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Google ClassroomEmerging Technology
Julia Varnedoe
ITEC 7445
Dr. Moore
What is Google
Classroom?A free tool utilizing Google Apps for Education that is
designed to help teachers organize, assign and collect
student work products.
is a cloud based blended learning platform for schools
that connects students and teachers.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom Tools
ClassroomGoogle’s online store
for web applications
Google HangoutsRestricted & monitored
online collaboration tool
Google MailRestricted & monitored
@mbestarget.com &
@cobbk12.org domains
Web StoreGoogle’s online store
for web applications
Google DriveStores Classroom
documents in the
cloud
Google DocsCloud based word
processing & collaboration
Google SheetsCloud based
spreadsheets
Google SlidesCloud based
presentations
August 12, 2014Google Classroom is released to the public
70,000,000Assignments have been created in the first 9 months
40,000,000 usersTeachers and students use Google Classroom
www.edsurge.com (2015)
Google Classroom 101Click on the image to view videos
Google Classroomsupports the vision for technology use
in our district and school.
Cobb County & Mt. Bethel
Elementary Technology Vision
MBES Vision
Use technology to
engage students and
facilitate a variety of
digital learning
experiences.
CCSD Vision
Equip students with 21st
century technology skills
to demonstrate, apply
and communicate their
learning.
Shared
Strategies
• Support student
centered learning
• Create flexible &
innovative learning
opportunities
• Extend learning beyond
the school day
Google Classroom supports shared
visions for technology use by:▷ utilizing a cloud based platform that allows students to
use marketable 21st century skills that prepare them for
higher education and the work force.
▷ providing a robust interface for student-to-student and
student-to-teacher collaboration.
▷ extending student learning opportunities beyond the
school day to give students access to curriculum,
support, and teachers 24/7.
▷ engaging students through a dynamic interface that
includes a social context.
Google Classroom supports shared
visions for technology use by:
▷ creating a student centered experience with access to
tools that allow them to demonstrate their learning in a
variety of ways.
▷ creating a safe channel for students to communicate with
each other and with teachers.
▷ allowing students to set the pace of their learning with
digital resources that are available anytime.
▷ providing a platform for extension and differentiated
activities.
▷ giving students and parents access to assignments,
grades, and feedback.
Target Population
Mt. Bethel
Elementary
With over 111,751 students, Cobb County is the second largest school
district in Georgia, and the 24th largest district in the United States.
45% of the students in the district receive free or reduced lunch. Due to
its size, the county is very diverse in terms of SES and demographics.
Mt. Bethel Elementary is located in an affluent area of Cobb County and
has over 1,000 students. Mt. Bethel has the lowest percentage of
students (3%) receiving free or reduced lunch for all Cobb County
elementary Schools. Access to devices and internet at home is
prevalent in the community, and most students participating in the
BYOD program bring devices to school.
The school provides equitable access at school with devices in every
classroom, 3 computer labs, and grade level laptop and iPad carts.
Students who do not have access to devices or the internet at home can
use school devices before, during, and after school hours.
Target Population continued…
Mt. Bethel
Elementary
Google Classroom is a K-12 product, which has been designed
specifically with students and teachers in mind. Use of Google Mail for
example, is permitted for K-12 students within the Classroom platform
as it is a walled garden that can be controlled and monitored. The
product is appropriate for use in elementary schools, and works across
all digital platforms and mobile devices.
A 1:1 integration model is the most ideal, which could be accomplished
through the county BYOD program. A pilot using at least 2 collaborating
teachers per grade level participating is recommended so the teachers
can collaborate together as they begin to use the program.
http://www.cobbk12.org/aboutccsd/
Equipment and Software
▷ Google Classroom is free! Teachers or schools must
register a dedicated domain with Google Apps For
Education to be granted access to Google Classroom.
▷ Students will require a device to access with access to
the internet. Device type does not matter, and because
Classroom is a web based platform, storage capacity
on the device is not necessary.
▷ Students may access Google Classroom without an
internet connection to work on assignments, but will
need an internet connection to turn in work and
receive updates.
▷ Students will be provided with a “classmail” email
address and password when they are added to
Classroom.
