The H:drive, which contains students’ personal computer files at LHS, will be cleaned out this summer. It typically gets cleaned out every 3-4 years, but this summer is different because instead of returning to the H:drive next fall, the school will be using a program called Google Apps for Education.
This program will store all student files and email. Students will not lose any storage space in the switch, and email storage will improve. Students will also keep their same school email address--the one that ends with "@lhswildcats".
There are many benefits to the change, according to Temple Murphy, Network Manager. Besides storage capacity, there are also more tools for students to use. For example, Gmail has more storage, and Google Docs allows students more freedom with papers. Currently, if a paper is written at LHS, students can only access it from school computers. To work on the paper outside of school, they must email it to themselves or use a flash drive. With the Google program, students will be able to write a paper in Google Docs and access it anywhere.
Students will also be able to build and share calendars, organize their files better, and build their own websites (if they wanted to do so) for projects in class.
"I like the idea, it seems like it is going to improve the school with technological advances," junior Bianca Tomassetti said.
Although, communication is one of the biggest benefits to the change, according to Murphy.
"[The biggest benefit is] collaboration amongst teachers and students," Murphy said.
Google Docs and Google Mail will be available to all students, but based on usage and needs, more applications will also be available, most likely. Such tools include Google Talk, a free instant messager that could help open lines of communication, as well as Google Groups, in which students and teachers could hold forums and create mailing lists. More research has to be done on how to monitor and archive the chats, however.
"We will walk before we run. Integration will be slow," Mick Torres, Director of Technology, said.
Research on Google Apps for Education was done by a team of researchers. The ultimate decision on making the switch was made by Torres.