Google Apps for Education

The first tool I am going to review using our rubric is Google Apps for Education, I know this is way more than your average educational tool but because this is the way school districts generally set up the use of these tools through a managed domain it makes the most sense to review this tool or tools as it may be. Heres how it measures up...
Effective: With the exception of Google Classroom which is just out of it's Beta phase but still appears to be gaining popularity, the apps in the GAFE suite have been field tested and have passed the "effectiveness test" in a lot of applications in education. The versatility as well as the collaborative nature of these programs lends to it's high ranking in this category. 4.0
Ease of Use: Once a school or district is set-up with a registered domain (on average 6 weeks), GAFE is relatively easy to deploy and have students and teachers start using with registered accounts. Tech support is minimal once up and running. 3.0
Technology Required: Google apps for ed is multi-platform and supported on all devices with an internet connection. 4.0
Adaptability: Can be applied to all learning environments. 4.0
Cost: Free! 4.0
Target Audience: Better for older students but can be used by most levels. 4.0
Versatility Across the Curriculum: It's not really a curriculum specific tool but can be used for various content areas, the "Add-ons" have more of a language arts focus like a thesaurus, dictionary, highlighting tool, word cloud generator, etc, 3.0
Overall Score: 26/28

Communication Web 2.0 Tools Rubric

	Score 4.0	Score 3.0	Score 2.0	Score 1.0
Effective	Students are able to do all of the following: *be actively engaged *able to work both collaboratively and independently at times. *able to connect new learnings to prior learnings *able to use to open up to real-world	Students are able to do three of the following: *be actively engaged *able to work both collaboratively and independently at times. *able to connect new learnings to prior learnings *able to use to open up to real-world	Students are able to do two of the following: *be actively engaged *able to work both collaboratively and independently at times. *able to connect new learnings to prior learnings *able to use to open up to real-world	Students are able to do one of the following: *be actively engaged *able to work both collaboratively and independently at times. *able to connect new learnings to prior learnings *able to use to open up to real-world
Ease of Use	Requirements to use: *with no setup or  setup does not require many steps *Students/ teachers can use/operate with no tech support	Requirements to use: *with little setup or  setup does not require many steps *Students/ teachers can use/operate with little tech support	Requirements to use: *with setup and   setup does require many steps *Students/ teachers can use/operate with moderate tech support	Requirements to use: *many steps to begin *Students/ teachers can use/operate with a great deal of tech support
Technology Required	Can be used with all of these devices * phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops available devices	Can be used with three of these devices * phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops available devices	Can be used with two of these devices * phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops available devices	Can be used with one of these devices * phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops available devices
Adaptability	Can be applied to all learning environments	Can be applied to most learning environments	Can be applied to some learning environments	Can only be applied to one learning environments
Cost	Free without additional costs	Minimal cost/donation	Average cost but one time purchase	Considerable cost to establish and maintain
Target Audience	Can be used with all students and all grade levels	Can be used with a span i.e. k-5, 6-8, 9-12	Is restricted to a set. i.e 1-2, 3-4, etc.	It is grade level specific
Versatility Across the Curriculum	Includes all: *Can be adapted for use across the curriculum *Addresses many of the standards *Students/ teachers can monitor their progress.	Includes two: Can be adapted for use across the curriculum *Addresses many of the standards *Students/ teachers can monitor their progress.	Includes one: Can be adapted for use across the curriculum *Addresses many of the standards *Students/ teachers can monitor their progress.	Does not include: Can be adapted for use across the curriculum Addresses many of the standards *Students/ teachers can monitor their progress.