There's a few jobs to do, and it's a good idea to get them all out of the way first...

Welcome to Part 2!

Now that the theory is out of the way, it's time to take a few steps to prepare... This will take a while, but we promise, it will be worth it!

In this section, you will...

get to know your device
get to know your browser
set up your own professional email account
get yourself into the cloud
sign up for important accounts
get ready to learn more

Get to know your device...

There are three main types of device used in classrooms around the world.

Computers (desktops & laptops)
Tablets
Chromebooks

There are strengths and weaknesses to each device, as well as advantages and disadvantages for teaching and learning. No one device will do everything, so we need to be flexible in our approach to devices.

Computers

Desktop and Laptop computers are usually the most powerful, capable devices we use in schools. You can install software onto their hard drives and run programs without an internet connection.

They are, however, the most expensive device.

Tablets

Tablets are touchscreen devices with a screen covering the majority of the device. They have cameras and microphones built in, and can be connected to external keyboards. Tablets run apps specifically designed for them and can be very powerful.

Chromebooks

Chromebooks are designed by Google to be used with an internet connection. They have small hard drives but connect to the Google Drive cloud storage to enable users to store their files and access apps.

While they are not as powerful as regular computers, they are very cheap.

Which device is best?

The general rule for all types of device is that you get what you pay for within each category. More expensive devices are usually more powerful and will last longer, however this isn't always the case! Technology advances at such a rate, that you should expect to replace a device every 3-5 years regardless of how much it cost.

In schools, Chromebooks are very popular because of cost. A Chromebook ($2500) is half the price of a traditional laptop ($5000) and will usually perform better because it is designed to do certain (simpler) tasks.

What about tablets?

The most expensive part of a tablet is the touchscreen (which is underneath the glass) rather than the processor and memory inside! The iPad is the most popular tablet in schools because of its screen, and the large number of apps which are designed to work with the iPad.

Android tablets can sometimes be a little cheaper, but often suffer from lesser quality screens and a lack of apps.

For younger children, who don't need to use a keyboard and traditional pointing device, iPads are often a better choice than a Chromebook - and are similarly priced.

Apple vs the world?

Apple is both a hardware and software company. They make the computers and the software that runs on it. They allow other companies to create apps, but maintain a high level of control. This philosophy helps to ensure there are fewer compatibility/quality issues and a consistent experience for the user.

Apple's biggest competitors are Microsoft and Google. Microsoft is primarily a software company, while Google is primarily a search and data company. Because their products (Windows and Android) work on devices made by other companies, there is a greater chance for compatibility issues or problems as well as a wider variety of user experiences.

Get to know your browser...

The web browser is a program which allows you to connect to the internet. Default Browsers are often installed on specific devices. While Chromebooks only use Chrome, if you use a computers or a tablet, you can choose from different browsers.

The default browsers are:

Chromebook: Chrome
Mac/iPad: Safari
Windows PC: Edge

Browsers can save your browsing history (a list of websites you have visited) and your usernames and passwords.

Private Mode

Some browsers allow you to log into them with your personal account which can save you time. Unfortunately, if more than one person uses a computer, or you use more than one account, this can cause problems!

Every browser has a private mode which does not use saved passwords or saved websites.

It's really important that you know about this, as sometimes you will need to log into websites with your work and personal accounts and it can get confusing if the passwords get mixed up!

File:Google Chrome icon (2011).svg - Wikipedia

Chrome Incognito mode

Go to the three dots at the top right of the window, and choose New Incognito Window

Apple Safari Private mode

Go to File in the menu bar, then choose New Private Window

Microsoft Edge InPrivate mode

Go to the three dots at the top right of the window then choose New InPrivate Window

Which browser is best?

If you use Google Drive and GSuite tools, Chrome is probably the best browser to use because it is fully integrated. It is, however, a personal choice! It is always good have at least two browsers installed on your device, as sometimes, websites can work well in one browser and not another.

Firefox is a browser that we haven't mentioned. Firefox is a free, open-source browser that was developed by the Mozilla foundation. It is a very popular second browser, particularly on Windows computers.

