Google Classroom is an online-based platform that helps teachers manage blended and online learning. With this tool, teachers can organize instructional content, distribute assignments, assess student understanding, and send feedback to students.
Google Classroom uses Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, Earth, Calendar, and Gmail, and can be supplemented by Google Hangouts or Meet for face-to-face live teaching or questions. Teachers and students can access Google Classroom from any device with a web browser. Additionally, a big advantage of using Google Classroom is that on most devices, it is possible to work offline, uploading when a connection is found.
Using a Google account, teachers can create an online classroom and invite students to the class. Teachers can invite students to their Google Classroom class using email addresses or Google Groups. If schools or districts are utilizing Google Classroom, it is possible that district IT admin will create and manage Google Classroom classes without any action from teachers. As soon as classes are created, teachers can begin planning, producing, and organizing instructional content, assignments, and announcements.
Google classroom can be used for:Google Classroom integrates with Google’s other tools (Docs, Drive, Forms, Meet, and Calendar) which provides many built-in “shortcuts” for classroom-management tasks. For example, if a due date is added to an assignment, it is automatically added to students’ class calendars. In addition to using Google tools, Google Classroom accepts Microsoft Office uploads.
Communication & EngagementGoogle Classroom can be used to post announcements and reminders about assignments, and teachers can check in with students individually and email students, both individually or as a class. Google Classroom has options for teachers to send out updates about students’ class work. Through opting in to receive email summaries about missing work, upcoming work, and other class activity, parents/guardians can stay current with their student’s academics.
Instructional ContentTeachers can digitally organize, distribute, and collect assignments, course materials (videos, websites, PDFs, and more), and student work. Teachers can also post an assignment to multiple classes or modify and reuse assignments from year to year.
DifferentiationGoogle Classroom makes it possible to customize assignments for individual students or small groups. Teachers can give modified or differing assignments to specific students or groups in a class in addition to the option to check in with a student privately to see whether they have questions or need extra help. It is possible for teachers to provide students a variety of options for submitting their work within Google Classroom.
Creativity and InnovationGoogle Classroom enhances learning, as teachers use the features and resources within Google Classroom to make digital content more dynamic for students. In addition to Google Workspace tools such as Google Docs and Slides, teachers and students can share other types of media, including images, links to websites, YouTube videos, and screencasts.
AssessmentWithin Google Classroom, it’s possible to use Google Forms to create assessments that are automatically graded as students turn them in. Students will get instant feedback and teachers can view individual and class data within Forms or an automatically generated Google Sheet.
Video ConferencingGoogle Classroom uses Google Meet as a video conferencing solution. Teachers can set up video meetings from within Google Classroom for live, or synchronous, instruction. Google Meet can also be used to support meetings with students, parents, and other stakeholders.
Google Classroom can be accessed through its website; anyone with a Google account can use Google Classroom. It can be accessed through any web browser, and is also available through apps that can be downloaded in the iOS App and Google Play stores.
According to Google Classroom’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, the company is fully committed to the security and privacy of users’ data and protecting users and schools from attempts to compromise it. Privacy Policy and Terms of Service Google Classroom’s website, iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store.
Google has improved the way the platform delivers suggestions while in braille mode in Google Docs. Users utilizing assistive technology, including screen readers and refreshable braille displays, can now receive detailed suggestion information in line with the rest of the text. Google has rolled out fonts across all tools within Google Workspace that were developed with vision impaired users in mind. The font, Atkinson Hyperlegible, is now available across all of Google’s core tools, including Docs, Slides, and Sheets. In terms of accessibility, Google Meet’s live captioning system supports live captioning in several languages.