Community High School District 128

D128 is Going Google!

Google Apps for Education for Students

Google Apps for Education is a set of free, customizable tools that will provide opportunities for students and faculty to work more effectively in a collaborative environment. This comprehensive, cost-effective I.T. solution is entirely browser-based, making it easier for students to work from any Internet-accessible computer, without having to purchase expensive software to communicate or do their homework.  Google Apps will replace the current iMail system used by students for district email purposes and replace their current network storage for documents and other files.  Students will still use their same  “username@lhswildcats.org” or “username@vhhscougars.org” email addresses under the new Google Apps program, but will access their email account through their Google Apps login.

Here are the primary reasons for migrating to Google Apps: 

Students are more comfortable with Google Mail. – The Gmail email system is nearly identical to the same Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and other web-based mail systems that students use regularly for their private use.  Students will have a firstname.lastname@lhswildcats.org or @vhhscougars.org email address, depending on which school they attend.  In short, their email address won’t change next year, just the application for managing it will.

• Students can manage their documents without having to be logged into the school’s network. – With a Google App account, students have their document storage accessible through the Internet from any computer or mobile device.  Students will no longer need to have Microsoft Office or a similar product installed to create and save documents or presentations.  They can choose to use the free Google Doc tools to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations and then collaborate with each other or the teacher in real-time right inside the browser window.  Students will no longer need to transport documents to school via flash drives or by attaching them to emails that they send to themselves.

• Students will be better prepared for college or the workplace. – Thousands of universities and colleges have already migrated to Google Apps and these types of shared, collaborative communication systems are becoming standard in the business office and other work environments.  Students can use Google sites to begin preparing e-portfolios early in their high school careers.

About Google Apps for Education:

Google Apps for Education allows schools to give Google's communication and collaboration applications to their entire education community for free. All services are hosted by Google and are available to users via any Internet-connected computer or mobile device. Google Apps for Education includes, but is not limited to, the following services:

Gmail - provides seven gigabytes of e-mail storage per mailbox, highly effective spam filtering and powerful search with integrated voice and video chat

Google Calendar - allows easy coordination of work or class schedules, meetings and events online
 
Google Docs - allows users to create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms and drawings in real-time as well as upload and share any file type
 
Google Sites - gives users the ability to develop and customize rich websites and embed Google Docs, Google Calendars, videos and other media -- all without requiring any technical expertise
 
Google Groups - offers the ability to create mailing lists and discussion forums allowing students and teachers to easily and efficiently share documents, calendars, sites and media with specific groups.

D128 Staff Members who wish to have their Google accounts activated should contact either Temple Murphy or Bob Bartnik at their respective buildings or email your request to helpdesk@d128.org.

Student Login Instructions 2011-2012 

login name:  firstname.lastname
 
password:

- If the student is at LHS, their initial password is lhs followed by their ID number
-  If the student is at VHHS, their initial password is vhhs followed by their ID number
 
Example - If LHS student John Johnnies’ ID number is 123456, he would log in to Google Apps as john.johnnies using the password lhs123456

Go to one of the links below to login to your Google Account:

For LHS:  http://docs.lhswildcats.org/

For VHHS:  http://docs.vhhscougars.org/

D128 Tech Zone - Google Support Resources

Additional Google Orientation Resources: