Google Classroom Launches - More teaching, Less tech-ing

When we introduced Classroom back in May, we asked educators to give it a try. The response was exciting — more than 100,000 educators from more than 45 countries signed up for a preview. Today, we’re starting to open Classroom to all Google Apps for Education users, helping teachers spend more time teaching and less time shuffling papers.

Google Classroom provides teachers with a low-barrier, blended learning environment that is familiar to students. Effective use of attachments with the question and assignment resources can provide a robust online learning environment for students with a rich, multimedia learning experience. This online training series takes you from step one of creating a Google Classroom, to pro-level tips of getting the most effective use.

One of the first schools to use Classroom was Fontbonne Hall Academy in Brooklyn, New York. Sister Rosemarie DeLoro, who has been teaching for more than 60 years, had never used computers with her students before Classroom was introduced at her school. Classroom made it easy for her to assign digital worksheets to students in her Italian class and provide direct feedback to help them learn. In fact, after just a few weeks, Sister Rosemarie was showing the other teachers how to use it. “You can’t stay in teaching and keep going to the old ways,” she said. 

Teachers and students have been instrumental in helping us build Classroom. For example, we heard during the preview that educators don’t want to wait until an assignment is turned in to collaborate with students. Now, with Classroom, teachers can view and comment on students’ work to help them along the way. We’ve also heard that educators want a simple place to post information and materials about their classes, so we added an “About” page for each course, as well.

Classroom is available in 42 languages (including right-to-left ones, such as Hebrew, Arabic and Persian). It also works well on mobile devices and most popular screen readers. We’ll be rolling out to more users every day, so if you go to classroom.google.com with your Apps for Education account and don’t have access yet, please check back soon.Hopefully Classroom will help you spend a little less time at the photocopier and a little more time doing what you love—teaching.

Google Classroom Review:

Google Classroom Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Google Classroom is being used by some, not all of the teachers at the school. I was one of the first teachers to use it. I am an English teacher and began using it in the fall of 2015 when the initial trial product was released. My school has a 1:1 iPad ratio per student. Now the the app is fully functional, the process of using Classroom easily allows for digital submission of student homework. I use it to manage clubs as well. I am the facilitator of our Student Government program. We use it to organize students, review proposals, and prepare for elections. It is also an easy way to get notifications pushed to students' iPads when we have updates.

Google Classroom Pros

• Provide digital worksheets and rubrics for assignments
• Deliver announcements and email updates with important reminders
• I sync it with my calendar, so I am able to mange upcoming events/projects.

Google Classroom Cons

• Google Classroom is best paired with Google Drive. I wish that it helped students stay better organized by scaffolding the folders and assignments more effectively. It would be nice if teachers could create units within their posts.
• The linear stream feed makes it difficult for students to search for assignments. A "search option" would be beneficial. It would also be nice if there was a way to organize posts by month or week, so that they were easier to find when looking back.
• Students cannot see comments written on digital google doc submissions even when they are returned. This means I use Google Classroom exclusively for homework, and do not have essays/digital feedback for students. This is a big hindrance.