Google for Education: Online Tools for Teaching & Learning Worldwide

Google classroom was launched since 2014 to aid education system especially to teachers; aiding them to reach to students globally using google apps and online education tools.

Google Classroom is an online education platform designed for schools that aims to simplify creating, distributing and grading assignments in a paperless way of learning. Google Classroom is a free tool to help students, teachers, Schools and universities communicate, collaborate, organize and manage assignments, go paperless, and much more! It was developed as a feature of Google Apps for Education following its public release on August 12, 2014. 

However, Google classroom is the only application owned by google that has been designed so far specifically for teachers and students. The project uses Google Drive for creation of assignments and distribution is accomplished through Google Drive while Gmail is used to provide classroom communication. Students can be invited to classrooms through the institution’s database through a private code that can then be added in the student interface or automatically imported from a School Information Management System.

Consequently, Google Classroom integrates with the devices of students’ and teachers’ Google Calendars. Each class created with Google Classroom creates a separate folder in the respective Google service where the student can submit work to be graded by a teacher. Communication through Gmail allows teachers to make announcements and ask questions to their students in each of their classes. Teachers can add students directly from the Google Apps directory or can provide a code that can be entered for access to the class by students.

In contrast to Google’s regular services, Google Classroom does not show any ads in its interface for students, faculty, and teachers, and user data is not scanned or used for advertising purposes.

Learning Activities

For Teachers

Work on the same lesson plan at the same time with a colleague using Google Docs.  Store your lesson plans in your school’s shared Google Drive so that anyone at your school can find and access them.  Create a folder for your grade level to share resources.

For Students

Math

1. Model mathematics with Google Draw: Collaboratively create virtual manipulatives, such as Algebra Tiles, in a Google Drawing. Distributing the drawing as each student receives a copy allows students to model their mathematics.
2. Collaborative reasoning: Prior to providing students the algorithm for solving a problem, students can use a collaborative Google Document or Slides presentation to reason out possible solutions to a problem. Attach a document in Google Classroom as “Students can edit file.”
3. Provide peer tutoring: Students in upper grades can tutor and support students in lower grades through the creation of a Google Classroom class for this purpose.

Science

1. Create a Discussion on Specific Topic: In Google Classroom, you have a stream that appears by default when you login to your class. This stream can be utilized to collect student opinions by creating  discussion topics and new posts.
2. Weather/environment lab. Science classes can connect with one or more classes in another city, state, province or country and gather data about the weather or environment around them. Log it in a Google Spreadsheet with a page for each location. Compare and contrast the world around you.

Reading

Weekly reading record: The students in the school usually have a reading diary that they use to record information about times that they read during the week. They take it home as well as using it at school. A form can be created (See example: Google Form) by the children as a place to enter data about their reading. We hear “I haven’t got my reading diary,” so many times during the year, this way they have no excuses and can access it from any computer. Alternatively a class form could also be setup to gather together everyone’s record.

Writing

1. E-Portfolio: As the platform is based on Google Drive for uploading documents and assignments, it is also facilitated to implement the e-portfolio method. Both teachers and students can create folders and documents that can be shared between each other. If the students work in groups, they can create their own shared folder. This way the group’s’ work will be available to all the members of the group, even if one or more are absent. As everything happens in the cloud, everything can be done asynchronous.
2. Student collaboration on writing projects: Google Classroom doesn’t only support using e-portfolios, but with the power of Google Docs, the students can also work together in new ways on Google Docs.
3. Spelling Tests: For your weekly spelling test use simple 1-10 or 1-20 numbered Google Form (See example:  numbered form) with a name question and ask the children to type in their answers as you read out the list of words. Once these are submitted apply formula to judge if they are correct or not and it becomes self marking.

Others

1. Google Maps Scavenger Hunt With QR Codes: A fun way for your students to learn about maps and famous landmarks (or landmarks in your city) is to create QR codes using Google Maps and QR Code Generator. It’s so easy and your students will love this activity. You can present the activity in the form of a scavenger hunt. More advanced or older students can do this by themselves.
2. Response to Intervention: Different Google Classrooms can be created for students to join based on student needs. Students needing additional support or students needing additional challenges can join a Google Classroom class around intervention of a particular topic. 

Conclusion.

Finally, Google Classroom is only available to those who have a free Apps for Education account. To get that, you need to be working at an educational organization and sign up with your work email address. Google for Education is a tool that provides Solutions for teachers and students worldwide.