Google Workspace

JANUARY 2024 – PRESENT

Google Workspace

Overview

Google Workspace is a comprehensive suite of productivity applications, including Drive, Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Forms, Sheets, Slides, and more. With all these tools conveniently accessible in one place, you can effortlessly create, communicate, and collaborate, ensuring maximum efficiency in your work. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 share similar functionalities. Both offer a range of applications for file storage and creation, including documents and spreadsheets. The advantage of Google is that anyone with a Gmail account can freely access their suite of applications.

The Patterson Foundation uses Google Workspace applications in various ways to create, connect, and collaborate with people, organizations, and communities.

By developing and honing each of our Google applications skills, we strengthen our ability to provide strategic and tactical support and expertise to TPF’s various initiatives.

Logistics

Google Workspace offers web-based applications and collaborative software. Its real-time collaboration features simplify your work with TPF and beyond, eliminating the need to circulate multiple file versions. As changes are made, everyone can witness the document evolve, fostering seamless collaboration.

The main applications include:
  • Drive – Store, share, and collaborate on files and folders from your mobile device, tablet, or computer. Drive integrates with Docs, Sheets, Slides, and cloud-native collaboration apps, enabling your team to create content and collaborate more effectively in real time – Similar to OneDrive. Think of it as a file cabinet.
  • Calendar – A shareable online calendar that combines all your calendars in one place so you can manage work, personal life, and everything in between. Similar to Outlook or Apple’s calendar.
  • Gmail – A free web-based email service that provides users with 15 GB of email storage. Similar to Outlook or Yahoo.
  • Docs – Create and collaborate on online documents in real time and from any device. Edit together in real-time with easy sharing, and use comments, suggestions, and action items to keep things moving. Or use @-mentions to pull relevant people, files, and events into your online Docs for rich collaboration. – Similar to Word. (Think of it as working side by side on a single document in the office with a fellow TPFer).
  • Forms – Create custom forms for surveys, registrations, and questionnaires. Easily share forms with specific people or to a broad audience by sharing a link, embedding them on your website, and watching responses appear. Real-time collaboration helps you create your form faster and lets you analyze results together without sending around multiple file versions.
  • Sheets – Create and collaborate on online spreadsheets in real time and from any device. Sheets is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Easily analyze Google Forms data in Sheets or embed Sheets charts in Google Slides and Docs. – Similar to Excel.
  • Slides – Create, present, and collaborate on online presentations in real time and from any device. Stay in sync in your slides with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to build your ideas together. Similar to PowerPoint.
Before diving into the Google Workplace world, you’ll need to have a Gmail account. Create one here.

FAQ's

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this initiative...

What is Google Workspace, and how does it work?

Google Workspace is a collection of cloud computing, productivity, and collaboration tools, software, and products developed and marketed by Google.

Relevant Google Workspace applications include:
  • Gmail – Send and receive mail.
  • Drive – Store, access, and share your files in one secure place. Store any and every file. Access files anytime, anywhere, from your desktop and mobile devices. Control how files are shared.
  • Calendar – Google Calendar brings all of your calendars together in one place so you can manage work, personal life, and everything in between.
  • Google Docs – Word processing for teams. Create and edit text documents in your browser—no dedicated software is required. Multiple people can work simultaneously, and every change is saved automatically.
  • Sheets – Collaborative, smart, secure spreadsheets for fast-moving organizations.
  • Slides – Create and edit polished presentations in your browser—no software required. Multiple people can work simultaneously, so everyone always has the latest version.
Forms – Create and share online forms and surveys and analyze real-time responses.

How does The Patterson Foundation use Google Workspace Applications?

  • Gmail – To send emails.
  • Drive – To store initiative files, including documents, photos, videos, etc.
  • Calendar – To manage and schedule both in-person and virtual meetings.
  • Docs – To create meeting agendas, run of shows, frameworks, etc.
  • Sheets – To track event registration, book inventory, and engagement.
  • Slides – To create presentations for Zoom meetings.
  • Forms – To create registration forms and sign-up sheets.

What are essential Gmail skills for a TPFer?

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.

Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners
Using The Gmail app

What are essential Calendar skills for a TPFer?

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.

Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners

Advanced

What are essential Drive skills for a TPFer?

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.

Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners

What are essential Docs skills for a TPFer?

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.

Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners

What are essential Forms skills for a TPFer?

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.

Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners
  • Creating a New Form
  • Written Instructions: Computer, Android, iPhone and iPad
  • Editing a Form
  • Formatting Forms
  • Sending Forms
  • Share Form With Collaborators
  • Saving Form Responses
  • View & Manage Form Responses
  • Customizing Form’s Theme

Advanced

  • Creating Form Sections
  • Using Form Add-ons

What are essential Sheet skills for a TPFer?

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.

Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners
Advanced

What are essential Slides skills for a TPFer?

 

Note: A majority of these key functions are best done on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, or tablet. To do some of these functions on a phone, you will be required to download an application. Some functions will not be able to be completed on a device other than a computer.Overview of Concepts

Key Functions for Beginners

What Google Workspace classes are offered for TPFers?

The following one-hour to one hour and thirty-minute classes are offered to help you strengthen your essential Google Workspace skills:
  • Optimizing Your Use of Gmail: Provides an opportunity to learn to use Gmail functions.
  • Discover Drive: Provides an opportunity to learn to use Gmail functions.
  • Dive into Docs: Provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone in on essential Doc skills.
  • Connect and Collaborate With Calendar: Provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone in on essential Calendar skills.
  • Forms for Beginners: Provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone in on essential Form skills.
  • Simplifying Sheets (Beginner): Provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone in on essential Sheet skills.
  • Optimizing Sheets (Advanced): Provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone in on advanced essential Sheet skills such as charts and formulas.
  • Presenting With Slides: Provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone in on essential Slide skills.

What additional learning resources are available?

What Can You Do With Google?

Calendar
Drive
Gmail
Docs
Forms

Sheets

Slides

Who can I contact about TPF Tech Excellence?

For more information, contact Kiarra Louis, Leadership Support Manager, at klouis@thepattersonfoundation.org
TPF Tech Excellence
Tech Excellence Mock Drive
GCF Global – Drive
GCF Global – Docs
GCF Global – Slides
GCF Global – Sheets
GCF Global – Forms
GCF Global – Gmail
Google Tips
Google Workspace Learning Center
Changing Your Signature
Class Recording: Dive Into Docs
Class Recording: Discover Drive
Class Recording: Simplifying Sheets
Class Recording: Connect and Collaborate with Calendar

Share This Page

About Us

FOR TPFERS

Our Work

Connect

Spotify