Going Google:

Utilizing Google Apps for Education in the Elementary Classroom

Dana Nunnery
Joyce LyAnne Polk
Anna Maudie Saxon

Professional Development Grant Proposal

FRIT 7232 - Visionary Leadership in Instructional Technology
Spring 2016

Many changes will be made in the Bulloch County School System for the 2016 - 2017 School
Year including the implementation of Google Apps for Education. While off-site trainings are
offered for faculty and staff members to learn about the tools offered in Google Apps for
Education, many teachers are unable to take advantage of these opportunities due to other
professional or family obligations. To ensure that this valuable resource is fully utilized at the
school level, administrators of Sallie Zetterower Elementary School are seeking to offer on-site
and personalized training on Google Apps for Education for its employees. Specific goals of the
training will be determined through the use of questionnaires completed by faculty and staff
members; however, topics to be covered include Docs, Drive, Mail, and Sites. The training will
be offered in two sessions: morning and afternoon. During the sessions, SZES employees will
learn about the tools within Google Apps for Education and will explore how each tool can be
used in the classroom setting. Session assignments will be based the employees role at SZES;
substitutes will be provided as needed. After the training, the hope is that Google Apps for
Education can be used to increase the quality of instruction delivered in the classrooms of SZES
and to increase the frequency/ease of communication between parents and educators. The
success of this training will be measured through surveys completed by parents and students as
well as a checklist of tasks to be completed by certified staff members.

I. Proposal

A. Demonstrated Need

After several years of using the FirstClass Client for email and online collaboration, Bulloch
County will be begin using Google Apps for Education for the 2016 - 2017 School Year. In
February 2016, data was collected to determine how confident employees of Sallie Zetterower
Elementary felt in their ability to fully implement Google Apps for Education in their classroom.
Questions were asked as to the frequency that Google was used in the classroom and the ways it
was used to support instruction. Only thirty percent of staff members felt they had a good
understanding all that Google Apps for Education offered, while seventy-five percent of staff
members reported accessing at least one Google App during the work day on a regular basis. To
investigate specific needs, additional data was collected through online surveys and informal
interviews. SZES employees were asked to rank the Google Apps they felt they needed
additional training on. The four Google Apps ranking the highest on the survey Google Sites,
Google Drive, Google Mail, and Google Docs. Due to low rates of participation in online or off-
site training in the past, SZES would like to conduct on-site training on Google Apps for
Education. Trainings would be conducted by staff members who have previously attended a
Google Apps for Education training or by those especially skilled in instructional technology. In
order to make participation mandatory instead of optional, the professional development
opportunity will be conducted during the normal school day.
B. Goals and Objectives
1) S.M.A.R.T. Goals:
a) By August 1, 2016, all certified staff
members will have created a Google Site. The Google Site should
 include details about the staff members role at SZES, an About
Me page, and information about basic procedures in his/her
classroom. Each week, certified staff members will post a
newsletter (or other form of parent communication) to his/her
Google Site.
b) By August 1, 2016, all certified staff
members will turn in weekly lesson plans into a Google Drive
folder. Lesson Plans should be created and saved in a Google
Docs format to allow for collaboration between grade level teams
and ESOL/IEP case managers.
c) By August 1, 2016, all certified and
noncertified staff members will be able to access Google Mail and
will have created an email signature.

