Google Workspace for Education includes Google products like Classroom, Meet, Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, to create an online ecosystem for learning. The Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals edition is available at no per student cost to available institutions.
Google has a simpler approach to its apps. With all applications being online, things like auto-save being a default have been helpful for many staff in our organisation. Compare this to Microsoft where much of the admin has to be managed by the ICT Team, Google allows for a …
Ultimately, since we use Chromebooks, it did not make sense to choose Microsoft. Its price points are significantly higher, and the platform is more business-oriented than tailored to the education market.
While having more features and being overall more powerful, Microsoft's tools and services feel always more complex to use, are slower and its collaboration features are not on par with Google's.
Google Workspace for Education compares favorably due to its strong security, free Fundamentals tier, and integrated tools like Classroom, though it may lack the advanced features of desktop applications like Microsoft Office. A common reason for selection is its AI-driven …
Google is far less complicated to use than Microsoft 365, and way more robust than using Apple's iCloud for email, conferencing, and productivity. It's the de facto standard in education, and if the best tool if you have a limited IT team or budget. Also it's ease of …
Google [Workspace for Education (formerly G Suite for Education)] is pretty darn good [at] meeting the needs for educators and students. It is not designed to run your business office, transportation group, or lunch services. It doesn't need to be good at those. Focus on teachers and students. They do that really, really well. The Google folks continue to add features that help serve teacher and students. For example, they have really done a good job of adding Google Meet features such as polling and breakout rooms. Those features required a paid subscription to Workspace, but it makes sense since those features compete with Zoom, which requires a subscription for those services.
The Admin controls are splendid. They make it easy to manage your computer fleet and user database.
Google quickly adapts to needed changes and pushes those out with minimum disruption to services. Just update your Chrome browser and you are on your way. No need to download and update numerous patches that take extensive time to install.
From the education side, having access to Google Vault is extremely valuable. Vault gives us the ability to retrieve any document ever created by an account user. That is incredibly necessary in the education world.
Always up, never down. Compatible with so many different platforms, OSes, and tools. For instance, someone can be on a phone, tablet, laptop, and all of those tools are compatible with Google apps like Meet, Docs, Slides, and anything else Google based. It's flexiblity is fantastic and meets our changing hardware and software requirements
Ultimately, since we use Chromebooks, it did not make sense to choose Microsoft. Its price points are significantly higher, and the platform is more business-oriented than tailored to the education market