Planning a move from Google to Microsoft 365 feels like a significant step for many schools and Multi Academy Trusts.
The switch sounds like it will take a lot of time, money and energy that would be better spent elsewhere in the school.
In fact, one of the top reasons we hear from senior leaders in schools for their hesitation to make the change from Google to Microsoft is staff resistance and retraining.
But, after working with schools for over ten years to build robust digital learning environments in Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, we’ve seen first-hand the benefits the platform brings to education.
In this free webinar, our COO and Co-Founder, Darren Hemming, breaks down the reality of moving from Google to Microsoft – comparing the two platforms and showing you exactly what’s involved in the transition. And you may be pleasantly surprised to know how easy it can be with a good support system by your side.
Darren draws on his experience working in schools as a Modern Languages and ICT teacher and 20+ years of SharePoint innovation:
“One of the fears with any platform change is that it feels like you’re starting from scratch again. But many of the behaviours, from both a teaching and student perspective, are very similar, even if the surrounding structure is a little bit different.”
In the Webinar, Darren will discuss:
- The similarities between Google and Microsoft for education.
- The differences between the two platforms.
- How to make the transition from Google Classroom to Microsoft 365 smooth for your school.
The similarities between Google and Microsoft for education
“The learning curve is really not that steep. Yes, there are some differences, but I think with just a little bit of training, you can overcome that. So, a relatively small amount of training will allow teachers to convert their skills from Google to Microsoft.” – Darren Hemming.
Some of the key similarities between the two platforms include:
- Posting announcements
- Creating assignments
- Editing documents
- Student user experience
Darren walks you through each key activity in the webinar.
Is it worth moving from Google to Microsoft 365?
With so many similarities between the two platforms, you may be wondering if it’s worth switching from Google to Microsoft 365 for your school.
“We create hundreds of class teams for each school each year, and then teachers can just turn up and teach. They don’t need to make the teams, they don’t need to manage the membership of them – just turn up and get on with the business of teaching,” says Darren.
We think the benefits speak for themselves:
Structured, easily accessible and scalable resource areas
For file storage and small-scale collaboration, Google can work really well.
However, many schools reach a point where the limitations of the platform start to show.
Schools and trusts need more structure and control over their file sharing – curriculum resource areas for different subjects and year groups, staff-only sites for sharing sensitive information and spaces where senior leadership can collaborate on documents.
With Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, this is all possible. You bring all of your teaching and learning apps, resources and communications channels together with a secure, central online portal.
School or trust-wide communications and news
One of the most powerful features of Microsoft vs Google is the ability to create communications hubs or news sites for individual departments, the school or even your entire trust.
This is a great way to handle important communications to a mass audience, fast – getting the right information to the right people without it sitting unread in people’s inboxes.
With Cloud Design Box, you can customise your communication hubs to have your school’s branding. Plus, you get a range of exclusive SharePoint Web Parts tailored to education to further enhance your SharePoint sites. For example, My Classes, My Assignments, Staff Briefing, Word of the day, FAQs and more.
Safeguarding and compliance
Microsoft’s enterprise-level security features give your school’s IT team the control they need to manage access, protect sensitive data and meet regulatory requirements. As schools adopt more digital tools, safeguarding and compliance become non-negotiable.
Cloud Design Box takes this further by adding governance layers and automation designed specifically for education – so leaders can feel confident that their digital environment is not only powerful, but also safe.
Sign up to the webinar
If you’re considering moving to Microsoft 365 from Google, but are still undecided, sign up to our free webinar that walks you through the process.
