom productivity by up to 35%.
Computer Talk has successfully migrated over 100 schools and offers the technical experience to transition an environment with minimal impact whilst improving learning outcomes.
Learn more about Google Workspace for Education
Currently, you can apply for funding from the Department for Education to set up a remote learning platform using Microsoft Office 365 or G-Suite for Education. Find out if you’re eligible.
