1. The Teacher Is In Charge There are dozens of free email services, but Gaggle.Net is the only service designed specifically for classroom use. The biggest difference is that the teacher is in charge. Quickly Review Any and All Messages The system automatically monitors message content. If a suspicious message is detected, it is sent to the teacher for review. The teacher decides whether to send the message on to the intended recipient. The monitoring controls can also be turned off or customized by the teacher at any time. Customize Blocked Words Gaggle.Net monitors word usage in messages. A suggested list of inappropriate words is provided. Teachers may add or remove words to this list as needed. Grant or Deny Student Usage Teachers have the power to suspend or change the password on student accounts. This is the ultimate control level that guarantees safe, productive use of email for your students. Control Incoming Messages It is up to the teacher to decide what will reach the students. Messages from specific domains can be blocked or all outside mail can be blocked. This ability makes it easy for the teacher to control unwanted marketing messages (SPAM), pornographic mail, etc.

2. As the School Administrator you can choose to block or allow any domain name or email address. You can even choose to block all messages from ".com" addresses. Blocked messages are not really blocked. These messages are re-routed to the teacher's Gaggle account. This gives the teacher the chance to review questionable student mail before it gets sent. The teacher can review the message before it is delivered by the system. These messages appear in the Administrators "Blocked Folder." You choose whether to allow the message to go through, delete the message, or store the message for future reference.

3. The Gaggle system has built in controls that automatically monitor your students email messages. The system watches for certain words or phrases that indicate the student may be abusing the email account. As the teacher/administrator you can customize the list of words and phrases that are monitored. When these words appear in an email message, the message is rerouted to your account before it gets delivered. The teacher can review the message before it is delivered by the system. These messages appear in the Administrators "Blocked Folder." You choose whether to allow the message to go through, delete the message or store the message for future reference.

4. COPPA Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 The Gaggle email service is in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. Individual children are not allowed to sign up for the Gaggle email service. The only way a child may obtain access to an email account on the Gaggle.Net service is through their school. Schools sign up for a group account on Gaggle.Net and then create accounts for specific students. Each school is responsible for creating and monitoring student accounts on the service. Schools may choose to list students' full names in the record for each user. Entering data in the Full Name field is optional and is for the school's use only. It is intended for administrative and disciplinary purposes. Use of the Free Version of Gaggle implies that your school is acting as a proxy for parental consent and agrees to the advertising, data collection, and terms of service of the Gaggle web site. The school wide data collected by Gaggle is the school's address, grade levels, and other aggregate information about the school's internet connection, computers and the likelihood of students to have home computers. In the future Gaggle may collect age and gender data to be matched up with student accounts for the purpose of offering targeted advertising.

5. Can we use a custom domain name for the email addresses? Yes, for a small fee you can customize the email addresses for your students. Using a custom domain name gives your students more choices for their email address. For instance, jeff@gaggle.net is taken, but jeff@sdhs.gaggle.net would be available. A custom domain also helps unify and identify the members of your school. There are two choices: You can use a sub domain name such as "jsmith@westsidehigh.gaggle.net". A sub domain of gaggle requires no work on your part. If your school has its own domain name such as franklinschool.com, you can use this for your email address. You will need to have your web master point the MX record of your server at the Gaggle mail server. (We can help.) The cost for a custom domain name of either type is $200 for the first year and a $100 maintenance fee each year thereafter.

6. Can my students store their homework files on Gaggle? Yes, students can store homework files on Gaggle. Students can upload files to their own Digital Locker. Files can be made public or private and they can access them from any computer with an internet connection. Does Gaggle include message boards? Yes, Gaggle has message boards at the school, district, and Gaggle wide level. Teachers can create their own message boards to invite homework discussion or review for a test. Teachers also have the ability to limit which message boards their students can access. Does Gaggle include chat rooms and can they be limited? Yes, Gaggle has chat rooms at the school, district, and Gaggle wide level. Teachers can create specific chat rooms for a live online review, and they can easily limit student access to certain levels of chat rooms.

7. Does Gaggle comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act? Yes, Gaggle is in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. For more details read our statement of compliance.statement of compliance

8. Gaggle.Net Is Easy Gaggle.Net works on any computer with Internet access and a browser. All controls are displayed in a standard web page. There are no additional windows, no special controls, and no outside programs to be accessed. The benefit of a completely web-based solution is that students (and the teacher) can access their email, respond, and even use their address book on any computer, with any browser in any location -- home, library, or the classroom. When students can read and respond to email at home, it saves valuable classroom time and extends the learning experience.