Set up your own 'professional' email account

Even if you have an existing personal email address and a school email address it's a good idea to get your own 'professional' email account.

A professional email account will keep your personal emails separate from 'education' related emails, and should you change employers, gain qualifications or sign up for membership of education websites, it is much easier to do this with a professional email address that you own, rather than your school account!

Although there are many email providers, I would recommend you sign up for a GMail account...

Why GMail?

Google Mail (or GMail) is the dominant email service in the world, and even if you work in China (where Google is blocked) it is a great idea to sign up for an account and secure your username before someone else does!

You might find that your name isn't available...especially if it's a common name like mrjones@gmail.com but with a little creativity you could get yourself a great account name - try itsmrjones, hellomrjones, iammrjones or mrjonesteacher.

What other services can I get with a GMail account?

A GMail account will also give you access to a personal Google Drive and lots of apps in the GSuite. Over 100 million educators and students around the world use GSuite for Education, so there's a good chance you'll use it at some point!

How can I sign up for a GMail account?

Go to google.com/gmail/about/
Click on Create an Account
You'll need to add your First and Last name, a username and a password of at least 8 characters

Set up your own 'cloud'...

If you have set up your own GMail account, then the good news is, you've already got yourself a cloud! The cloud is a name for any online storage provider, which you can upload files to and which you can access from any device.

Google Drive, Apple iCloud and Microsoft OneDrive are examples of cloud drives.

Google Drive is the most popular cloud based storage used in schools around the world, however, because all Google services are blocked in China - should you move to a school there, you are likely to use OneDrive.

We don't need to go into our cloud right now, but remember it is there!

Get an Apple ID for education...

If you have an iPhone or an iPad, you'll already have an Apple ID. It is the account you use to install apps and music. An Apple ID is tied to a specific country, so it is a good idea to maintain your personal Apple ID for your home country, and get a separate Apple ID for Education.

Why do I need an Apple ID for Education?

As Apple continue to develop their education product line, it's a good idea to create a separate Apple ID just for your professional 'teacher' stuff. Your apple ID will give you an iCloud drive as well as access to the Apple Teacher website.

How can I sign up for an iCloud account?

Go to https://appleid.apple.com/
Scroll down and select Create your Apple ID
You will need an email address (use the professional GMail account you created earlier), a password (at least 8 characters, including a number and both upper and lower case letters) and three security questions.

Should I write down my passwords?

You are collecting a lot of passwords and security questions now!

It is better to write the passwords down somewhere safe (not on a sticky note next to your computer) than repeat simple passwords across a number of accounts.

Most passwords that are compromised are:

stolen from the website itself by hackers
guessed by 'brute force' software programs
tricked from the user

So:

never repeat passwords,
use complex passwords with numbers, symbols and letters
never enter passwords when you have clicked on a link in an email. Always go to the website by typing the address into your browser.

Get a Microsoft account...

While you are here, you might as well sign up for a Microsoft account!

Why should I sign up for a Microsoft account?

You'll get access to the OneDrive cloud, as well as online Microsoft Office tools. You will also be able to access the Microsoft Education site, which is a great platform for professional development.

Even if you don't use the account now, it is useful to have set up... just in case!

How can I sign up for a Microsoft account?

Go to https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-gb/ to sign up for a OneDrive account.
Click Sign up for free
You will need an email address (use the professional GMail account you created earlier), and a password
Check your email to verify your account.

What can I do with my account?

You can access OneDrive and Microsoft 365 apps online as well as an Outlook.com email account.
Most importantly, you can access the Microsoft Educator Centre at education.microsoft.com/

You've done it...

You know more about the different devices and browsers...

You have a 'professional' email account and your own place in the cloud...

You have set up accounts with the big three - Google, Apple and Microsoft...

Great job! You're now ready to get set...

CreditsHeader image created by makyzz - www.freepik.com and used under licence. Icons used under licence from nounproject.com. Images used under licence from Freepik.com. Screenshots ©2018 Google LLC, used with permission. Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC.

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