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Online learning is not a new phenomenon and has been around since the 1990s. While it has been on the rise over the last three decades, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated its use dramatically, making online education platforms, such as Google Classroom, more popular than ever before. Google Classroom’s user base has grown significantly, with over 150 million students and educators using Google Classroom in 2021, compared to just 40,000 users in 2020. As a result, it has become one of the most in-demand ed-tech tools available. In this article, we will explore why Google Classroom has become so popular, its features and benefits, how it integrates with Google Workspace for Education, and its relevance to Ashton College.
Google Classroom is a cloud-based platform developed by Google, similar to Learning Management Software (LMS) such as Blackboard Learn or Moodle. According to Google, Classroom helps educators create engaging, time-saving learning experiences that can be personalized, managed, and measured. It was launched publicly in August 2014 and is now a part of Google Workspace for Education providing educational institutions with simple, secure, and collaborative tools like the following:
Google Classroom is being used in K-12 settings as well as in colleges and universities, for instance, at Ashton College. Other reputable Universities such as Yale, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Columbia University have adopted the platform for online learning as well. Google Classroom does not only strive to mimic an in-person classroom but to surpass that experience. Signing up for Google Classroom also means access to all other Google tools, which integrate with Classroom and operate seamlessly together, all within the Google ecosystem.
Creating and managing classes in Google Classroom is easy. The educator can simply add class details such as the course subject, class times, relevant files, and other information. Additionally, Classroom allows for personalization of the page by letting instructors choose an image and background colour. Once the class has been created, instructors can invite students easily by using an automatically generated invite code. Anyone with a Google account can be invited, including substitute teachers, co-teachers, and students. Google Classroom also provides the option to manage multiple classes at once, add and remove participants with ease and archive courses to teach them again in the future.
Educators using Google Classroom have the option to import assignments from their Google Drive or create them directly within the platform. With Google Classroom's versatile features, assignments can be made more engaging and interactive by including various materials such as YouTube videos, Google Form surveys or other items from Google Drive. Additionally, teachers can tailor their assignments to suit the specific needs and abilities of individual students. Once an assignment is created with a specific deadline, it is automatically added to the calendar, which is visible to both instructors and students. To help students stay organized, Google Classroom provides them with an assignment page where they can view all their outstanding tasks and a personalized to-do checklist. Instructors can also keep track of students' progress by viewing a page overview of their outstanding, upcoming, and completed assignments. Furthermore, Classroom automatically generates Drive folders for each assignment and every student, simplifying organization and eliminating the need to sort through stacks of paper.
Before submitting their work, students have the option to review their assignments for plagiarism using Google's originality report. Similarly, instructors can use the report to verify the originality of a student's work. Once teachers receive a student assignment, they can provide immediate feedback in real-time. To save time, frequently used feedback remarks can be stored in the comment bank and used again later. With the auto-grading feature, instructors can provide feedback quickly, engage and interact more with students, and help them learn instead of wasting hours on tedious grading. Finally, students can check their grades and feedback at any time in the grade book and implement the feedback of their instructors in the submitted document.
Google Classroom plays a vital role in promoting growth and improvement among educators by providing them with comprehensive tools to analyze and evaluate their students' progress and understanding of the course materials. This allows them to adjust their teaching methods, assignment descriptions, and explanations to ensure students receive the best and most relevant education. Additionally, all assessment data can be easily exported to Google Sheets, allowing educators to analyze the data and make informed decisions.
Google Classroom enables users to engage in face-to-face discussions, lectures, and student presentations using Google Meet. With this platform, teachers can create recurring links that are designated for a specific class. The free version of Google Classroom allows instructors to invite up to 100 students, while further upgrades allow educators to interact with up to 1,000 students. There is also an option to start a live stream with up to 100,000 viewers, where only hosts and instructors can actively participate.
In addition to these features, Google Meet offers other useful tools such as a screen sharing option, a chatbot for keeping track of student questions, and polling and Q&A options for certain editions of Google Classroom. Instructors can also mute, turn off a participant's video, or remove students from the call. Moreover, Google Meet retrieves detailed attendance information on every student, and lessons can be recorded. At the end of each session, the instructor automatically receives a Google Drive link that can be shared with the class.
Google Classroom fosters real-time, two-way communication and collaboration. For example, it allows educators to use the class stream to post announcements, and students can comment and engage in discussion posts set up by their instructor. The class stream even allows educators to post the same announcement to multiple classes at once. In a K-12 setting, parents and guardians can easily stay up-to-date with a student’s achievements and upcoming or outstanding work by receiving email summaries and class announcements. Therefore, this offers a viable and arguably better alternative to student-teacher conferences since parents can stay up-to-date in real time and don’t have to wait for a scheduled meeting every once in a while.
Automated emails are sent to the students and educators regarding the submitted assignments, new announcements, and graded assignments. This keeps communication and learning intact even if a student is unable to attend a class for any reason, such as sickness. With Google Classroom, students have immediate access to all the learning materials. Moreover, Google Classroom simplifies collaboration and group work. Multiple students can work on a document simultaneously, and even the instructor can join in case of any doubts or questions. Additionally, students can communicate with each other through the platform and comment on each other’s public work.
