How to Use Google Classroom: A Quick Start Guide

The Google Classroom is used by more than 100 million teachers and students worldwide for online learning. Here's a quick guide to help you get started.

Google Classroom is one of the best free online learning platforms. It makes sharing files between teachers and students easy.

Google Classroom creates an online space for teachers and students to communicate with one another. For example, Google Classroom can help create a common forum for students to share learning outcomes with their teachers.

Teachers can also create and assign assignments to their students. Furthermore, it enables teachers to receive assignment submissions and quickly grade students' work. In simple terms, Google Classroom is an all-in-one center for online learning.

How to Access Google Classroom

There are a few ways to access Google Classroom. First, teachers from an accredited school can opt to create their school's account. Access is then granted to the teacher's students using the respective school's account. An example student account login is [email protected]. Parents and guardians can also gain access to the platform using their Google accounts.

Irrespective of how you want to use Google Classroom, you need to sign in to use Google Classroom. Here is how to sign in to Google Classroom.

1. On your browser, go toclassroom.google.com. Select the Go to Classroom option.

   
2. Enter the email you want to use for your Google Classroom account. Click on the Next button.
3. Enter your password, and then click on Next.
4. Finally, click on the Get started for free option.

Create and Edit a Class in Google Classroom

Teachers need to create classes to use Google Classroom. Below is an outline on how to create and edit your classes.

1. Click on the + icon at the right end of your Google Classroom account. Select the Create Class option.

   
2. Fill in your class details. Some of the details you need to enter in this part include class name, section, subject, and room.

3. After filling in your class details, click on the Create option.

   

How to Edit Your Classes

1. On the top navigation menu, select Classwork and then click on View assignment.

2. Next, select the class document you wish to edit.

   

3. There are two options for editing your class document. You can choose to edit your document with Google Docs by selecting the Google Docs option,

   
4. You can download your class document and perform edits with Microsoft Word by clicking on the download icon on the right side of your screen. Your document will automatically download to your device in Microsoft Word (.docx) format.

Add Students to Your Google Classroom

1. On the top navigation menu, select the People tab.

2. To add students to your class, click on the add user icon next to Students. You can choose to send students an invitation link via email or add students from the school’s directory. Once students accept the class invite, they will automatically be added to your classroom.

   

Showing Students How to Join Your Classroom

There are three ways to invite students to join your Google Classroom.

1. Request students to join your classroom via their student account login sent via email.
2. You can share your class code with your students. Students will need to log in to your class page with the correct code. Reset the code if your students can't access the code.
3. Send an invite link to your students. Every student can then click on the link to join your classroom.

Please note that you have to use the latest version of Google Classroom to access this feature.

Inviting Guardians and Email Students

You can choose to invite guardians to Google Classroom, as well as email your students. Here is how you can Invite Guardians to Your Google Classroom.

1. On the top navigation menu, click on the People tab. As you scroll down the list of students, click on Invite guardians.

   
2. Type in their name or email address. You can also use multiple guardian emails for that student, separated by a comma. It is best to have the name of every guardian on your computer or contact list, thus making it easier to create a list of the guardians you would like to invite to your class.

3. Click on the Invite option to invite the guardian(s).

   

Once a guardian accepts the invitation via email, both you and the student will receive a confirmation email. Guardians can only join your class after accepting your invitation.

How to Email Student

1. Select the class you want to email. At the top, select the People tab.
2. To email one student, click More next to the student’s name, then click on Email student. To email multiple students or the entire class, check the box next to the student’s name.
3. At the top, click on Actions, then click on Email.
4. Enter the subject, your message, and click on Send. You can also attach files, photos, or links to your message.

Communicating on the Stream in Google Classroom With Student View

The stream is the area in your Google Classroom where information sharing occurs, and class updates are made.

1. On the top navigation menu, select the Stream tab.

   
2. You can select specific students you want to communicate with through Student view. Alternatively, you can select all the students in your classroom if you need to communicate with the entire class.

Adding Resources and Materials in Google Classroom

Teachers can add learning resources to their Google Classroom account. Students can then access the learning resources and materials after logging into their teachers’ school account.

To add resources and materials to your Google Classroom page, open your Google Classroom page. On the top navigation menu, click on the Classwork tab.

Select Material and enter the title and description (optional) of your learning resource. You can then upload the learning material from your Google Drive device or provide a link to a video.

Creating an Assignment in Google Classroom

1. Open your Google Classroom Page.
2. On the top navigation menu, click on the Classwork tab.
3. Click on the Create option at the top of the screen and select Assignment.
4. Enter the title and instructions (optional) of your assignment. You can also upload an attachment from your drive or device or provide a link to a video.

Related: Google Classroom Tips to Shake Up Your Teaching

Grading Assignments in Google Classroom

You can use Google Classroom’s grading tool to award your students a numeric grade. Besides grading your students, you can also give them feedback regarding their performance.

Open a student’s assignment by clicking on Classwork at the top, click on the assignment you want to grade, then click View details.

In the grading tool, the default grading denominator is 100 points. You can change points to any whole number greater than 0. You can also choose to return an assignment without a grade.

Student View of the Returned Assignment

Below is how to view returned work on Google Classroom as a student.

1. Go to your Google Classroom page
2. At the top, click Classwork. Select the returned assignment you want to view.

3. Click on the View assignment option.

   

Try Google Classroom Today

Google Classroom works perfectly well for both teachers and students. Teachers can use Google Classroom to share learning materials, assignments, and feedback with their students.

It eliminates the need to use paper copies in a physical classroom setting. Best of all, Google Classroom is a free online learning platform that optimizes the benefits of cloud computing.

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