Started gaining popularity in early 2020, Google Classroom is one of the most effective ways for teachers to engage with their students. Ever since the start of the pandemic era, most teachers have been using this educational tool to simplify the sharing of files between educators and learners. If this is your first time hearing about Google Classroom, then it is definitely a sign for you to check this tool out!
KEY FEATURES
In Google Classroom, teachers have the capability to organise their lessons and classes by separating the class into multiple online groups, providing efficient management tools.
Teachers can easily monitor their students’ progress, to see whether they have questions regarding any tasks given, or confirming their submission status.
Paper and pen assessments? Forget about it! Now with Google Classroom, students can be assessed online with ease. This feature also allows teachers to give feedback and comments, which are visible to students.
Applications like Google Docs, Meet, Drive, and Calendar can be integrated seamlessly with Google Classroom, as they are all developed by Google.
GUIDELINES ON THE FEATURES
Class stream
Example of annoucement made
Educators can easily communicate important messages to all students using Google Classroom.
Follow these steps:
Choose the class stream where you wish to make announcements.
Click on the “Announce something to your class” section.
Teachers can now type essential announcements, and students can be notified within seconds!
With Google Classroom, teachers can easily assign tasks to students with just a few clicks.
Here's how to do it:
Select the class stream where you want to assign a task.
Navigate to the "Classwork" tab at the top and click on "Create".
From there, teachers can assign various tasks such as assignments, quizzes, questions, and study materials to students.
Side note: In the example above, I assigned my students with an adjective question. I simply type the question and multiple choice answers, then click on the "Ask" button located at the top right corner.
Google Classroom allows teachers to easily grade student work efficiently.
The steps include:
Firstly, access the "Grades" tab.
You'll see a table with each assignment listed at the top and individual cells to enter grades for each student. If an assignment is overdue, it shows as "Missing" for students who haven't submitted it.
Click the "More" button in the cell where you want to input a grade, then choose "View submission."
Teachers may now assign a grade to the student's work.
(Optional) Teacher can also include a comment and then select Post.
Lastly, press the "Return" button for students to view their assessed work.
BENEFITS OF GOOGLE CLASSROOM
Personalized Feedback : Teachers can give feedback on students' works through the grading function in Classroom. The grading tool also allows teachers to save comments for later use. Plus, the Classroom mobile app lets teachers make notes directly on student work.
Paperless Teaching : All teaching materials and assignments are saved online, so there’s no need for paper. This is not only good for the environment, but it also keeps all necessary documents organized in Google Drive. This means students have easy access to everything they need, and teachers don't have to deal with lost worksheets.
Access From Anywhere : Google Classroom can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and on any device. This flexibility makes learning easier for students and fits well with busy family schedules. Students can complete assignments and access their learning from different locations.
Keep Parents Informed : Parents and guardians can receive email updates about their child's schoolwork. These updates include announcements and notifications about the child's activities. This helps parents stay informed about their child's progress and what's happening at school.
PERSONAL REVIEW
From my point of view, Google Classroom is a useful medium for online learning between teachers and students. This is because it provides an easier and more accessible education setting. Teachers can use it to organize classes into online groups and track student progress. The online grading system is easy to use, allowing teachers to give quick feedback and enter grades quickly, which saves time and simplifies the assessment process. Besides, Google Classroom also benefits students. They can access learning materials from any device and anywhere, making it easy to fit learning into their busy schedules. This means students can always keep up with their studies, anytime and anywhere. Hence, I highly recommend educators and students to try out Google Classroom! 💯