Technical Support
▷ Cobb County Schools has excellent technical support
available via phone and the school intranet. There is
an Instructional Technology page on the county
website that also offers support for a variety of
technical issues.
▷ Google Classroom has an Online Help Center with
answers to many typical questions and a Google for
Education Help Forum.
▷ Google Apps has 24/7 support available online and by
phone via an 800 number.
▷ Synergyze app contains Google Classroom tutorials is
available for use at Mt. Bethel Elementary.
Limitations
▷ Schools and teachers must obtain a domain name to
use Google Classroom. All students will receive an
email address with that domain name and password.
Students cannot access Classroom without this.
▷ Students must have an internet-accessible device to
use Google Classroom at school or at home.
▷ Parental controls and filters may affect accessibility.
▷ iPad interface is more limited than on other devices,
potentially creating difficulties with turning in electronic
assignments.
▷ Variety of types devices used in BYOD programs can
create different user experiences and require more
student support.
Cost▷ Google Apps for Education and Google Classroom are
free! Teachers or schools must obtain a dedicated
domain, which can be obtained from Google for about
$15 per year.
▷ Professional learning and technical support are
available online at no cost.
▷ Implementing a BYOD program allows students to
have access to technology in the classroom and does
not involve any costs.
▷ It is recommended to have a classroom set of 5-10
loaner computers available for use for those students
who do not have a device or are experiencing
technical issues. Chromebooks are the least
expensive device ($200 each) and effectively meet
student needs.
Opportunities for Funding▷ Cobb County Schools has a foundation that offers
annual Impact grants to support innovative and
creative ideas in teaching and learning.
▷ Mt. Bethel has an active foundation that awards grants
on an annual basis.
▷ Given the high SES of the community, a Go Fund Me
page might provide opportunities to involve the
community in funding Chromebooks.
▷ Teachers may write grants or seek corporate
partnerships to secure funding.
Google ClassroomHow will teachers and students use this technology?
Teachers will use Google
Classroom to do the following:
▷ Create classes and add students
▷ Create Assignments via Google Apps such as Docs,
Slides, and Sheets
▷ Post Assignments in the Classroom Stream
▷ Collect and grade assignments and provide feedback to
students
▷ Monitor student work completion and academic progress
▷ Communicate with the class by creating Announcements
▷ Communicate directly with students to support self
advocacy and build relationships
▷ Post class resources to support assignments and
curriculum such as video’s, Docs, and Slides
▷ Collaborate with other educators
▷ Flip their classroom
▷ Go paperless
▷ Stay organized!
Students will use Google
Classroom to do the following:
▷ Access all class communication and assignments
▷ Access Google apps (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Sites) to
produce authentic and creative work
▷ Store and turn in all assignments
▷ Communicate directly with the teacher and other
students in the classroom regarding educational topics
▷ Collaborate in real time using Google Apps on projects
with other students
▷ Access curriculum 24/7
▷ Post comments on the stream or reply to others
▷ Check grades and read feedback from teacher or peers
on work in progress and submitted assignments.
How can Google Classroom Support
Specific Learning Goals?
▷ GC maximizes instructional time by enabling teachers to
prepare lessons in advance and have students preview
material prior to class.
▷ Teachers can provide immediate feedback to students in
real time to ensure they are supported throughout the
learning task.
▷ Students can work collaboratively on research and
inquiry based assignments.
▷ CG provides access to curriculum and multiple
opportunities to evaluate information.
▷ GC enables students to access technology resources
and apply skills effectively.
▷ Uisng GC helps tp develop initiative and self directed
learning skills in students through access to authentic,
ongoing projects.
How can Google Classroom Support
Differentiation?
▷ GC Provides teachers multiple ways to assess student
learning.
▷ Sharing files with students allows for the discrete
dissemination of differentiated work to students.
▷ Using GC allows students to work at their own pace.
▷ GC provides opportunities for repetition via digital
resources and extension.
▷ GC provides a platform for ongoing feedback.
▷ GC provides access to a variety of apps for student work
production - students can choose their preferred modality
How can Google Classroom Support
Collaboration?
