Google Workspace

Google Workspace for Education (GWFE) is a suite of tools that can help increase opportunities for critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity, all while supporting the learning objectives that you have for students.

About

Google Workspace @ FCPS1

Google Workspace logo
What is the value of Google Workspace?

Workspace provides the ability for classroom collaboration. Students and teachers can open and edit their documents quickly. No more distractions like USB flash drive, outdated file attachments, or confusing client software. Anytime, anywhere access Google Docs lets users be productive at school, at home, and even on their mobile phones. Because Google Docs runs in a web browser, students can work from almost any family computer without having to purchase new software. Easily upload and share files Google Docs works on PC, Mac, and Linux computers, and supports popular formats such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, and .pdf. Files stored on Google Docs are always accessible and backed-up online. Revision history allows users to review document edits over time.

Why do we need Workspace when we already have Blackboard?

FCPS Workspace provides additional ways for students to collaborate in real time. FCPS Blackboard is the online resource that allows Fauquier County Public Schools students to extend learning beyond the traditional school day and beyond school facilities.  Use FCPS Blackboard to access homework and classroom assignments, view class calendars, and explore links to enrichment activities. Workspace provides a platform for content creation for an class assignment that can then be easily submitted into Blackboard.

How will my child access FCPS Workspace?

Once a student has his/her username and password, there are a two ways to log in:

Go to http://www.google.com and log in using his or her full Workspace address (username@fcps1schools.net) and password.

Go to http://myaccount.google.com and log in using his or her full Workspaceaddress (username@fcps1schools.net) and password.

Student passwords are automatically created and cannot be changed by the student.

Why can't my child email me with this account?

FCPS Workspace email is a “walled garden” for student email.  It will only allow students to send or receive email from domains approved by FCPS (e.g. fcps1.orgblackboard.com).  You will not be able to email your student at his or her fcps1schools.net address, nor will they be able to email you.  FCPS restricts what email domains are accessible from fcps1schools.net. Consumer email domains such as gmail.comaol.comcomcast.net, and verizon.net for example are not accessible domains.

What happens to my child's account when s/he graduates or leaves the division?

When a student graduates or leaves the division, his/her data will be available for 90 days. At the end of the 90 days the account and its content will be deleted. Students should save all their documents to another location (e.g. USB flash drive) prior to the 90 days.

Students can use either

FCPS Google Workspace login required to access these services to easily archive and download their content.

What about Privacy?

FCPS is responsible for protecting and safeguarding the confidentiality of student information.  FCPS has contracted with Google to provide access to Workspace to its users (students and staff) in a closed and secure environment that is not accessible by anyone outside of FCPS.   These accounts will remain the property of the Fauquier County Public Schools and will be under constant supervision.

Workspace is governed by detailed privacy policy and security measures which FCPS has reviewed and is satisfied they appropriately protect the privacy of its users of these tools.  Under our Terms of Service Agreement with Google, like FCPS, they are obligated to comply with FERPA regulations.  Additional information about Workspace security and privacy may be found at Googles education site.

What assurances has Google given FCPS that they will not collect data on my student?

FCPS has an agreement with Google based on the terms of this agreement (see Section 7).  Google’s Workspace allows us to be compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and Workspace is compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act  (COPPA.)

FCPS1Schools.Net (Google Workspace Domain)

Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS) will provide all K-12 students with Google Workspace for Education (GWFE) accounts. Workspace accounts use the domain name fcps1schools.net

Google Workspace includes free, web-based programs like document creation tools and collaboration tools. These services are entirely online, provide unlimited storage, and are available 24/7 from any internet-connected device.

FCPS Workspace is an integrated communication and collaboration solution, hosted by Google and managed by FCPS.  There are no advertisements used with Workspace. The environment will provide the ability for FCPS students, faculty and staff to communicate, store files and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time from school, work, or home, all within a secure “closed campus” online environment.

Students will have easy access to their documents, spreadsheets, and presentations within the environment. In addition, students will have additional storage for other files they may need to use between home and school. As the use of FCPS Workspace continues, there may be other features that are added.  

The instructional use of Workspace in the classroom is made at the school level by teachers. Since Workspace is accessible from any device with access to the internet, your child does have the opportunity to log in to his or her FCPS Workspace account from home to access their information or work on their documents, and collaborate on shared documents with other students and/or their teacher.

Help

Core Workspace Apps

GMail (Email)

Gmail lets you send and search for messages, organize your inbox, and build relationships with integrated chat and video meetings. In FCPS, student email is implemented as a wall-garden which limits email domains that can correspond with students.

Docs

Docs lets you write reports, create joint project proposals, keep track of meeting notes, and more..

Calendar

With Google Calendar, you can quickly schedule meetings and events and get reminders about upcoming activities, so you always know what’s next.

Sheets

Sheets lets you handle task lists, create project plans, analyze data with charts and filters, and more.

Drive

Drive lets you keep all your work in one place, view different file formats without buying extra software, and access your files from any device.

Slides

Slides lets you create pitch decks, project presentations, training modules, and more.

Forms

Forms lets you manage event registrations, create quizzes, analyze responses, and more.

Sites

Sites lets you build public sites, internal project hubs, and more—all without IT help.

Meet

Hold video meetings with people inside or outside of your organization.

Keep

Keep lets you make to-do lists, transcribe voice memos, take photos as reminders, and more.

Chat

Chat lets you ask quick questions, collaborate in group chats, create virtual rooms for team projects, and more.

Search

Cloud Search lets you find content across Google products, contact details, schedule-based recommendations, and more.

Help

Additional Workspace Apps

Youtube logo

YouTube

YouTube is a free video-sharing website and the second largest search engine behind Google Search.

FCPS’ Google Workspace environment has implemented YouTube Restricted Mode. Restricted Mode is an optional setting that has been available since 2010. It’s used by a small subset of users, such as libraries, schools, and public institutions, who choose to have a more limited viewing experience on YouTube. FCPS staff would have to approve a video that is not available to students.