Google Apps for Education is a free software suite provide by Google. When used in an educational institution, Google gives the software away completely free to an unlimited number of users. The Google Apps ecosystem includes several applications in a suite including an online email client (based on the companies very popular gmail); an online word processor which has the ability to create, edit, and share documents/spreadsheets/presentations; online calendar; a website creation tool (this can be used to create internal websites or public websites); instant messaging; and a customizable portal.
The great thing about Google Apps for Education is the power and features that you get in a free package. A school that signs up for a Google Apps account can re-brand the interface to match their logo or mascot and the email system includes more that 7 gigabytes of data for each user (as well as Google’s industry level spam protection). Once you give your users an account through Google Apps, their email address becomes their username and anyone in the organization can share documents, information, and calendars with other people in the organization, or anyone in the world with any Google or Google Apps account.Google Apps for Education removes the hassle out of email system administration and allows your IT manager(s) to focus on more important things inside the building. In order to set up a Google Apps for Education account, though, you will need help from the person who manages your website.
Google Apps is a great collaboration tool in almost any form that you would like whether it is email, chat, or through websites (and wikis). I rely on the Google Apps ecosystem on a daily basis and set it up as the standard email management system for all of my clients. If you are frustrated with your email, or wish that your school had more collaboration technology, check Google Apps for education out. I highly recomend it!
Please Note: If you are not an educator or member of an educational establishment, you can still get Google Apps for business. As long as you have less than 50 users, the system is still free. Also, I believe that registered non profit organizations can get the system free as well.
