How Tamborine Mountain College Elevated IT Efficiency with GAT
About
Nestled in the nonchalant nature of Tamborine Mountain in Queensland, Australia, Tamborine Mountain College (TMC) has been a beacon of education since 1995. Expanding from a secondary campus to a P-12 in 2015, and the establishment of the Early Learning Centre in 2019, TMC offers a tranquil and technologically-equipped learning environment. When Olger Diekstra, with three decades of experience joined the school in July 2022, the task at hand was clear: to streamline and further enhance the IT infrastructure, taking into account their existing commitment to Google Workspace.
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Vigilant Plan
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Challenge
Despite being a Google Workspace school with a 1:1 chromebook policy, TMC faced challenges in efficiently managing its IT resources. The existing audit tools within Google Workspace were limited, and the permissions on Google’s Shared Drive posed difficulties. Olger’s commitment to the “Art of Continuous Improvement” meant that settling for sub-optimal solutions was not an option. The school needed a tool to provide complete visibility, control, and automation over their GWS environment.
Use Cases
Enhanced Auditing with GAT+
Previously reliant on Google Workspace Fundamentals native tools, the discovery of GAT+ was transformative. It provided the team with more comprehensive auditing capabilities, filling gaps where Google’s tools fell short. Locating files in Drive based on ID became straightforward, and the ability to scan every MyDrive helped in establishing the domain status of files.
Transition to GAT Shield
Early 2023 saw TMC make a pivotal switch from their previous cloud filtering tool to GAT Shield and it did not disappoint. It was half the price of the previous solution and provided functionalities like DLP, Chromebook tracking and monitoring and more. GAT Shield’s powerful Alert Rules now allow the IT team to proactively identify and block inappropriate content, with students inadvertently assisting in this process.
Empowering Educators with Teacher Assist
With GAT’s Teacher Assist, educators at TMC now have granular control over student browsing activities during class. They can view student browser screens, white or blacklist URLs, and they have started using Teacher Assignments which detects the likelihood of students submitting an assignment written by another, or by ChatGPT. It can even block copy and paste!
Bulk Chrome Device Management
Managing multiple Chrome devices became simpler for Olger and his team with GAT. Processes that would typically be time-intensive, such as modifying devices in bulk, are now done in minutes.
Utilising GAM with GAT
Although TMC uses both GAT and GAM, Olger notes that certain tasks, especially those linked with their on-prem AD environment, are more efficiently handled with GAM. He uses a combination of powershell scripts, GAM, and APIs from TMC’s Student Management System, TASS, for tasks like onboarding and offboarding.
Conclusion
Improved Control and Visibility
GAT has fundamentally transformed TMC’s approach to IT management. The IT team can exert more control, easily locate files, and ensure security more effectively.
Increased Efficiency
Routine tasks are no longer cumbersome. The team can now respond to staff queries more promptly and handle tasks like bulk device management with unprecedented efficiency.
Cost Savings
By transitioning from their previous web filtering tool to GAT, their costs reduced by 50% and they also enhanced functionality for both the IT Team and for their teachers with the additional functionality of Teacher Assist.
Positive Feedback Loop
The support and after-sales service from GAT have fostered a sense of partnership between them. Olger feels that his feedback, including feature requests, are always taken into consideration, reflecting the symbiotic relationship between TMC and GAT’s Support Team.
Looking Ahead
With the continuous advancements GATLabs introduces, TMC is optimistic about the future. The IT team is keen on further harnessing GAT+ and expanding their skillset in the domain.
In conclusion, Tamborine Mountain College’s journey with GAT encapsulates the power of the right tool combined with a proactive approach. While every school might have unique IT challenges, TMC’s experience stands as testament to the transformative potential of solutions like GAT, especially for educational institutions committed to the Google ecosystem. Olger’s advice to others is clear:
“Do a deep dive into GAT; it’s money well spent”
Olger Diekstra, ICT Manager, Tamborine Mountain College, Queensland, Australia
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