Google Classroom is changing the way we approach long-distance learning. It is an extensible education platform with endless possibilities, thanks to third-party apps.
The infinite expandability of Google Classroom makes it a valuable took for creating new learning experiences for students.Â
Google Classroom is a free web-based platform that integrates into G Suite for Education accounts.
It offers Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar support for the entire classroom, making it easier to communicate and organize work. Add-ons with third-party services bring additional features.Â
Google Classroom Features
Google Classroom makes gathering assignments from students and grading their work much more manageable.
The Assignments feature allows students to turn work in until 11:59 PM on the due date. If students turn-in work later, the Assignments feature will still accept it, but note the work was late.Â
All uploaded work can be graded right inside Google Classroom. Students no longer need to print their work and hand it in, physically. It saves paperwork and streamlines the grading process for both students and teachers.
The Questions feature allows teachers to spark debate among their students in discussion board format. Teachers can post a question, and students can answer either as multiple choice or short-form essays.
The Announcements feature allows teachers to make sure their students are aware of important dates. It creates a stickied thread where students can respond with questions or answers. Announcements are designed to help students keep track of assignment due dates.
Teachers can post scheduled announcements to post at a later date, helping them stay organized.Â
Google Classroom Add-ons
Aside from its built-in core features, Google Classroom features endless extensibility with add-ons. These add-ons from third-party vendors are increasing in number by the day. This small sub-section of add-ons highlights some of the features you can integrate into Google Classroom.Â
Alma
Alma synchronizes homework, exams, and worksheets to make grading easier for teachers. School districts can create batches of Google Classroom classes that utilize Alma with ease.
GoGuardian
This useful add-on allows teachers to mirror different classrooms to sync periods, subjects, and student enrollment. It’s a handy tool that reduces administrative work on the backend and keeps Google Classroom feeling fresh.
Classcraft
This add-on turns students’ experience with Google Classroom into a game where they can level up. Every action they take – from turning in assignments to class participation – earns points. Students move up an in-platform leaderboard that can be shared or kept hidden from students.
OpenEd
This vast online database of homework assignments, exams, and lesson plans aligns with the Common Core standard. Teachers can use this add-on to plan lessons and homework for their students with relative ease.
Newsela
This add-on integrates news from a variety of trusted sources to give students a current picture. Teachers can use the app to lead a discussion on current events and challenge them to think about today in new ways.
BrainPop
This add-on gives teachers a wide variety of ways to keep students’ attention and interest in learning. It offers fun games, animated movies, and activities that go well with Common Core lesson plans. Students will love the game-show style quizzes with point leaderboards.
What about other tools?
Apple’s iTunes U is supposed to offer many of the same features – but it hasn’t seen an update since 2017. It’s supposed to allow building lesson plans on the iPad to make classroom administration a breeze. In the early days of iTunes U (back in 2012), it was a useful classroom organization tool.Â
But Google Classroom and its consistent updates make it a much more useful tool for schools. Schools that already use G Suite have a helpful tool that integrates perfectly with the platform. The endless extensibility of Google Classroom makes it light-years ahead of iTunes U – even on iPads and Macs.