▷ GCprovides real time document sharing and
collaboration opportunities via Google Apps. Changes
can be tracked and a revision history is provided.
▷ Students can communicate through a variety of tools
such as Google Mail, Google Hangouts, and the
Classroom Stream to discuss ongoing projects.
▷ Teacher to student communication is increased and self
advocacy skills are modeled as students collaborate and
communicate directly with the teacher.
▷ GC’s web based platform allows easy access to facilitate
global collaboration opportunities.
Research Evaluation
▷ Launched less than a year ago, Google Classroom is
truly an emerging technology. While the Google Apps for
Education that are embedded in the platform are not
new, the implementation of a free learning management
system that gives users access to these tools is a cutting
edge idea (Edweek, 2015).
▷ There is little to no research available on Google
Classroom, and most of the information regarding the
product is found on websites in the form of user reviews
and information posted by Google.
▷ Several case studies were conducted prior to the launch
of Google Classroom. Benefits of using the platform
included increased student engagement and participation
(Ditch That Textbook).
Research Evaluation continued...
▷ There is much research to support the functionality and
skills that are developed when using a technology that
facilitates communication, collaboration, and the
opportunity to engage in authentic learning.
▷ Since its launch in August 2014, the Google developers
have made many updates to the platform to enhance
classroom performance based on teacher feedback
(Educational Technology & Mobile Learning). Releases
include many enhancements for use on mobile devices
and the release of a Google Classroom app.
Implementation Plan
▷ Google Classroom can be implemented by a single
teacher, a grade level, a school, or a district. Some
thought should be put into how Google Classroom will
work with existing systems and programs, as well as how
the domain name will be used to allow for future growth if
piloting on a smaller scale.
▷ A small pilot is recommended prior to schoolwide launch
to work out any issues with implementation.
▷ It is recommended that at least 2 teachers in the same
grade level pilot the program together to provide
collaboration opportunities and support.
Implementation Plan continued...
▷ Teachers wishing to pilot a BYOD program would benefit
from using Google Docs.
▷ Specific instruction regarding use of apps, digital literacy,
and netiquette skills should be employed concurrent with
the launch of Google Classroom. A usage and behavioral
contract should be implemented to ensure appropriate
use of the medium.
▷ Professional learning can be accomplished in a number
of ways. Google Classroom is a very easy to use
program , and does not require specific training. Google
offers free tutorials and advancing levels of certification
that would benefit anyone using the program. Time
should be allocated to teachers piloting the program to
engage in ongoing training.
Reflection▷ It is an exciting time to be an educator. Tools like Google
Classroom are flattening the walls of our classrooms and
opening the world to our students. Google Classroom
offers students the opportunity to use 21st century skills
in an authentic context. The skills students can develop
are highly marketable and will prepare them for higher
education and the workforce.
▷ Students need to be able to learn how to properly use the
technologies they readily have available to them. As
educators, we have a responsibility to teach our students
how to safely and responsibly navigate using these
powerful tools.
▷ Emerging technologies such as Google Classroom will
have a significant impact on the way teachers deliver
instruction, work with students, and perform
assessments.
ReferencesKeeler, Alice (n.d.). 20 Things You Can Do With Google Classroom. Retrieved July 11, 2015
from
http://www.alicekeeler.com/teachertech/2014/09/07/20-things-you-can-do-with-google-
classroom/
3 Important Updates to Google Classroom That Teachers Should Know About. Educational
Technology and Mobile Learning. Retrieved July 11, 2015 from
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2015/05/3-important-updates-to-google-
classroom.html
Google Unveils Classroom Learning Management System. Edweek (2015). Retrieved July
11, 2015 from
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2014/05/google_unveils_classroom_learnin
g_management_system.html
Ten Ways Google Classroom will Make Learning Better. Ditch that Textbook. Retrieved July
11, 2015 from http://ditchthattextbook.com/2014/05/15/10-ways-google-classroom-will-make-
learning-better/
Three Things you Can Do With Google Classroom. Edudemic. Retrieved July 11, 2015 from
http://www.edudemic.com/3-different-things-can-google-classroom/
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