Google and Business Education

About a year ago someone asked me, "What's next?" I knew exactly what she meant. Now that Microsoft's speech & handwriting tools, mobile computers (like the iPhone), Office 2007's Ribbon technology, and the other DigiTools are going mainstream, what's next -- what's out there on the horizon?

It was a fair question. I went fishing for the answer with friends in the industry (Jared in particular) and it came down to one word:

Google

Certainly, a battle is brewing for the hearts and minds of computer users over the next decade. Who will come out on top, nobody knows, but there are legitimate reasons to believe that Google is designing the DigiTools of the future that will make mobility and collaboration oh, so sweet and easy to do. Google is building a new paradigm, and there are eight reasons why they can make it work.

1) Google's Apps for Education: Google has bundled free word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, calendaring, search, and start page tools for schools. Particularly with e-mail and calendaring software, this could significantly reduce costs in hardware purchasing and in administration. Also, students in the program will be able to do their work for any computer terminal with a web browser and save it safely on Google servers with access from their local schools. Learn more about Google Apps for Education at www.google.com/businesseducators.

2) Many More Free Applications: Google has about 40 applications that are free for individuals to use. many are fun, others are very instructional, and many have uses in different educational subjects. Certainly, CTE programs could benefit from programs like sketch up or... Learn more about all of these tools by viewing www.technonerd.info. More on this in a later posting.

3) Cost: With Apps for Education, Google will allow you to save (all of your work, files, word processing docs, spreadsheets, multiple calendars, chat history, e-mail, you name it) free! Why should you have to pay for personal e-mail? Why should you have to pay for a personal wordprocessing software program? Why should you have to pay for a personal spreadsheet application? Why should you have to pay for personal online website hosting? Why should you have to pay to do a lot of things you pay for now application by application?

4) Free Web/Blogging Tools: Google will host your website, your blog, and even your Google groups free as well.

5) Files Available Anywhere on Any Device: Many of Google's applications are designed to work, not only on someone's PC but on their smartphones and every other other portable device they have with a Web browser. The idea that you can you can get to your documents on any device, from any web browser, anywhere in the world is compelling.

6) Safe Backup and Storage: Google is the ultimate backup and storage system. If you drop your laptop, destroy your hard drive, or of anything else happens to your local data, your data will be safe at Google, if you use their applications. Why should your information be held captive by your hard drive?

7) Collaboration Made Easy: Google has figured out how to make collaboration software work. Google allows almost anything to be shared easily: word processing documents, spreadsheets, calendars, group information, pictures, multimedia, you name it. All it takes to collaborate on most documents is a simple e-mail address and your password.

8) Marketing & Advertising Online: Google has pioneered efforts in search engine marketing (SEM) and in other online advertising efforts Google has changed the landscape in advertising and altered the curriculum for every marketing class in the country. (Visit www.google.com/businesseducators and download their free *Marketing and Advertising with Google* textbook. It's a great read and explains how AdWords and AdSense work. AdSense and Adwords are the keys to Google's financial success.

To learn more visit www.karlbarksdale.com.