Google Classroom Tutorial

You haven’t used Google Classroom?  

Get out from under that rock my friend!  

It’s beautiful and sunny out in Google Classroom Land.  

I promise I wouldn’t rouse you from your slumber unless I thought it would make your life better.

It delivers all the satisfaction you had only hoped for from that fad diet.  

Attention folk!  Time to take the Google Classroom Challenge.  This will be a little like the ice bucket challenge except at the end you'll have a lot more than frostbite.  

The Pitch!  Google Classroom is by far the single most effective tool you have in your arsenal.  My friends, you can't afford NOT to use it.  Google classroom will change your teaching when you realize how fast and effectively you can get differentiated out to students.  If you want students to be able to access documents, slide presentation, video, links, images, etc.  This is the BEST way to do it.  I regularly use this tool with 4th through 6th graders.  Tech-savvy 3rd graders I think would be able to navigate easily.  Below that, I honestly am not sure but would be interested in hearing from teachers in grades k-2 to hear their thoughts.  If you are regularly using Chrome books or ipads the likelihood is that you can be utilizing Classroom.  


If you want to watch a 15-minute video where I show you step by step how to create a classroom then be my guest.  I try to keep to the basics but I am pretty excited about the tool so I tried to give it some context which is why it is 15 minutes.  

If the idea of watching a 15-minute video is nauseating to you and you consider yourself moderately tech savvy then you can follow the steps and pictures below.  

#1. Log into drive.  

#2. Click on the waffle in the top right corner  

#3.  Choose classroom.  You may need to scroll down.

#4.  Click on the plus (+) button.  Top right.

#5. Choose create a class.  If you only have the option to join then check in with your technology administrator.  They might need to turn on your classroom permissions.


#6.  Sign your life away. Agree to let Google take over the world.  

#7. Name your classroom.   Contained classrooms probably want to use year.  Departmentalized classes can include their section.


#8.  Change your background/theme to fit your topic or liking. Choose one of theirs or upload your own photo.  


#9.  Post your first (of many) assignments.  Click the plus (+) button and choose assignment.      

#10  Type directions or any information you want students to know.  It looks like a small area but it scrolls down so you can even cut and paste long sets of directions here.  Create a topic.  This will act as a folder organizing system on the left-hand side.  Usually by content area or by special project.  
    

#11.  Click on the link icon and copy and paste your link to post.  

#12.  Choose Post.  


#13.  Rinse and Repeat steps for adding Youtube videos or documents for your drive.