Google Classroom: Even Easier Than Google Drive!

I know a lot of teachers who love to use Google Drive, including myself. Have you ever thought about using Google Drive instead/in addition? It's definitely a simpler alternative, in my opinion, for students and teachers alike. Instead of having students create Google Docs or Slides, saving them to their Drive, and sharing it with you, they simply click a "Turn In" button. Let me show you how it works.

Step 1: Click here to get started. 

Step 2: Add a new class by clicking on the + button in the top right corner. Name your new class. I have found recently that naming it with the school year tends to be the easiest! 

Step 3: Guess what? You don't even have to go in and add your class! I have to admit, that is my least favorite part of using multiple technologies in my classroom. Copy and pasting your students names over and over and over again. No longer! Using Google Classroom, all students have to do is enter a code to join your class. That's right. They do all the work! That way when you get a new student smack in the middle of the year, they can simply type in the code to join your class and you don't have to worry about remembering to add him/her into your Google Classroom roster. All students have to do is go to the Google Classroom site and click the + that they see in their upper right hand corner to type in the code. Easy peasy! 

Step 4: Add an assignment for your class by clicking the giant + in the bottom right corner. 

When you click the + button, there will be a few options for new assignment options that pop up above it. I usually click "create assignment". 

When students look at the page to begin working, they will be able to click on each assignment you post and hit the "create" button to add a Google Doc or Slide and complete the assignment. All they have to do when they're done is click the "Turn In" button in the top right hand corner of the screen to send it to you. From there, you can comment on it or send it back to be redone. 

See? Told you it was simple. Now go out and conquer it!