Google Classroom provides enhanced accessibility in various ways. For instance, the platform recognizes the unique requirements of individuals with disabilities that may affect their vision, cognition, hearing, or mobility. As a result, Google has developed specific tools to ensure that the classroom is an inclusive environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to learn and develop their abilities. Some of these tools include:
Additionally, there are further accessibility apps and extensions available in the Google for Education Hub, and Google provides users with a training series and further resources on its accessibility features.
Google Classroom's accessibility is not limited by location or immigration status, making it easy for students from anywhere in the world to legally join online courses in any country. As a global tech giant, Google has a responsibility to provide services in different languages, especially in multicultural and multilingual countries such as Canada. Google Classroom is available in over 150 languages, including English, French, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese or German. However, it should be noted that the language of the uploaded class material remains unchanged. The Originality Checker is also available in 25 different languages, including English, French, Hindi, Chinese, and German. Moreover, Google Classroom provides flexible education options for students with varying life circumstances, such as parents, caregivers, and full-time workers. The recording function and mobile apps for Mac and Android devices make it easy for students to access Classroom anytime and anywhere they want, improving their flexibility.
Google Classroom is a centralized platform that operates within the Google ecosystem, saving both students and instructors valuable time. With Google Single Sign-On, users can easily address all their needs in one place, without having to send emails outside of the platform or remember multiple passwords. In 2022, Google integrated add-ons of popular ed-tech tools for instance Kahoot, which has made the platform even more useful. Other add-ons allow teachers to import student grades and combine them with feedback within Classroom, reducing the time spent on grading. There are many other useful add-ons that can be incorporated into Google Classroom to enhance the learning experience, for instance:
All Google Classroom add-ons can be found in the Google for Education App Hub.
Google Classroom's popularity is largely due to its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to people of all ages, including those who aren't tech-savvy. This was particularly useful at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when educators worldwide had to swiftly transition to online teaching. All you need to start using Google Classroom is a Google Account and some intuition. Further, Google and YouTube offer plenty of tutorials to get you started. Google Classroom provides 24/7 assistance via the Google Classroom Help Community and the Google Classroom Help Centre. Additionally, Google recognizes the frustration of losing hours of work, which is why all your work is saved automatically, and offline work is uploaded to the cloud as soon as the device is back online.
The trust people have in the Google brand is another main selling point. With over one billion users of Google products and services worldwide, most individuals are familiar with the User Interface and comfortable using it in an educational setting. Early exposure to tools like Google Classroom and other online learning platforms is beneficial for students as it helps them transition smoothly into college, university, or the job market, as these are valuable skills required in most occupations.
Google Classroom helps institutions save money in various ways. Firstly, most of the features that Google Classroom offers are free for eligible institutions, making it a popular choice. Secondly, instructors and teachers can reduce the amount of printing they do, resulting in cost savings. Additionally, online learning eliminates the need for physical classrooms, which saves institutions money on expenses like room rentals and materials. This way, the focus can be on learning itself, making it cheaper for both the institution and the students, who, in a higher education setting, only have to pay tuition fees.
It is worth noting that, despite its affordability, Google Classroom does not display any advertisements on its user interface, and Google has stated that user information is not used for marketing purposes. Even though most features are free, institutions can choose to upgrade and enhance their service by selecting one of Google Workspace's paid premium editions.
| Edition | Pricing |
| Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals | Free, most features can be used |
| Google Workspace for Education Standard | $3/student/year |
| Teaching and Learning Upgrade | $4/student/year |
| Google Workspace for Education Plus | $5/student/year |
Switching to online learning with Google Classroom not only reduces costs for institutions and students, but it also promotes sustainable learning and can contribute to a greener future. According to a study by Britain’s Open University, when comparing face-to-face learning to distance learning, the latter reduces energy consumption by 90% while cutting CO2 emissions by 85%.
The main reason for this is the significant reduction of paper printouts. According to Growth Engineering, average schools use around 2,000 sheets a day, which is equivalent to almost one tree per week. Google reports that some schools have even created digital textbooks using Google Docs. Other resources that can be conserved through Google Classroom-based online learning include plastic waste, water, electricity, heating, and emissions due to traffic.
Google Classroom's features, benefits, and mission perfectly align with Ashton College's commitment to providing accessible and flexible online education to learners worldwide. As a pioneer of online learning since 1998, Ashton heavily focuses on career-focused and hands-on learning. Thus, using a tool that allows for maximum interaction and engagement is crucial for an institution like Ashton College. In collaboration with other tools such as Zoom and YuJa, Google Classroom and Google Workspace for Education helps students and instructors experience the best of both worlds – engaged, interactive learning as well as accessibility and flexibility.
The popularity of Google Classroom has been growing rapidly, and the platform is gaining more users every day. With Google's reputation and expertise in technology, it is highly likely that it will continue to expand and become an even more trusted brand in the future. As online learning is becoming a more significant part of education, Google Classroom is dedicated to incorporating feedback and suggestions from both teachers and students. It introduces new and exciting features regularly, and has already anounced upcoming additions such as interactive questions for YouTube videos and sharable class templates, making learning more efficient, affordable and sustainable. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, has mentioned that technology alone can not improve education. However, it can play a significant role in finding solutions to the current challenges we face. Therefore, Google Classroom is likely to transform our understanding of education and play a significant role in the future.
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