C. Plan of Operation (Professional Development Plan)

2) Outline the request and need for individuals, departments
and/or grade levels, at the school who will help with the training and
transition to Google Apps - Google Apps School Guides
a) Identify three staff members that will serve
as guides to help ensure the successful implementation and
transition to Google. The guides will become the go-to support
system for the other staff members.
b) The Instructional Coordinator will develop a
Google resource site for the school guides to utilize in the support
of other staff members. Topics to be included on this site are:
i) Expectations of a Google
Apps School Guide
ii) FAQs about the Google Apps
transition
iii) FAQs about the Google Apps
tools
iv) Handouts and templates
v) Calendars with relevant
training dates
3) Google School Guides will receive training to ensure that they have a
solid understanding of the apps included in the professional development.
Guides should understand their responsibility for training fellow staff
members to the level that they are able to independently implement
Google Apps in their classrooms.
a) Google School Guides will receive
training from a Google Apps Education Certified Trainer
individual or organization.
 b) Guides will participate in self-paced
training by reviewing the Google Apps Education Online Training
Center and complete modules/lessons.
c) Guides will complete the Google
Apps Education Individual Qualification exam.
4) Professional development delivery will be provided for Google School
Guides in addition to the specific Google App training that they receive.
Professional development delivery training will include:
a) Clarify the expectations for a Google
Apps School Guide
b) Conduct monthly workshops
c) Troubleshoot common problems
d) Communicate best practices
e) Collaborate on developing the scope
and sequence for PD at school
f) Strategize around how to gain
teacher buy-in
g) Troubleshoot potential challenges
5) Guides will positively promote Google training to attempt to increase
teacher buy-in in using the new apps. Guides will promote training with
the following strategies:
a) Emails - Send out notices of
upcoming trainings. Create a Google Apps newsletter (at the
district or school level) that sends out training information, tips and
tricks, and highlights teachers at the school.
b) Newsletters - Target existing school
newsletters to promote training.
c) Flyers - Print flyers and post around
faculty lounges/areas.
d) Handouts - Print handouts to
distribute to faculty inboxes.
e) Calendar invitations/reminders - Set
up and subscribe faculty to a Google Apps training calendar.
f) Blog Posts - Create a Google Apps
School Guide blog to promote training or uses of Google Apps, or
use an existing blog (for example, the principals blog or one
belonging to another school administrator).
6) Professional development for staff members will be concentrated and
conducted during the regular school day with a substitute provided.
7) Training will be provided on the four apps that teachers chose in the
needs-assessment survey. Training sessions will take place over the course
 of two days ( day for each) with K-2 and 3-5 alternating between
morning and afternoon sessions.
a) Google Sites - Day 1
b) Google Drive - Day 1
c) Google Mail - Day 2
d) Google Docs - Day 2

D. Budget
1) Personnel
a) Consultants (Google Apps Education Certified Trainer)
i) This trainer will be provided by RESA at no extra cost.
2) Substitute Teachers
a) There are 42 certified teachers on staff at SZES. Because trainings
will be delivered on a rotation schedule, only 21 substitute teachers
will be needed. The approximate cost of substitute teachers to cover
the two-day training will be $2520 if primarily non-certified
substitutes are used.
b) Pay Scale for Substitute Teachers:
Certified Substitute Teachers = $70/Day
Non-Certified Substitute Teachers = $60/Day
c) Though the cost of providing substitute teachers is high, it alleviates
any cost that may be incurred by sending teachers to an off-site
training such as mileage, food, and lodging.
3) Equipment
a) 3 Chromebooks for Google School
Guides
i) $698.37 Total - Acer
Chromebook 15 CB5-571-C4T3 (15.6-Inch HD, 2GB
RAM, 16GB SSD) purchased from Amazon (amazon.com)
for $232.79 each
4) Google Apps Education Individual Qualification exam for School Guides
a) $270.00 Total - $15.00 per exam (6
exams per School Guide)
5) TOTAL COST - $3488.37

Professional Development Evaluation Plan - School Level

 SMART Goal Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

By August 1, 79% or less of 80-89% of 90-99% of 100% of

2016, all certified staff certified staff certified staff certified staff
certified staff have created a members have members have members have
members will Google site. created a Google created a Google created a Google
have created a site. site. site.
Google site.

By August 1, 79% or less of 80-89% of staff 90-99% of staff 100% of staff

2016, all staff members members submit members submit members submit
certified staff submit weekly weekly lesson weekly lesson weekly lesson
members will lesson plans to a plans to a plans to a plans to a
submit weekly designated designated designated designated
lesson plans to a Google Drive Google Drive Google Drive Google Drive
Google Drive folder. folder. Folder. folder.
folder.

By August 1, 79% or less of 80-89% of staff 90-99% of staff 100% of staff

2016, all staff members members are members are members are
certified and are able to access able to access able to access able to access
noncertified staff Google Mail. Google Mail. Google Mail. Google Mail.
members will be
able to access
Google Mail.

By August 1, 79% or less of 80-89% of staff 90-99% of staff 100% of staff

2016, all staff members members have members have members have
certified and have created an created an email created an email created an email
noncertified staff email signature signature in signature in signature in
members will in Google Mail. Google Mail. Google Mail. Google Mail.
have created an
email signature
in Google Mail.

