Many of Google’s Tools require an account / login. Below are some options for providing student logins:*

Option 1:

Single Generic Student Login
www.google.com (Log in or create account in upper right corner)

All students log in under the same account.

Note - think about having two google accounts: one for you; one for students to use. Create the doc or set up the tool using your teacher account; then share it with your student account. That way students won’t have admin privileges.

Pros:

1. +easy to set up (Click here to see how.)
   

2. +access to all google apps
   

Cons:

1. -no individual accountability
   

Option 2:

Google Apps Team Edition

http://www.google.com/a/cpanel/domain/new

If you have your own domain name, you can set up accounts for each student. (If you don’t already have a domain name, you can buy one at www.godaddy.com.)

Pros:

1. +Domain names are inexpensive - just a few dollars a year.
   

2. +Can easily create accounts and passwords from spreadsheet file
   

3. +Teacher can control accounts; settings, etc.
   

4. +Students have individual accounts; can track individual “posts”
   

Cons:

1. -limited to certain apps (Google Maps and iGoogle, for example, are not included)
   

Option 3:

Google Apps Education Edition

http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/edu/index.html

Similar to Team Edition, but managed as a whole-school domain.

Pros:

- Students have individual accounts; can track individual “posts”

Cons:

1. -Requires IT setup and support
   

2. -Limited to certain apps (Google Maps and iGoogle, for example, are not included)
   

Option 4:

Student-Created Accounts

www.google.com (Log in or create account in upper right corner)

If students are over 13 and have their own email addresses, they can set up and use their own Google accounts.

Pros:

1. +Access to all Google apps
   

2. +Individual logins / individual accountability
   

Cons:

1. -No teacher control over accounts / passwords
   

2. -More likely to be blocked in schools
   

1. ✴Important note - There is some concern and a lot of confusion about Google’s “over 13” age policy. I’ve been researching this issue and haven’t really found a straight answer...
   
   I did find out that Google is required to have the “over 13” policy to comply with COPPA. In looking at the COPPA website, it seems that their main concern is with websites that ask for personal information such as email addresses from children under 13. So, one could assume that as long as an adult is setting up and managing the account and that students are not required to provide any personal information, a teacher is within the legal agreement.
   
   Some schools, to protect themselves even further, require that parents sign a permission form for students to use read-write web tools such as those offered by Google.