Chromebooks / Google apps / Internet

[Simcfc73]

Hi,

 

We are looking at getting chrome book for the junior school over the next few weeks. I haven't got my hands on one yet so need some help in advance if someone can help.

 

1) I have Gaps and Gads setup and working. I wont be moving emails over, I don't trust Google so how does the collaborative stuff work when Google doesn't have access to email the share permissions? I am also a bit cloudy about groups, they seem to sync but not sure how to use them yet.

 

2) Backup, I know Google doesn't do backups so was thinking about a sync between Google drive and AD (we will still have AD) Anyone got a solution for this? Prefer to just have a folder in the home directory they sync.

 

3) How do you guys handle the internet logging? We have Smoothwall in situ... I can allow the logon through I imagine so they log onto the laptop correctly but is there a way to log their traffic without using SSL logon?

 

Thanks in advance

[CyberNerd]

1) I don't think you're going to get very far with any sort of collaboration unless you're at the very least forwarding email to users. It's an integral part of the system.

 

2) You can currently back up email with Vault. We sync certain staff google drives to their shared homedrive and back that up. Most people say that you can't install GDrive onto a mapped drive but it works for me, perhaps the samba server helps. I don't know. Of course this method will require users logging into PC's as well as chromebooks so YMMV. I would suggest buying in a service if you are concerned.

 

3) Smoothwall. I think we just allowed the logon page through SSL but I don't have the details.

 

4) Make sure you buy the chromebooks through Google. Getting hold of the management console license from google seems to be a nightmare. Could any resellers help with this?

[Simcfc73]

Does A) mean you need students to have emails to function?

[CyberNerd]

Does A) mean you need students to have emails to function?

 

Essentially yes. IMO. You may be able to work around it but I think it would be quite limiting.

[CyberNerd]

Try running GApps yourself without email and see how you get on. I don't think I could do it.

[Simcfc73]

Damn, no way I am giving KS1/2 kids email accounts. Certainly wouldn't be happy as a parent doing it either.

[Arthur]

Does A) mean you need students to have emails to function?

From support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/1289314?hl=en

 

How do I set up Chrome device management?

• Chrome device management is available for Chrome devices purchased directly from Google or an authorized reseller. To manage Chrome devices from third-parties, purchase Chrome device management separately from the Chrome devices for Business or Education sales teams.
  
• Administrators must create a Google account or Google Apps account (if they're Google Apps customers) for every Chrome device user in their organization. A user signs in to the Chrome device with their Google Apps username and password.
  
• The Admin console only lets administrators manage Chrome devices they enroll in their domain.
  

[CyberNerd]

Although everyone needs an account It IS possible to disable email.

 

You might be ok with KS1/2 students not having email. Try it. Create a new OU, disable email for that OU and see what you can do.

I was thinking along the lines of calendar appointments, mailing homework, collaborative chat, notification of document sharing etc.

[Arthur]

Although everyone needs an account it IS possible to disable email.

CyberNerd is right. There is an option to disable Gmail in the admin console.

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/q3HkHnZ.png

[jmak]

Damn, no way I am giving KS1/2 kids email accounts. Certainly wouldn't be happy as a parent doing it either.

Why not?

 

You can restrict their accounts to only have access to other pupils with accounts on your domain, so only the same as a VLE. Yes it goes on the Google servers, but if you are concerned about that, then you probably need to stay away from Chromebooks.

 

By the end of KS2, most of them will be on Facebook anyway - that's not supposed to be facetious, just a reason for them to have access to a real email system within a controlled environment early enough for them to learn the risks before they go off into the realms of social networking.

[Simcfc73]

I have disabled Gmail already on the domain, I have a Exchange network working fine so I suppose if I want to go down this route I need to think of a better solution. If you are saying we need to give 7 year olds access to emails, no matter how much we can restrict them then I definitely need to get permission from parents and discuss with SMT. We wont be moving our domain emails to gmail, we are a business as well as a school so we need outlook. A subdomain is an option I suppose.

[NotSoFast]

Only a humble teacher, so treat with caution... ;-)

 

I'd really question whether you 'need' Outlook. I was a complete Outlook junkie at my last school but had to use Google at my new place. Shared calendars are easy, email features are all there, and search is several times faster.

 

I didn't have to set up or manage Exchange, but I certainly got the impression it was a pain.

 

All I'd say is consider which features of Outlook / Exchange your staff use which Gapps doesn't offer before dismissing that route.

