Google Classroom

What is Google Classroom?

Google describes Google Classroom as "mission control for your classroom," and this might be the easiest way to think about it. Simply put, it's a platform that ties together Google's G Suite tools for teachers and students. It also acts as a digital organizer where teachers can keep class materials and share them with students -- all paperless-ly. From there, you can pick and choose the features you want to incorporate. This flexibility, and its seamless integration with Google's popular tools, is likely what's made Google Classroom one of the most widely-used edtech tools today.

Is Google Classroom an LMS?

Technically, no. Google Classroom is not a stand-alone learning management system (LMS), course management system (CMS), or student information system (SIS). That said, Google regularly adds new functions to Google Classroom. In June 2019, for example, Google announced that schools will soon be able to sync the tool's new grading features to an existing student information system. As Google continues to add features, it's likely that it may start to look, and function, more like an LMS. But for now it's best to think of the tool as a one-stop shop for class organization.

Who can use Google Classroom?

Anyone! Google Classroom is included as a free service for anyone with a personal Google account, and it's also free for organizations using G Suite for Education or G Suite for Nonprofits. In most cases, teachers and students can access Google Classroom using a Google account provided by their school. While teachers and students in schools are the primary users of Google Classroom, there are also features that administrators, families, and home-schoolers can use.

How do teachers use Google Classroom?

Because it's a fairly flexible platform, educators use its features in a lot of different ways. With Google Classroom, teachers can:

• Streamline how they manage classes. The platform integrates with Google’s other tools like Docs, Drive, and Calendar, so there are lots of built-in "shortcuts" for classroom-management tasks. For example, if you post an assignment with a due date, it's automatically added to the class calendar for your students to see.
  

• Digitally organize, distribute, and collect assignments, course materials, and student work. Teachers can also post an assignment to multiple classes or modify and reuse assignments from year to year. If your students have regular access to devices, Google Classroom can help you avoid some trips to the photocopier and cut down on some of the paper shuffling that comes with teaching and learning.
  

• Communicate with students about their classwork. You can use the platform to post announcements and reminders about assignments, and it's easy to see who has or hasn't completed their work. You can also check in with individual students privately, answer their questions, and offer support.
  

• Give students timely feedback on their assignments and assessments. Within Google Classroom, it's possible to use Google Forms to create and share quizzes that are automatically graded as students turn them in. You'll not only spend less time grading, but your students will get instant feedback on their work.