The Google Classroom - All Integrated
INTRO
Google is everywhere, and in every facet of our lives. Why not leverage the power of Google in our classrooms so that we benefit. Because when we as teachers benefit, ultimately the student benefits. Whether it makes our lives easier, more efficient, or just puts knowledge on our fingertips, that leaves more time for class prep, and looking at the bigger picture instead of all the paperwork we do. This starts with Google Sites for content, Google Classroom for announcements, lesson plans and assignments, Drive for all the work the students produce and then finally back to Site for their Portfolios. |
Discovery Session
Google is everywhere, and in every facet of our lives. Why not leverage the power of Google in our classrooms so that we benefit. Because when we as teachers benefit, ultimately the student benefits.
Whether it makes our lives easier, more efficient, or just puts knowledge on our fingertips, that leaves more time for class prep, and looking at the bigger picture instead of all the paperwork we do.
This starts with Google Sites for content, Google Classroom for announcements, lesson plans and assignments, Drive for all the work the students produce and then finally back to Site for their Portfolios.
DEEP Dive
Looking at the example of an ICT class for Grade 9, we go through the steps in order to make this digital classroom a reality.
Don't kid yourself, there is a lot of 'front loading' to be accomplished here. Now I'm assuming your schools has a GAFE account.
We begin with setting up a Google Site for every class we have. We set up our class content in the form of lesson plans on our Google Sites. This can be done in any format you and the students are comfortable working with.
Setup Google Classroom using the students' school-based email addresses. Post your first Announcement for the day. This can be an essential questions for the day/lesson, an interesting fact, or even articles (links included). Post assignments with their Due dates here as well.
You will notice that Google Drive immediately creates folders that mirror both the class, and then in sub directories, the assignments. Scores can be entered directly here and then easily exported for entry into a SIS system if needed. The beauty is the level of documentation that has just occurred, without you doing any additional paperwork.
Students preferably use Drive for all classwork and as much as possible. Here they can submit their work using Docs, Sheets and Slides as needed. However almost any file format can be submitted in Classroom using a link or attachment, so this is not a restriction. The advantage with Drive, is obviously easy collaboration, sharing, and easily view-able revision histories!
When done with class or at the end of the week, the students can update their Portfolios, which are of course, another Google Site. These can be maintained all throughout their academic careers at school and structured according to the academic year and then subject area. At Wells for instance, we start this at Grade 3.
Leaving the class, you can always set them an exit ticket in a Google Form, or even base simple quizzes and tests in it, making your life easier. How? FLUBAROO! Now Google even does your grading for you!
And that's my perfectly integrated digital classroom with Google!
Challenges
Google is everywhere, and in every facet of our lives. Why not leverage the power of Google in our classrooms so that we benefit. Because when we as teachers benefit, ultimately the student benefits.
Whether it makes our lives easier, more efficient, or just puts knowledge on our fingertips, that leaves more time for class prep, and looking at the bigger picture instead of all the paperwork we do.
This starts with Google Sites for content, Google Classroom for announcements, lesson plans and assignments, Drive for all the work the students produce and then finally back to Site for their Portfolios.
DEEP Dive
Looking at the example of an ICT class for Grade 9, we go through the steps in order to make this digital classroom a reality.
Don't kid yourself, there is a lot of 'front loading' to be accomplished here. Now I'm assuming your schools has a GAFE account.
We begin with setting up a Google Site for every class we have. We set up our class content in the form of lesson plans on our Google Sites. This can be done in any format you and the students are comfortable working with.
Setup Google Classroom using the students' school-based email addresses. Post your first Announcement for the day. This can be an essential questions for the day/lesson, an interesting fact, or even articles (links included). Post assignments with their Due dates here as well.
You will notice that Google Drive immediately creates folders that mirror both the class, and then in sub directories, the assignments. Scores can be entered directly here and then easily exported for entry into a SIS system if needed. The beauty is the level of documentation that has just occurred, without you doing any additional paperwork.
Students preferably use Drive for all classwork and as much as possible. Here they can submit their work using Docs, Sheets and Slides as needed. However almost any file format can be submitted in Classroom using a link or attachment, so this is not a restriction. The advantage with Drive, is obviously easy collaboration, sharing, and easily view-able revision histories!
When done with class or at the end of the week, the students can update their Portfolios, which are of course, another Google Site. These can be maintained all throughout their academic careers at school and structured according to the academic year and then subject area. At Wells for instance, we start this at Grade 3.
Leaving the class, you can always set them an exit ticket in a Google Form, or even base simple quizzes and tests in it, making your life easier. How? FLUBAROO! Now Google even does your grading for you!
And that's my perfectly integrated digital classroom with Google!
Challenges
- Try building a Google Site right now with your content.
- Try envisioning student portfolios - design and structure. What will they post? How will they organise it?.
- Find the right Google Search lesson for your class.. Which of the challenges would you choose for your grade level?
- Try setting up your Google Classroom with classes, students and content.