Tools: Google Classroom

GOOGLE CLASSROOM

The Idea:

• In August 2014, Google extended its technological initiatives to the field of education by launching Google Classroom (Links to an external site.). The idea behind this program was to facilitate and communication between students and educators, and create a "paperless classroom"

(This is good news folks!!)

• Google's technology is becoming REALLY popular in schools REALLY fast! They are working to bring in their Apps for Education and the use of chromebooks into schools everywhere with a fast, secure and affordable and compatible learning platform.

• Google Classroom integrates Google Apps in an online portal, so there are tons of programs and tools that allow students and teachers to communicate efficiently and on SO many levels! It's ALL IN ONE PLACE!!

"use ALL the google apps!! "

The Program:

• Google classroom is an online learning platform that integrates Google apps (such as Gmail, Hangouts, Google Docs and Google Drive) with its own learning platform portal, as mentioned above.

• It allows teachers to create lessons with all of these platforms and technologies at their fingertips. No need to worry about embedding links that don't work, or fussing flash drives. Teachers can create, and monitor assignments, as well as share them with parents, administrators, or other teachers. It Also provides a space for teachers to make announcements, ask and respond to questions, and give help where/when it is needed Students log in to the platform to collaborate, complete assignments, and communicate with each other and teachers.

• This is a wonder tool for teachers that makes creating assignments a documents streamline and allows for easy sharing a distribution amongst students (and peers and parents and other members of the educational community).

• Imagine an online platform (like canvas), but EVERYTHING is in one place: searches, youtube playlists, websites, videos, images, slides, assignments, calendars, translators, comments, discussions, collaborations, student information systems, email, submissions/ turn ins, that was all privacy protected, sharable, and teacher controlled.

Features:

• Enables lesson creation, sharing and tweaking. The interface for doing this is straight forward, user friendly (see? The old lady in the video can do it!) and intuitive, and has features that can work in a little flare to make things

• Allows course tracking and timelines

• Enables teachers to monitor student activities and progress

• Facilitates grading and assessment

• Enables collaborative note taking and group work

• Allows easy and fast communication between students and teachers

• Protects student privacy (grades and conversations with instructors)

• Student blogs

• Has a range of student “accessibility tools” for visual and audio impaired students.

• Access to google translate and google scholar, as well as the Cultural Institute where students can explore historic/culturally significant information

• Streamlines the submission/turn in process. Students can submit from anywhere and timing can be tracked by the teacher. No more late excuses!

Basically:

Sharing

• images, links, videos and images, as well as maps, slides and sheets.

• student collaboration and group work

• has a feature for classroom sharing, between teachers and administrators

• enables domain sharing and syncing of classroom content and Student Information Systems

• allows the creation of presentations (Google Slides) documents and webpages (Google Docs), Spreadsheets (Google Sheets) Forms (Google Forms)

• Has class calendars and appointments (for classrooms and entire schools)

• Also has a Forms feature where educators and administrators can create polls, school forms, feedback forms (good for exit slips!)

• Connects to classroom for parent/teacher conferences, communication with former students or parents, or students who need help who are not in class

Devices

• Google classroom was made mobile friendly early last year. It runs on android and apple devices (Ipads, Tablets, ANYONE with a Google Apps for Education account, which you get through your educational institution).

• This was partially done further Google’s initiatives to promote use of their educational apps and get institutions to adopt the use of chromebooks.

The Newest Feature: The API

• As of this past Monday June 29th Google launched an API for Google Classroom, enabling teachers to write their own

• An API (Application Programming Interface) is basically an app builder that allows teachers to create and use their own educational apps (Like ordering a sammich at Subway. They pre-make the ingredients (deal with the coding mumbo jumbo), you choose what you want and what it looks like)

Google Classroom and TPACK

PEDAGOGY

• Google classroom has the potential to succeed where many educational technologies have failed regarding pedagogy. Because it is so cohesive in its accessibility and sharing capabilities, and has so many different ways to present knowledge, there is a much more holistic way to deliver the curriculum, which caters to the individuality of each student.

Technological Knowledge:

• Google Classroom's user-friendly interface and configurability means that it is an excellent program for showcasing and expanding technological knowledge. It gives students and educators the option to use and explore the technologies at work in the classroom easily, because Google is so compatible, and Classroom is now mobile friendly.

Content Knowledge:

• Because it is so easy to incorporate online resources into lesson plans on Google Classroom, this provides teachers with a HUGE resource base to bring in content knowledge (through audio, video, links, blogs, etc.).

Pedagogical Knowledge:

• The level of connectedness provided by Google Classroom has huge pedagogical implications. Teachers can communicate with their students on a deeper level, in private or in groups, give extra help and attention if/when needed because it allows monitoring, Hangouts and email. The many different avenues of communicating and presenting knowledge and information, and the sharing capability means that course material can be transmitted through many different models for different leaners. It allows for a higher degree of adaptability and control.

• I personally like how Google Classroom could potentially help extend parent involvement in their child's education through Hangouts and being able to access the student portal to follow along with what their child is learning and doing in school.

SO...

IN CONCLUSION....

Awesomeness for Teachers:

• enables teachers to collaborate with other teachers and administrators

• provides a universal learning platform for the entire institution that is far more integrated than Moodle or Blackboard or...*cough cough* Canvas because it is linked to other google apps like docs and drives.

Finally!!

• LESS PAPERWORK! Happy teachers, and a happy environment!

• The new API feature allows for the creation of meaningful and relevant educational apps.

• Makes it SO much easier to stay organized regarding class sections, hours and scheduling.

• Provides a much easier platform for assessment and editing

• Facilitates contact between students and teachers (some say) helps to allow the roles of teachers in their relationships with students from evaluators to coaches/mentors.

• Allows a higher level of control in a classroom, where students can be closely monitored. This helps to reduce the possibility of cheating.

• Mobile friendly! Grading assignments and giving feedback/comments from anywhere/anytime.

• Streamlines the hand-in process, so no more "my dog/sister ate my homework"

The Less Awesome Bits

Aside from the odd bug and occasional issue with login/adding students, Google is renowned for it's reliability. However there are some things to be aware of:

• ACCESS! As of right now, you have to be part of a registered educational institution to access the program. You have to be a non-profit educational institution to be eligible to apply for use of the program (can take up to two weeks)

• Google is very reliable with their apps and online FAQ's and walkthroughs...but if that fails, you can't call them for help. If you're IT department is out for lunch, you're out of luck...

• To reap the full benefits of a universal platform (for the whole school) the whole school needs to use it.

• Too much control? Google Apps for Education + Chromebooks in every classroom gives Google a LOT of power. It almost sounds a little Orwellian.

• This higher level of connectedness means that for teachers, your students, parents and administrators can contact you for help, questions, comments anytime. Your work can now follow you everywhere....yay?

OR:

Naaaaay!!!" Oh GOD! 24/7??"

...Especially now it’s mobile friendly.