Google promotes ‘Apps for Education‘

MANILA, Philippines - Google Philippines is conducting a series of school tours to provide students and teachers a crash course on using online tools.

“Google offers a lot more than just search. There are available apps perfect for education, which when maximized, can make learning more enriching and enjoyable,” said country communications manager Gail Tan during an event at the AMA University in Quezon City on Friday.

“We really want to give our best (in supporting) the education system by teaching teachers and students on how to use technology,” she added.

The multinational corporation has developed “Apps for Education,” which it said would enable students to collaborate with classmates for their homework even after school hours.

Among the applications introduced to students were the Google Drive, Hangout, Calendar, Sites and the Gmail.

“With Google Apps, it is now easier for us to share school files, making everything more efficient and organized. Aside from this, it is easier for students and faculty to share room and class schedules too,” added AMA university vice chairman Amable Aguiluz IX.

Google also gave students tips on how to maximize the features of the Search, as well as provided information on various tools that can help them in their activities.

Tan said that the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority have migrated to Google Apps for Education to improve and digitize their learning management system.

Among the universities that have “gone Google” include the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and the De La Salle University.

During the launch last year, UP president Alfredo Pascual said using Google Apps for Education would help the university achieve its objective of integrating technology in its operations.

“As the premier state university, we want to optimize the use of technology to provide our students with a better learning experience,” he said.

The partnership with Google is part of the state university’s eUP program “which seeks to integrate, harmonize, and interoperate information and communication technology systems” in its operations.