Using Google Drive to replace your WWPS network folder

The WWPS has been steadily moving to a completely cloud environment over the last three years. Three years ago we moved away from our Windows Exchange server environment, and implemented Google Applications for Education or GAFE for our faculty and staff. We piloted student accounts at all three levels (elementary, middle & HS) two years ago, and finally added student Google accounts for every student K-12 during the 2012-2013 school year. Recently we made the commitment to move to a Chromebook environment for all of our students, and most of the staff.

The district is also making a commitment to reduce the number of file servers that we support. It takes a lot of resources (time, money and IT staff intervention) to keep our file servers running. Most of our servers are older than our 4th graders, and we don't have the resources to replace them. It only makes sense for us to move network files into the cloud. I've completely moved all of my files into Google Drive for more than a year now.

As the song goes, "It's summertime, and the living is easy..." Now is the perfect time to shed your local network drive, and place all of your files from your WWPS network folder into Google Drive. Adding all of your files into your Google Drive will give you access to your files whenever, and wherever you log into Google Chrome. It doesn't matter what device you're on (Chromebook, Windows, or Mac) you'll always have access to your files via your Google Drive account. You also have a combined Drive/email allotment of 30 GB of storage space.

If you would like to learn more about moving your network drive to your Google Drive simply fill out the online form. Someone from the WWPS IT staff will contact you once you've completed the online form. You can also review the directions here, and try it yourself. Either way the WWPS IT Department will help you in any way needed.

Comments

Use Your Chromebook to Make Phone Calls

Use Your Chomebook to Make Phone Calls Since the district has moved over to a new phone system many of our classrooms no longer have the ability to dial an outside line. One way to get around this problem is to use your Chromebook to make a phone call. You can access Google Voice through your gmail account, or use Google Hangouts to make a call. There are several ways to initiate a phone call. Follow these simple directions to place your call. Click on Google Hangouts or Google Voice Simply click on either the Google Hangouts icon, or the Google Voice icon once you've accessed your gmail account. If you haven't setup your Google+ account you will have less features when using the Google Hangouts option. If you click on the Google Voice option you can simply type in the phone number that you want to call, or search for a number in your contacts. Phone calls made in the United States are free, and you can add money to your Google Voice account for international cal

How to Check if your Chromebooks is a Managed Machine...

Is Your Chromebook a Managed Machine? Enrolled Devices: As we get closer to PARCC testing it is important insure that your Chromebook is enrolled in our domain. Enrolling the device in the domain insures that you will have the appropriate Test Nav application on your device. It is possible that some of the devices in your classroom didn't get properly enrolled. Review this blog to learn how to check whether or not your students' machine is enrolled properly. Check Your Device Settings: Check your settings by clicking on the Settings Taskbar on your Chromebook. Once you click on the settings tool bar you will be able to discover whether or not the Chromebook is managed. The picture below shows an unmanaged machine. The video below shows you how to check the tool bar settings. The picture below shows a managed machine. The video below shows you what the settings look like on a managed machine. Is Chrome OS Up to Date? It is al

Using Aspen for Staff Attendance

How to Use Aspen for Staff Attendance & Substitute Replacement The West Warwick Public Schools partnered with Follett many years ago to use the power of Aspen for staff attendance and substitute replacement. We have three different workflows that staff members use for attendance and replacement purposes. Each one of the workflows will be explained below. How to Fill-out the Staff Absence Request Workflow in Aspen If a WWPS employee is going to be out for any reason that doesn't require approval they fill-out the Staff Absence Request Workflow. Sick, personal, bereavement, family illness, district sanctioned professional development, IEP meetings, and religious days are all examples of absences that do not need administrative approval. Staff members simply need to fill-out the Staff Absence Request Workflow. View the directions below for the one-step process. Once a staff member completes the Staff Absence Request Workflow an attendance record is created that al

WWPS Technology

Search This Blog