This Is Me On the Fence: Google Apps vs Microsoft 365

I sit here with a smile on my face as I think back to the numerous times when my high school students in the Caribbean would be flabbergasted when they discovered that I was knowledgeable about many of the things going on in the “teen” world.  “You have Facebook???” or “You have an Ipod???” they would ask me and I would remind them that I may be living on a rock, but I certainly don’t live under one.  

With this course, and certainly this topic of Google Apps vs Microsoft 365, I have come to realize that while I had been living on a rock for some time, technologically speaking, I had also been living under it.  After all, I didn’t even know Google Docs existed until a few months ago.  Yes, I admit it, and yes, I am giving myself a look of haughty derision.

After some research, I came across an article that really gets down to the small, yet potentially significant differences between these two online giants.  Derrick Wlodarz goes on to pick apart these differences with the focus of how they function for businesses, and after being involved with Google for some time, he ultimately made the switch to 365.  Even though he does not talk about the function of these programs in the classroom, it does raise the bigger question for me as a teacher: If we are to prepare students to be successful in the real world, then which programs/skills do we need to reinforce?

I believe the answer could be to use both.  While I am a newbie and exploring this whole Google thing, I do know that I am good at using Office (albeit, I haven’t used the online version yet).  After discussing the topic with  my brother (26, very tech savvy, just starting his own business) it really comes down to familiarity.  We agree that after so many years of using Office, and learning how to use it well, the money used to pay for a subscription is less valuable than all the time spent learning new programs.

Therefore, why not give students access to both?  At school they have chances to use both so why not learn the basics of them for which ever they may have to use in the future?  Also, think about those students who may not have access to computers on a regular basis.  Giving them the chance to develop skills online AND offline (Microsoft Office) will be in their best interests as they move into the business world.