How to Use Google Classroom

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In this Itechguide, Victor teaches you how to use Google Classroom. The guide covers steps to use Google Classroom for teachers and students.

Option 1: Use Google Classroom as a Teacher

This section covers steps teachers will use to create a classroom and invite students to join the classroom. It also covers steps to create and assign classwork, view assignments and manage class drive folder.

Step 1: Create a Google Classroom and Send Class Code to Students

The first step to use Google Classroom as a teacher is to create a classroom and send the class code to your students. Students will use the class code to join the classroom. Here are the steps to create a Google classroom…

• Open Classroom.Google.com from a browser on your PC or Mac Computer and sign in with your Google account.
• Then, on the top right of the page, click the + sign and select Create class. You will be required to accept the license agreement.

• On the license agreement pop-up, check the highlighted checkbox. Then, on the bottom right of the pop-up, click Continue. The form to Create class will open.

• On the Create class form, enter the class name (required) and other information (optional). Then, on the bottom right of the form, click Create and wait for the classroom to be created.

Step 2: Change Settings

After creating a Google classroom, you may want to modify some of the settings. Use the steps below…

• On the top right of the classroom, click the settings icon (looks like a gear). The classroom’s settings will open for editing.

• The Class details section has the details you entered when you created the classroom. You can change any of the class details. For more settings, scroll down.

• On the General Google Classroom setting section, you can display, copy, reset (change) or disable the Class code. You can also change the class Stream settings – this determines whether Students can Post and comment (default) or Students can only comment or Only teachers can post or comment.
• You can also configure how you want Classwork on the stream (notification) to be displayed.
• Finally, you can show or hide deleted items. For more settings scroll down.

• Finally, the last Google classroom setting is Marking. In this section, you can determine how students’ grades are displayed. You can leave it at No overall mark (default), Total points or Weighted by category (applies if you add mark Categories).
• You may also set whether to Show overall mark to students or not (not shown by default).
• Finally, on the Marking section of the classroom settings, you can create Mark categories.
• When you finish making all the changes to the classroom settings, on the top right of the screen, click Save. Then, on the top left of the screen, click the X button to close the classroom settings.

Step 3: Add Students or Teachers

Another important step to use Google Classroom is to add students to the classroom. In the first sub-section of this section, you sent the Classroom code to the students. But if you want to add students yourself, follow the steps below…

• On the classroom menu, click People.

• The People menu gives you the option to add somebody as a Teacher or a Student. To add a Teacher, click on the icon on the right side of Teachers. However, to add a student, click the icon beside Students.

• On the Invite window, type the Gmail address of the person you want to invite (1). Then select the person’s email from the SEARCH RESULTS (2). Finally, click Invite.

• The email will be displayed with “invited” beside it. If you want to delete a student, check the checkbox beside the student. Then, click the Action drop-down and select Remove.

Step 4: Create and Assign Classwork

As a teacher, one of your tasks is to create Classwork – create modules, assignments, questions. You may also order classwork on how you want the students to see the work.

Here are the steps to use Google Classroom to create and organize classwork.

• On the classroom menu, click Classwork.

• Then, on the top left of the Classwork menu, click Create. Classwork options will be displayed.

• On the displayed options, select an option – in this example, I will create a Material.

• Enter the details of the classwork and post. You can also click the Post drop-down and select the option to schedule the classwork or save it as a draft.

Step 5: View Students Marks

A teacher can also view students marks. Here is how…

• On the classroom menu, click Marks.

• The Marks menu will display the marks for all the students in the class. Your class MUST have at least one student and 1 quiz, assignment or question to display anything in this menu.

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Option 2: Use Google Classroom as a Student

If you are a student, the steps in this section will walk you through how to use Google Classroom.

Step 1: Join the Classroom

To join a classroom, your teacher would have sent you the classroom code. Use the steps below to join the classroom.

• Open Classroom.Google.com from a browser and sign in with your Gmail.
• Then, on the top right of the page, click the + sign and select Join class.

• On the Join class window, enter the Class code you received from your teacher and click Join.

Step 2: View and Respond to Classwork

Once you join a classroom, you can view the classwork – class materials, quizzes, assignments and questions. Use the steps below…

• On the classroom menu, click the Classwork menu. All the coursework assigned to you will be displayed.

• There are different types of classworks – materials, assignments, quiz assignments and more. One quick way to different a material from an assignment or question is that materials do not have due dates.
• In the image below, the classwork on top is a quiz – though it does not have a due date, it displays No due date. However, the second classwork is a material.
• To view a classwork, click on it. When the details of the classwork open, click View assignment or View material.

Step 3: Share Information with Other Class Members

Google Classroom allows students to share information and collaborate – unless the option is disabled by the teacher. Follow the steps below to learn various ways to share information in Google Classroom.

• On the classroom’s Stream menu, click Share something with your class.

• Then, on the comment details, enter the information you want to share. You may also include an attachment by clicking the Attach button (bottom left). When you finish, click Post.

• You can also share information within a classwork. To do this, click the Classwork menu.

• Then, click on a coursework to expand it. To open the classwork, click the View link.

• When the coursework opens, click Add class comment. You can also add Private comments (personal notes) – this option is available on the right pane.

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