Professional Development Evaluation Plan - Individual Level

SMART Goal Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Staff member Staff member Staff member Staff member

has not created a has created a has created a has created a
Google site, or Google site that Google site that Google site that
 has created a site includes only 2 includes only 3 includes all
that includes of the 4 of the 4 required
only 1 of the 4 requirements: requirements: information;
By August 1, requirements: role at SZES, role at SZES, including role at
2016, all role at SZES, About Me About Me SZES, About
About Me page, classroom page, classroom Me page,
certified staff
page, classroom expectations, expectations, classroom
members will expectations, current current expectations, and
have created a current newsletter. newsletter. current
Google site. newsletter. newsletter.

Most of the Most of the Most of the All information

information on information on information on on the staff
the staff the staff the staff members site in
members site is members site is members site is current and
not current, and current, but current, but updated with the
is at least 3-4 some documents some documents most recent
weeks outdated. (i.e. newsletter) (i.e. newsletter) information
are 2-3 weeks are at 1-2 weeks available.
outdated. outdated.

By August 1, Staff member Staff member is Staff member Staff member

2016, all rarely submits inconsistent submits updated submits updated
weekly lesson about submitting lesson plans lesson plans
certified staff
plans. weekly lesson regularly, but every week.
members will plans. occasionally
submit weekly misses a week.
lesson plans to
a Google
Drive folder.
By August 1, Staff member Staff member Staff member Staff member
2016, all has not has established a accesses Google utilizes Google
successfully Google Mail mail, but does Mail as their
certified and
accessed Google account, but not utilize it main source of
noncertified Mail. rarely uses it to consistently to communication
staff members communicated communicate. with colleagues.
will be able to with colleagues.
access Google
Mail.
By August 1, Staff member Staff member Staff member Staff member
2016, all has not created has created an has created an has created an
an email email signature email signature email signature
certified and
signature. that identifies that identifies that identifies
noncertified their name only. their name and their name,
staff members either their position at
will have position at SZES SZES, and an
or an alternate alternate method
created an
method of of contact.
email contact.
signature in
Google Mail.

Post-Professional Development Questionnaire

Question 1 2 3 4

How well do you I do not feel I am I am confident I am

feel this PD confident in my comfortable, that I can confident
ability to utilize but feel I need utilize Google enough to
prepared you to
Google Apps in more Apps in my teach others
use Google Apps my classroom. instruction to own how to use
in your fully utilize classroom. Google Apps.
classroom? Google Apps.

Do you feel that The PD on Google Apps This PD I needed this

this PD over Google Apps is relevant to helped to PD and feel
was neither my classroom clarify my that it will
Google Apps
necessary nor needs, but I understanding improve the
was relevant and relevant to my did not need of Google level of
necessary to needs in the the PD Apps and will instruction in
improve classroom. because I was improve the my
classroom already level of classroom.
instruction? confident with instruction in
the content. my classroom.

Do you plan to I do not plan to Google Apps I see the I will

use Google Apps use Google may be benefit of incorporate
Apps in my beneficial, but Google Apps, Google Apps
in your
classroom. I dont foresee but dont plan into my daily
classroom? having time to to use it instruction.
use it in my everyday.
classroom.

How did you I did not enjoy The PD was The PD was I enjoyed the
enjoy the PD? the PD and okay, but not enjoyable, but PD and hope
 could have used what I would I have been to to have more
the time more call fun. better. like it in the
productively. future.

How effective The presenter The presenter The presenter The presenter
was the was not behaved was was well
prepared nor professionally knowledgeabl prepared and
presenter?
knowledgeable but was not e about knowledgeabl
about Google prepared and Google Apps, e about
Apps, and showed a lack but was not Google Apps.
behaved in an of knowledge well prepared
unprofessional about Google for the
manner. Apps. presentation.

Additional Comments/Suggestions:
 Appendix

Initial Data Collection

Needs-Assessment Questionnaire
Which Google App are you most familiar with?

Which Google App are you least familiar with?

Which Google App can you see yourself most utilizing in your classroom?
How comfortable do you feel using Google Apps in your classroom?

What type of training do you feel would be most helpful for Google Apps for Education?
 References

K12 Guide to Going Google. Retrieved from http://k12guide.googleapps.com/

Winfrey, E.C. (1999). Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation. In B. Hoffman (Ed.),

Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. Retrieved March 24, 2005, from
http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/k4levels/start.htm