You can explore Google’s self-paced training courses on their Applied Digital Skills site. Additionally, you'll find professional development opportunities on Google for Education, along with many more resources at jcps.me/edtech.

Google Drive is like a digital file cabinet for storing files, accessible from anywhere with the internet. You can create folders to organize files, making it easy to find what you need. You can share materials or assignments with students, just like handing out papers in class. Plus, multiple people can work on the same document at once, like a shared online chalkboard. 

Gmail is Google's email service. It allows users to send and receive emails, manage contacts, and organize their inbox. Gmail is like your school email system, but powered by Google and designed for speed, organization, and easy communication. It lets you send and receive messages instantly, whether you’re talking to a student, parent, or colleague. Think of it like a digital mailbox that also helps you sort, search, and prioritize your messages—plus, it connects seamlessly with Google tools like Docs, Drive, and Calendar, so everything stays in sync. 

Google Calendar is a online scheduling and time management tool developed by Google, designed to enhance productivity and organization. It enables teachers to efficiently plan lessons, set reminders, and collaborate seamlessly with colleagues, students, and parents. With features such as event creation, notifications, multiple calendars, and mobile accessibility, teachers can optimize their time, avoid conflicts, and engage students by keeping them informed about upcoming events and assignments.  It also integrates with other Google products, such as and Google Drive.

Google Docs is like Microsoft Word but online, allowing real-time collaboration. You can write essays, lesson plans, or worksheets while working together with others, no matter the location. Students or colleagues can leave comments or edit, similar to leaving notes in the margins, but digitally. 

Your go-to online presentation tool—create engaging presentations for class lectures, workshops, or professional development sessions. Google Slides allows you to collaborate with others in real time, add multimedia elements like videos and images, and even record your presentations for later viewing. You can highlight key speakers with the spotlight feature, making your presentations more interactive and focused. Plus, it’s easy to share or present from anywhere. 

Your online spreadsheet program—track grades, create attendance sheets, and analyze data with ease. Google Sheets offers a wide range of powerful features like formulas, conditional formatting, and data validation to help streamline your work. Collaborate with colleagues or students in real-time, allowing for seamless teamwork and updates. You can also create charts and graphs to visualize data for presentations or reports. Plus, with cloud-based access, you can edit and share your sheets from anywhere. Google Sheets is similar to Microsoft Excel but with added benefits like automatic saving and easy sharing. 

oogle Meet (meet.google.com) is your all-in-one virtual classroom and meeting space—perfect for conducting online classes, hosting parent-teacher conferences, or collaborating with colleagues in real time through video calls. With features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, and live captions, it's easy to engage participants and foster interactive discussions. You can record sessions for later review, ensuring no one misses important information. The platform also offers seamless integration with Google Classroom and other tools, making it a powerful hub for all your virtual learning and meeting needs. 

Google Keep allows you to keep electronic notes, like sticky notes the notes go with you anytime you access keep.google.com/ in your Chrome browser. 

reate quizzes, gather feedback, conduct surveys, or collect information effortlessly with Google Forms. This versatile tool lets you design online forms with various question types and analyze results in real-time. Use it for event registrations, polls, quizzes, or interactive classroom activities. For quizzes, Google Forms can auto-grade responses, giving you instant results. Easily share your forms by sending a link or embedding them on a website. 

Your instant messaging platform - chat with individuals or groups, share files, and collaborate on documents in real-time. 

Google Chrome is a fast, secure web browser that makes it easy to access the internet and all your favorite teaching tools. As a teacher, you can use Chrome to quickly navigate websites, manage multiple tabs for lesson planning, and integrate with Google tools like Drive, Docs, and Classroom. With features like bookmarks, extensions, and automatic syncing across devices, Chrome helps streamline your work, allowing you to stay organized and productive wherever you are. 

YouTube is a vast platform for sharing and discovering videos on any topic. Teachers can use YouTube to enhance their lessons by sharing educational videos, tutorials, or documentaries directly in Google Classroom. By linking YouTube videos to assignments, teachers can create engaging activities, like having students watch a video and answer questions or discuss key points. This helps make learning more interactive and accessible for students, anytime, anywhere. 

Google Classroom makes teaching easier by bringing everything into one place. You can set up classes, hand out assignments, and give feedback all from the same platform. It helps you keep track of grades and organize your materials, plus it integrates with Google Drive for easy access. You can post announcements, start class discussions, and share resources quickly, making it a great tool for both in-person and online teaching.

Google Gemini (gemini.google.com) is a handy AI tool that helps teachers with all sorts of classroom needs. It can help you whip up customized lesson plans, create fun content, and even keep track of how your students are doing. With real-time feedback and smart suggestions, it makes your job a bit easier and more personalized. Plus, it works well with Google Workspace, so you can keep everything running smoothly without getting bogged down in admin stuff. 

Google Read Along is a free app that uses a virtual reading buddy to help children improve their reading skills. It provides instant feedback and encouragement, and tracks progress, making it a valuable and accessible tool for teachers and students. 

• Enhanced Reading Skills: Read Along improves children's reading fluency, accuracy, comprehension, and vocabulary.

• Increased Motivation: Engaging stories, games, and rewards foster a fun and motivating reading environment.

• Personalized Learning: Read Along customizes the learning experience, offering challenges and support for each child.

Google Vids is a new app within Google Workspace that allows you to easily create and edit videos. It's like having a mini video production studio right inside your Google Drive! You can use it to make engaging videos for a variety of educational purposes, such as lesson summaries, student projects, or announcements. This new video editor app lets you seamlessly blend text, images, and video clips, capture screen recordings, and bring your ideas to life with ease! It's designed to help students explain ideas, present projects, or create visual reports in a more creative and dynamic way.