Google Classroom

Features

Google Classroom is a free tool from Google for managing online or face-to-face classes.

Use

As far as the main tabs are concerned, the first thing you will find when you access Classroom is a small menu where you can choose between entering an already created class or creating a new one.

After creating our new class, we can access it to start managing and organising it. In the menu of that class we can access several tabs with direct access sections to, among other quick access functionalities, create and schedule announcements, write normal publications or respond to students' publications.

In the Classwork tab we can create assignments or view all the assignments we have already created. In this tab we can also upload material or organise all the work into units, as well as specify due dates. One of the most important features is that we can schedule the submission dates for each assignment.

In the Upload material option, we can attach files from a link, from our computer, from Google Drive or upload videos from YouTube. All this didactic material will be available for your students to study. However, with Classroom we can individualise the tasks, with a button on the right you can specify whether all students can access this material or just some of them.

In order to manage your classes in a real way, in the People tab you can add new students and teachers to your class, inviting them through their Gmail emails. As in the previous case, in this list you can also manage your students by muting them or sending them access emails. Another important tab is the Grades tab, where you will see the grades of each student depending on how you have been grading their assignments throughout the process.

Description of the use in class

Google Classroom helps teachers create engaging learning experiences that they can personalise, manage and measure. This product is part of Google Workspace for Education and encourages teachers to increase their impact and prepare students for the future.

age

Generally it can be used by everyone, but the design and ease of use makes it more suitable for students between 6 and 12 years old.

Learning outcomes

With Classroom we can:

Create lists that can be organised by students, groups, levels, etc.
Create as many classes as necessary.
Assign tasks including an explanatory description.
Attach different documents, links, audio, videos, websites and presentations.
As Google Classroom is linked to Drive and Google Docs, students can create documents directly from the web.
As Google Classroom is linked to Google Calendar, we can schedule tasks for everyone as an agenda.
It allows us to create exams with Google forms, which are also automatically corrected.
Create specific YouTube channels.
Create different folders with materials specific to each area or group.
Add voice comments to students' work.
Create forms to collect information from students or ask students or parents for their opinion on different aspects of the process: units, homework, exams...

Reviews / Recommendations

Recommendation: Include learning objectives in each published activity or task.

Example of the tool as a good practice

Google Classroom is an excellent educational tool for several reasons:

Ease of use: It is intuitive and easy to use for both teachers and students. The interface is clean and organised, making it easy to navigate and manage classes and assignments.
Access from anywhere: As a cloud-based platform, Google Classroom can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, allowing students and teachers to work from home, school or anywhere else.
Centralisation of resources: Allows teachers to easily share classroom materials, such as documents, presentations and links, in one place. This simplifies the distribution of resources and avoids confusion about where to find relevant materials.
Assignment and task management: Teachers can create and assign homework quickly and easily, setting deadlines and providing clear instructions. Students receive automatic notifications about new assignments and due dates, helping to keep them organised.
Efficient communication: Google Classroom facilitates communication between teachers and students through comments on assignments and class noticeboard postings. It also offers the possibility to send direct messages between users, allowing for quick feedback and clarification of questions.
Integration with other Google tools: It integrates seamlessly with other Google tools, such as Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides, simplifying sharing and collaboration on documents.
In summary, Google Classroom offers a complete platform for online teaching and learning, combining ease of use, accessibility and a wide range of features that support both teachers and students in their educational process.

Inclusion

It is important to note that Google Classroom, like any other technology tool, is not inherently inclusive on its own. It takes a conscious approach on the part of educators to use the platform in a way that addresses the needs of all students and fosters an inclusive and equitable learning environment. This may involve providing additional support, adapting classroom materials and encouraging the active participation of all learners, regardless of their individual abilities or circumstances.