Classroom

Overview

Google Classroom is a component of G Suite that allows teachers to create an online interface for assigning or collecting materials from his/her students. In addition, Classroom offers a centralized space for students to view announcements or upcoming assignments (both through a reminder screen as well as on a class calendar), access the class drive folder and for students to post comments (requires enabling permissions).

Like all Google applications, the easiest way to open the App is through the Google home page (www.google.com). In the top right hand corner, there will be an icon that I refer to as the Google waffle because it has three rows of three cubes resembling a waffle. This is a quick way to access any native Google app. It does not work for apps that are not created by Google.

Disclosure: in order to use Google Classroom in a school setting with students, the school district must have signed up for a free G Suite for Education account. Typically, the district will then create and assign students with individual google accounts which can then be connected to Google Classroom. It is possible to create a Google Classroom without a G Suite for Education account but it must not be used with students in a school environment. The following pop-up box will remind users of this restriction. The pop-up will likely not show up if the user is signed into a school district's google account.

The next step is to create a name for the new classroom. It is also possible to add additional information such as the Section (such as in a secondary school enviroment) and subject name. Click the blue CREATE button to continue.

Google Classroom Splash Screen

The main Classroom screen consists of three different pages:

• Stream: the main page which contains all of the assignments, posts, questions and events.
• Students: this is where you can view students who have joined or invite more students. On a student's computer, this section will say "Classmates" instead.
• About: this page allows users to add additional content

Adding Content

All content regardless of whether it is an assignment, an event, a post or a question is created by clicking on the red '+' button on the bottom of the 'Stream' page. Content can be created and saved as a draft, configured to not appear until a later date or posted immediately. Items can be assigned to one or more students or to the entire class. In addition to using text, most items allow uploading of an attachment either from the computer or through Google Drive, adding a URL link, or displaying a YouTube video. Furthermore, items can have a due date attached to it as well as a topic (for quick referencing). Each item also has its own set of customizable parameters including:

Question

• toggle between short answer or multiple choice
• toggle allow students can reply to each other
• toggle students can change their answer

Assignment

• additional instructions

Students - Inviting/Adding

Students can be added in two ways through the "People" tab:

1. Students can be invited to join the class through an invitation. This is initiated by clicking the "Invite Students" icon in the Students section. Clicking the icon will then prompt you to enter in students' names or their email addresses. An invitation will be sent to the email addresses entered whereupon receipt, students will be able to join the class. This method is most useful when working in an online environment where students may not physically be able to see the teacher's laptop. Adding names is most appropriate in a closed environment such as a school district where students have been provided with a district google account.
2. A quicker method to have multiple students join a classroom is by providing them with a class code. This is located in the setting icon. Students can then enter this code when they click on the Join a Class button on the main Classroom page. Clicking on the triangle to the right of the code opens a drop down menu where there are four additional options:

i. Display the code on the computer in a large text font.

ii. Copy the code so that it can be easily pasted (assuming students are using the same computer).

iii.Reset the code.

iv. Disable the code so that no one can join the class without an invitation (method #1).

Working with Students

Once students have been added/joined the class, the teacher has the ability to apply various actions to one, several or all of the students. Start by choosing the student(s) you wish to apply the action to by checking the box to the left of their name. Select all students by clicking the box above all of the names just to the left of the "Sort by last name" line. When at least one student has been checked, the white Action box at the top of the screen will become clickable (it will appear less muted). The following actions are available:

• Email: send the student(s) an email message
• Remove: remove the selected student(s) from the class
• Mute: remove commenting, posting or replying privileges for the selected student(s). When muted, the student(s) can still submit work but other students will not see it.

Add Class Materials

It may be desirable to add supporting materials such as reference material or tools for students to use which are not assignments. This is done by clicking on the '+' symbol on the main page (Stream). and selecting "Create Announcment."