Google Classrooms: So Easy a Fourth Grader Could Use It!

Six years ago, the district I teach in began implementing a 1:1 technology initiative in grades 3-12; thus, providing every student in these grades with their own laptop to use as a learning tool. Providing devices and programs for students and teachers in 18 elementary schools, four middle schools, seven P8 schools, and six high schools can be pretty expensive. So, in an attempt to get the most out of the purchases, it is essential that these technological tools and programs be beneficial for all students and teachers in grades 3-12. One tool that is beneficial to teachers and students, when implemented properly, is a course management system (CMS). "CMSs, also called learning management systems or virtual learning environments, are software systems designed to assist in the management of educational courses for student, especially by helping teachers and learners with course administration" (Simonson, Smaldino, Zvacek, 2015, p. 137). Oftentimes CMSs are focused more towards secondary and higher education environments, making it difficult for elementary students and teachers to reap the benefits of the system. One system that does seem to integrate valuable tools for both elementary and secondary education participants is Google Classroom, "a free web service developed by Google for schools that aims to simplify creating, distributing and grading assignments in a paperless way" (Wikipedia, 2014). According to EdWeek (2017), 52% of school districts would hire Google for Education to help improve student achievement. Similarly, districts report that Google G Suite and/or Google Classrooms are used 68% of the time in their classrooms. A growing number of educators continue implementing Google Classroom into their teaching because it is easy to use. So easy, in fact, a fourth-grader could do it! (Hence the tutorial provided here by a fourth grade student! :)) So, what makes Google Classrooms so amazing and easy-to-use? A few components of Google Classroom that are important at the elementary level are discussed below.

Instructional Design

Google Classrooms is an open source, "a free educational software that [is] maintained by users who implement, even modify, and ultimately support their system to meet local, specific needs" (Simonson, et al., 2015, p. 138). The organization of Google Classrooms allows for easy access and management of student activities and coursework.

Teaching and Students

One goal of teaching is to ensure our students are college and career ready once they leave our classrooms. One way of ensuring this happens is by implementing student-centered learning in our classrooms. As stated by Simonson, et al. (2015), "Online education demands that students become engaged in the learning process" (p. 168). Google Classroom tools help students apply their learning to collaborate and create unique learning projects. "Google is helping to drive a philosophical change in public education--prioritizing training children in skills like teamwork and problem-solving while de-emphasizing the teaching of traditional academic knowledge, like math formulas" (Singer, 2017). Google Classrooms is helping teachers and students make the huge, and necessary, shift in education; thus moving from competing to collaborating, from passive to active learning, and from textbooks to customized materials (Simonson, et al., 2015). These tools are helping teachers create communities of learners within their students.

Assessment

As stated by Simonson, et al., (2015), "Assessment is defined as the process of measuring, documenting and interpreting behaviors that demonstrate learning" (p. 226). Google Classrooms allows teachers to assess student learning in multiple ways. Teachers can access projects students create, both independently and collaboratively, to assess students' understanding of the concepts exemplified in the project. Google Classrooms even has a component that allows teachers to pose a question or problem and have students respond via their device. Google "grades" the question automatically, providing results to both the teacher and student. This automatic feedback is essential for students and teachers to gauge students' understanding of the material being assessed. Students are also able to upload assignments, which the student can then grade online. This eliminates the need for paper-based assessments and assignment, and allows students to view their grades all in one place.

Overall, Google Classrooms is an impeccable educational tool. The various applications provided by Google Classroom allow for it to easily be modified for an elementary or secondary classroom. 68% of districts across the country already incorporate Google Classrooms into their daily instruction, so I am sure that even my fourth-graders and I can figure it out!



Resources
*EdWeek Market Brief. (2017). Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft: How 4 tech titans are re-shaping the ed-tech landscape. Retrieved from https://marketbrief.edweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Edweek-Market-Brief-Tech-Titans-Research-Report.pdf 
*Simonson, M.,  Smaldino, S. & Zvalcek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
*Singer, N. (2017). How Google took over the classroom. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/technology/google-education-chromebooks-schools.html 
*Wikipedia. (2014). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Classroom