Google for Education to be rolled out acrossWales

TEACHERS will get more choice about what digital tools to use with Google for Education being rolled out in schools across Wales next year.

The new software is a direct result of feedback from schools and will be made available through Hwb – the digital learning platform for Wales which provides a range of centrallyfunded, bilingual digital tools and resources.

Google for Education provides independently customisable versions of several Google products using a domain name provided by the customer.

Latest statistics for October 2017 show that there were a total of 736,813 log-ins to Hwb during the month – a 55% increase over October 2016 – which equates to an average of over 23,000 log-ins every day, according to the Welsh Government.

But as a result of ongoing feedback, the Welsh Government said it will not be renewing the Hwb+ virtual learning platform once the current contract expires in August 2018.

Schools, local authorities and regional education consortia will be contacted to ensure they are ready to take advantage of the new digital tools and can make the transition from the Hwb+ platform next year.

Announcing plans for the roll-out of Google for Education, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams also gave an update on other areas of the Learning in the Digital Wales (LiDW) programme.

More than a third of targeted schools have been upgraded to faster broadband speeds, she said.

The programme aims to provide fibre connections for 343 schools across Wales via the PSBA network and will ensure schools are able to access tools and resources available via Hwb, as well as supporting the new curriculum.

Guidance will also be published shortly to help schools understand how local area network issues can affect their internet connectivity and how they can make the best use of investment from the LiDW programme.

“We want our teachers to have access to the best digital tools and resources and the best quality superfast broadband,” Kirsty Williams said.

“We have listened to the feedback we’ve been receiving from schools and I’m very pleased that, as a result of their feedback, we will be rolling out Google for Education in 2018.

“This will give our teachers a much wider range of digital tools and resources and will lead to greater collaboration and communication within the classroom.”

Liz Sproat from Google for Education said: “We’re delighted that Google’s education tools will be made available to schools via the Hwb platform and look forward to supporting them on their journey with us.”