Using google mail for school email, is it a good idea?

[joseph]

Dear All,

Reading the forums I've found out that some of you use google mail for your schools and I'm contemplating that possiblity for the future.

After thinking about it I found the next pros/cons, and I'll be really thankful if you could add your owns, or even better tell me good / bad experiences doing it:


CONs:
-I won't be able to monitor the school email to avoid bullying
-Not sure the level of control that I will have to limit the mailing to other people in the same domain or things like that (for example for younger kids which I don't want to send/receive emails from outside)
-Managing contacts and calendars (is it easy to share this info in google mails)
-Google can read confindential emails sent to parents.
-Google adverts
-With my own server I manage backups and I can recover lost emails
-less accesible from home (slower)

PROs:
-I won't have to worry about backups
-I won't have to worry about data storage
-Cheaper as I don't pay for the email server licenses
-More accesible from home



Thanks to all ; )

[Potato-Peeler]

Another con is if the internet blows then email will to, as if you had an exchange they could still use internal email?
A pro is much better diskspace perhaps?

[fiendishlyclever]

No adverts on Education edition (so not sure if Google 'read' the emails! ) but the filtering controls are limited. They are designed for adults rather than children, so copying emails is missing, and most control done through quarantining messages (and then releasing/deleting them with no redirection options). You can pay extra for the archiving facility and a bit more functionality.

You can use your own mail gateway but that kind of defeats the point.

It all depends on what you are used to and how much control you want/need.

[mac_shinobi]

No adverts on Education edition (so not sure if Google 'read' the emails! ) but the filtering controls are limited. They are designed for adults rather than children, so copying emails is missing, and most control done through quarantining messages (and then releasing/deleting them with no redirection options). You can pay extra for the archiving facility and a bit more functionality.

You can use your own mail gateway but that kind of defeats the point.

It all depends on what you are used to and how much control you want/need.

links to the education edition would be where exactly ?

[fiendishlyclever]

Google Apps for Education - Free email and apps for schools.

[Ric_]

If you are seriously considering a free hosted service, it's also worth checking out Microsoft's Live@EDU service. See Live@Edu: Microsoft Education Solutions

This also has Moodle integration, as can be seen at UK Live@Edu Blog

[fiendishlyclever]

I'm not sure there is much to choose between them - it's a case of see which you prefer. There are also the rest of the Apps suite. Google Apps has better collaboration and teamwork tools at the moment - but Microsoft are likely catch up with Office 10 next year (which you will be able to host internally yourself).

I suspect the management of the Live@Edu product may be easier (they have more experience than Google in this area) but I haven't played with it so I can't say.

(Google Apps has Moodle integration too btw)

[lionsl2005]

If you are seriously considering a free hosted service, it's also worth checking out Microsoft's Live@EDU service. See Live@Edu: Microsoft Education Solutions

This also has Moodle integration, as can be seen at UK Live@Edu Blog

i think we have to run our own domain init? correct if i am wrong

[pete]

Possible cons, depending on where you are and Google's setup:

1) Your LEA explicitly forbids the use of free mail services by pupils (affects us).

There's a decent google vs live@edu discussion here: google apps or MS live@edu?

[GrumbleDook]

If you want to contact some schools already making use of Google apps then join Google Teacher Academy UK | Google Groups and ask around. Mainly teachers in there but suitably geeky teachers at that.