Digital Literacy for Digital Immigrants
  • Catalog of Courses
    • Cruising the Digital Ocean
    • Exploring Gmail
    • TECH: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
    • Pilgrimage

Week One - Getting Started with Gmail

5/25/2018

 

Background Information about Gmail

​According to Wikipeida, Gmail has been around since 2004. Google’s email service started out as a beta and graduated to a full-fledged service in 2009. Gmail is used by schools, corporations, and individuals like you and me.
Although Gmail has been around since 2004, revisions and updates have been made based on advancing technology and input by users. In 2016, Google decided to adopt HTML 5, the most current source code that enables content to be viewed in a browser.  A major feature in HTML 5 is the ability to play embedded video without a player application like Flash and Windows Media. 
Minor revisions to Gmail happen from time to time. During May 2018, Google gave Gmail a major update and the content here is based on this revision.  Google Support provides an overview of the revisions at https://goo.gl/C8gz47.  

Videos, screen shots, and web resources are provided in this website to support weekly tasks and associated learning activities.  You may find additional resources online by using  "2018 Gmail" as your search term. (By using the parentheses, your search will return items that include both terms.)  
​Tentative Course Outline
  1. Setting Up Gmail
  2. Accessing Gmail & Minimizing Spam and Phishing
  3. Importing Email from other accounts
  4. Setting Up Gmail Labels
  5. Creating Filters 
  6. Connecting Gmail to Calendar 

Locating the Gmail App 

Picture
Looking at your device, Gmail is recognizable by its red and white envelop icon. Gmail comes preinstalled on Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks. Apple Mail is preinstalled on Apple and IOS devices and Windows Mail is preinstalled on Windows devices.  Use the Applications store to install Gmail on Apple and Windows phones and tablets.   On laptop or desktop computers Gmail is accessed through a browser at http://mail.google.com/.
  • Google Support provides additional information

Creating a Gmail Account

Background Glossary

The list below is a basic glossary of terms helpful in understanding the use of Gmail. Being specific with terms will clarify the process of using web-based email rather than an application that delivers email from a server directly to your computer, tablet, or mobile device. 
  • Computer (device)
  • Platform
  • Browser
  • Apps
    • ​Apple - iTunes
    • PC - Microsoft
    • Android - Google Play
  • Cloud
    • For techies
    • For not so techies
  • Security and Privacy 
    • Google Product Privacy Guide
    • General Data Protection Regulation
      applicable as of May 25th, 2018 in all member states to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe
    • ​NPR Report on GDPR from April 2018
    • Terms of Service Didn't Read
      ​browser plug-in
  • Passwords
    • from Google
  • Spam
  • Others

​Review

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    Author

    I am a retired educator, with experience in school, public health, and state education agencies. Helping my mother, my children, and my grandson use technology provided additional experience.   


    Shared Resources

    Weekly Summary
    A Google Document that included additional resources and a weekly summary of activities.  You may view download this document or make a copy and save it to your G Drive.
    Gmail Settings
    A Google document with a list of the settings for Gmail. It may be used to develop a personal guide to the functions related to each setting.
    ​Gmail Help Forum
    Google's "official"
    ​Gmail Help Forum 

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  • Catalog of Courses
    • Cruising the Digital Ocean
    • Exploring Gmail
    • TECH: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
    • Pilgrimage