Manage Your Students with Google Classroom
Updated February 27, 2019
Manage Your Students with Google Classroom
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Google Classroom
Google classroom is being used on the case-by-case basis. Teachers in our district have the choice to use Google Classroom, should they see fit. We have a number of teachers who have implemented it in their classrooms, in order to better streamline student work, track student submissions, and integrate with their Google Drive. Currently, one of my art teachers is using Google classroom along with Google Sites to gamify her class. In general, as is the case with any LMS, this program works wonders to help blend and personalize education, in order to better meet student needs and allow them to work at their own pace. Teachers have more opportunity to provide constant and consistent feedback and track student work. I used Google Classroom in the past when I taught HS English to run a blended learning atmosphere. Students appreciated the opportunity to manage their workflow better and its seamless integration with their Google Drive to submit work. I am currently using Google Classroom outside of my district to create learning modules for teachers.
- Seamless integration with Google Drive. Easy for teachers to attach Gsuite files such as docs, slides, sheets, forms, site to enhance the learning.
- Manage student work submissions and whether they are on time or late. Students submit their work digitally and teachers can track the submissions, send them back for editing, or award points.
- Streamline classwork and homework assignments into one simple thread. Much like a social media platform like Twitter or Facebook, Google Classroom has everything top-down in one fluid thread for students and teachers to be able to easily find and access.
- Integration with other edtech tools such as Pear Deck, Edpuzzle, etc. Teachers can link to outside assignments on other programs they often use in their classrooms with their students.
- Although usually in the discussion with other LMS apps such as Schoology and Canvas, Google Classroom doesn't possess as in-depth of a platform. There is no ability to set individual learning paths, pace student work with completion settings, or embed other apps directly into teacher-created assignments.
- The assignment creation options are limited. Teachers can only choose from creating an assignment (usually a link with directions), a material (usually a doc/slide/website, etc), a question, and a quiz.
- With gamification taking on a new lens in education, there really isn't any way to use gamification elements with Google Classroom. There isn't any way to create Individual learning paths, or use badges and micro-credentials within Classroom. Outside programs would have to be used.
- Overall, Google Classroom has afforded my students a place to better manage their digital selves and stay on task. This is something that holds a lot of weight in the special education or resources level classroom, as these students have a tendency to fall behind or lose track of work. Students seem to submit more work and not lose physical copies in backpacks.
- I have personally seen a change in student writing when I taught HS English. Because of the constant feedback, and ability to be able to open student writing assignments at any time, I was able to offer constructive feedback more often and not get bogged down to review every students' final essay at the same time. I was able to provide feedback as the student work trickled in.
- For students, Google Classroom allowed them to have more opportunity to review things at home as all of the document and in-class materials could be found online at any time.
With so many schools using Google apps, Google Classroom becomes an integral part of the classroom learning experience. Overall, Classroom gets the job done. If you are looking for something simple this is it. It isn't a full-blown LMS but it keeps everything organized in one stream making it easier on students. Uploading and attaching Google suite tools cuts down on the time teachers spend sending out work to students or making photocopies. My only issue is that it's tough to stack it up against more enhanced LMS applications such as Schoology and Canvas, that have more built in, and afford teachers opportunites to recreate interactive lessons.
Google Classroom Feature Ratings
Using Google Classroom
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using | None |
- Creating Assignments
- Establishing a Class
- Joining students to your class
- Rearranging assignments/materials
- No gradebook
- Limited collaborative options within Classroom
Yes, but I don't use it