Below are the answers to the most commonly asked questions asked about Glow.

Can learners download Microsoft Office for free?

Glow's Office A1 Plus licenses previously allowed Glow users to download and activate the Microsoft Office suite for free. However, Microsoft has implemented worldwide license changes that remove this offer from the Education licenses available through Glow.

Effective 1st August, 2024, users will no longer be able to download the desktop applications through their Glow account. Furthermore, from 28th October 2024, previously installed desktop applications will cease to function.

Users will not be able to activate desktop applications such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint using their Glow M365 credentials. Please note that previously downloaded and activated Microsoft Desktop Apps will no longer work with your Glow account after this date. This Microsoft licensing change affects all Glow users, both staff and learners, and may impact home devices if a user's Glow account was used to download or log into Microsoft applications.

This licensing change does not affect access to Microsoft 365 web applications, the Microsoft Teams app, or Microsoft 365 mobile apps. Don't worry though all Glow users can still access Microsoft 365 applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through their web browser by logging into Glow and accessing the Office 365 Home tile, which can be added via the App Library if not already available on the LaunchPad. The web versions of Microsoft applications include the majority of features found in the desktop versions.

For more details on the changes to our Glow licenses please click - HERE.

Teams is telling me to download the app, do I have to?

No, you can use Teams in your internet browser, Chrome works best.  Teams will suggest you download the app, which is free and does have some additional features for video conferencing; however it is not available on school computers and is not required.  When working/learning at home you can chose to use the app on your own device if you have permissions to do so.

I can't chat 1 to 1 with my teacher in Teams, it says this feature is disabled by the administrator can you switch it on?

The chat function in Teams for learners is disabled nationally within Glow and can't be switched on locally.  Your school will advise you on the preferred method of communicating with your teacher.

Can learners switch on their webcam and microphone during live online lessons in Teams?

Teachers will advise when it is appropriate for learners to enable their webcam and microphones during the lesson; however this is not mandatory and learners should only use these functions if they are comfortable doing so with parental permission.

I have tried to email a teacher in Google Classroom and its says it disabled by the administrator, can you switch it on so it will work?

Gmail is disabled for all Glow users nationally, so any emails regarding learning should be sent via your Glow Outlook email address.  Any notifications from Google products will be forwarded automatically to your Outlook email account.

Can I use Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint with Google Classroom?

Yes, but  these documents will have to be added as attachments.  The default programmes used to create new documents within Google Classroom are part of the Google Workspace such as Doc, Sheets and Slides.

LEARNERS - Will my Glow login and password be the same when I move to my new school?

Yes, your Glow login details will be the same, but if you are moving from Primary to Secondary school you may lose access to Glow during the summer holidays.  If you need access over the summer please ask your primary school about adding a grace period to your account so you can still use it as your accounts transfers between schools.  If you are moving out of Moray you may find there are a few days when you don't have access as your records are transferred between schools.  If there are any issues please contact your new school.

STAFF - Will my Glow login and password be the same when I move to my new school?

Staff Glow accounts can not be transferred to schools in other local authorities, so if you are moving to a school outside of Moray your new school will provide you with a new Glow account.  Before leaving please ensure you back-up anything in your Glow account you wish to keep or transfer ownership to another Glow user.  If you are moving to another school in Moray your Glow account can be transferred with the same log in details.

I am being asked to enter my Microsoft account details when I try to get into my email or other Office 365 applications, what do I enter?

When you see the Microsoft sign in pop up box you need to enter your full Glow email address.  Your Glow email is your user name followed by @glow.sch.uk for school users or @glowmail.org.uk for non school users.   This is the account details you will need if you plan to sign into Office 365 apps on a tablet or smart phone.

I am being asked to enter or verify my Google account details when I try to get into my G Drive or Google Workspace for Education applications, what do I enter?

When you see the Google sign in or verify your Google account pop up box you need to enter your full Glow Google account username, which is your Glow username followed by @my.glow.scot (Please note that there is no access to Gmail within Glow and all notifications from Google applications will be routed to your Glow Outlook email address).  This is the account details you will need if you plan to sign into Google apps on a tablet or smart phone.

When I am trying to use Glow sometime I get an error saying my browser does not support the action, what do I do?

When using Glow it is best to use Chrome or Edge as your internet browser.  Some applications accessed within Glow are not comparable with other browsers such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.  It is also worth ensuring that your browsers is updated to the latest version.

I have forgotten my password, how to I get it reset?

Contact the school in the first instance and they will be able to reset your password.  Once your password has been reset remember to sent up a recovery email if appropriate.  There is a video guide on how to do this on the Glow Page of this website.

Where can I find more information about Glow

Glow Connect is the national Glow support website and can be found - HERE.

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