It seemed like there was a lot of interest in Google Classroom during our last staff meeting, so I thought I would use it to kick off my weekly Tech Tips.
Google Classroom is a learning management system (LMS) similar to Moodle or Blackboard. The program is free to use and is available to our district through our Google Education accounts (though tech support will not be available until January).
Google Classroom offers several services that will be useful to teachers. The first is the ability to quickly and easily send announcements to students through their email. The second is the power to create and send an assignment to your students, keep track of who has completed it and grade it.
Here is a video tutorial for how to use it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K26iyyQMp_g#t=48
For those of you who like things written out:
Step 1: Access Google Classroom
To access Google Classroom you must be logged into your AAPS Gmail account. Look for the small squares at the top right of your screen. Click on the icon to view Google apps, then click on the “more” tab at the bottom of the drop-down, you should see the Google Classroom icon.
Step 2: Create Classrooms
First indicate that you are a teacher. Then click the + at the top of the page and “Create a class.” Name your class and section, then click “create.”
Step 3: Add students
Click “Students” at the top of the class page. Choose “Invite” to select your students or give them the code to join your classroom (this will only work once the student Gmail accounts have been created).
Step 4: Send an Announcement
Click “Announcement” and type your announcement in the box. You can add a file from your computer or from your Google Drive. You can also add a link to a website or insert a Youtube video. This may be a good way to send students reminders and send handouts or information out to the class.
Step 5: Send an Assignment
Click “Assignment” and type the details of your assignment into the box. Change the due date, including the time. Just like an Announcement, you can add a file, insert a Youtube video or add a link to a website. Click “Assign.” Once you assign it an email will be automatically sent to students alerting them. The assignment will show up in your stream with the numbers of students who have completed it and those who have not.
**If you use Google Forms to create quizzes for your students you CAN add one to an assignment via a workaround. Forms is not fully supported by Google Classroom yet, but I believe it will be coming soon. All you need to do is click the “View live form” button at the top of the Form and copy the link. Then add the link to your assignment.
Step 6: Grade an Assignment
Click on the Assignment to grade your students’ submissions. You can change the number of points available for the assignment (or it can be ungraded). The student submissions are automatically added to your Google Drive in a folder named after the assignment. This folder can be found in your Drive under “Classroom” and the name of your class. Once you grade the assignment you can choose to email the student the results.
Extras
You can change the theme of your classroom to match each subject you teach! Fun! Click “change theme” at the top right of the classroom screen.
Change your “About” section to reflect your classes. You can add materials here for student use, possibly the syllabus, or readings for later in the year.
That’s it!
If you have questions or suggestions for future Tech Tips please feel free to contact me! :D
Google Classroom is a learning management system (LMS) similar to Moodle or Blackboard. The program is free to use and is available to our district through our Google Education accounts (though tech support will not be available until January).
Google Classroom offers several services that will be useful to teachers. The first is the ability to quickly and easily send announcements to students through their email. The second is the power to create and send an assignment to your students, keep track of who has completed it and grade it.
Here is a video tutorial for how to use it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K26iyyQMp_g#t=48
For those of you who like things written out:
Step 1: Access Google Classroom
To access Google Classroom you must be logged into your AAPS Gmail account. Look for the small squares at the top right of your screen. Click on the icon to view Google apps, then click on the “more” tab at the bottom of the drop-down, you should see the Google Classroom icon.
Step 2: Create Classrooms
First indicate that you are a teacher. Then click the + at the top of the page and “Create a class.” Name your class and section, then click “create.”
Step 3: Add students
Click “Students” at the top of the class page. Choose “Invite” to select your students or give them the code to join your classroom (this will only work once the student Gmail accounts have been created).
Step 4: Send an Announcement
Click “Announcement” and type your announcement in the box. You can add a file from your computer or from your Google Drive. You can also add a link to a website or insert a Youtube video. This may be a good way to send students reminders and send handouts or information out to the class.
Step 5: Send an Assignment
Click “Assignment” and type the details of your assignment into the box. Change the due date, including the time. Just like an Announcement, you can add a file, insert a Youtube video or add a link to a website. Click “Assign.” Once you assign it an email will be automatically sent to students alerting them. The assignment will show up in your stream with the numbers of students who have completed it and those who have not.
**If you use Google Forms to create quizzes for your students you CAN add one to an assignment via a workaround. Forms is not fully supported by Google Classroom yet, but I believe it will be coming soon. All you need to do is click the “View live form” button at the top of the Form and copy the link. Then add the link to your assignment.
Step 6: Grade an Assignment
Click on the Assignment to grade your students’ submissions. You can change the number of points available for the assignment (or it can be ungraded). The student submissions are automatically added to your Google Drive in a folder named after the assignment. This folder can be found in your Drive under “Classroom” and the name of your class. Once you grade the assignment you can choose to email the student the results.
Extras
You can change the theme of your classroom to match each subject you teach! Fun! Click “change theme” at the top right of the classroom screen.
Change your “About” section to reflect your classes. You can add materials here for student use, possibly the syllabus, or readings for later in the year.
That’s it!
If you have questions or suggestions for future Tech Tips please feel free to contact me! :D