[Simcfc73]

Its not a matter of need really, it works... why change. I see no benefit for having a cloud based email system housed on a advertising companies website. We send stuff between staff all the time which is instant and very easy, and I would probably need to look at upgrading our internet speed.

[CyberNerd]

Its not a matter of need really, it works... why change. I see no benefit for having a cloud based email system housed on a advertising companies website. We send stuff between staff all the time which is instant and very easy, and I would probably need to look at upgrading our internet speed.

 

I don't think chromebooks are really for you.

How about getting some RT devices?

[Simcfc73]

The junior school wants them. I need to work out a way to co exist. I cant move our emails just for 40 devices. I will chat with google tech about it. It sounds like i am being stubborn but i don't want to jump right in.

 

think i will pop down to PC world and pick one up

[NotSoFast]

Fair enough. I wonder why the junior school are so keen on Chromebooks over other devices. They certainly don't seem to fit with the rest of your set up.

[jmak]

The junior school wants them. I need to work out a way to co exist. I cant move our emails just for 40 devices. I will chat with google tech about it. It sounds like i am being stubborn but i don't want to jump right in.

 

think i will pop down to PC world and pick one up

 

The points you've raised here are all reasonable and valid - it sounds like the people who have suggested Chromebooks are unaware of the impact of their request. It's so much more than moving to a different vendor of hardware and requires a different way of working. Getting Chromebooks is moving to cloud computing and means buying in to the Google system - and there are lots of reasons for not doing that!

 

I'd completely agree that jumping in is not the right approach. Could they be persuaded to try using Google Apps on their existing hardware? Then they can find out whether it works for them as a way of working. If the reason to buy is down to struggling hardware, you should see some improvement as the processing will be taking place away from their devices - not as slick as a Chromebook, but will also test whether their Internet connection is up to the job. I'd guess that 40 Chromebooks is a big slice of a primary's budget, so seems quite risky when there are so many unknowns.

[Simcfc73]

The points you've raised here are all reasonable and valid - it sounds like the people who have suggested Chromebooks are unaware of the impact of their request. It's so much more than moving to a different vendor of hardware and requires a different way of working. Getting Chromebooks is moving to cloud computing and means buying in to the Google system - and there are lots of reasons for not doing that!

 

I'd completely agree that jumping in is not the right approach. Could they be persuaded to try using Google Apps on their existing hardware? Then they can find out whether it works for them as a way of working. If the reason to buy is down to struggling hardware, you should see some improvement as the processing will be taking place away from their devices - not as slick as a Chromebook, but will also test whether their Internet connection is up to the job. I'd guess that 40 Chromebooks is a big slice of a primary's budget, so seems quite risky when there are so many unknowns.

 

I suppose its difficult as the guy running it knows what they can do and knows what he wants, he has used it before and sees the benefits... I would like to get them so they have different systems to use, not just M$ but they have to play together.

 

What I really need is a system that they can all work with, going over to chromebooks fully is the same argument as staying with M$... one vendor, one system. We need a system that plays with everyone. I supose KS1 and KS2 is a way to trial these.

Edited August 9, 2013 by Simcfc73

[edutech4schools]

Do all your pupils log in as a year group or do they all have individual domain accounts?

 

If they are all the same (Year1, Year2) you can create a shared folder in docs, call it 'Year1' and then chuck out the link via a bookmark from GPO. Then all the users can have access to a shared 'Year1' folder in Docs without the need to email a shared link.

[edutech4schools]

Also Primary schools should be teaching email to the students and should have an internal email system like the one 2 simple sell for KS1 but the Google one when restricted to internal Domain would be good.

[Simcfc73]

Okay so I am coming round to email accounts for junior kids after discussing it with staff.

 

So how about I create a subdomain for kids. %username@students.****.co.uk and just host that on Gmail? i read somewhere you can import contacts so allow sharing between domains.

[robjduk]

back on topic again... I use either Cloud Solutions or Stone for my Chromebooks and management consoles.

 

Cloud Technology Solutions (a Rosie there helped me).

[Arthur]

@Simcfc73. You might find this video interesting...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYUGor4o-8g&hd=1

[Simcfc73]

I might try this..

 

MS Exchange and Google Apps Split Delivery for single domain name (K-12 School Sample Shown) - Spiceworks

 

Was thinking of making a sub domain for the students but the chromebooks would be assigned to that domain so staff couldn't use them... this right?

[Simcfc73]

Well I managed to set this up in 10 minutes, split delivery works extremely well.