InClass

The free app is taking K-12 classrooms by storm. Here’s why you’ll want to hop on board.

Google. Classroom. Is. Everywhere. On this Google for Education platform, kids can upload their work and collaborate with peers while you provide feedback and grading online. Google Classroom combines with their other programs (think Drive, Docs, and Gmail), and it’s free for anyone with an account.

An AZ Central article last October reported that 68 percent of districts nationwide are using Google Classroom (we told you this is where the party’s at).

Unsurprisingly, many of Arizona’s largest school districts, including early adopter Paradise Valley Unified School District, are on the Google Classroom train.

1. It’s easy to use, we promise. Google Classroom is simple, and setting up a new class doesn’t take a whole lot of time or expertise.
2. It makes class communication a breeze. You only have to enter student emails once, and you’ll have an email group, a discussion group, and a calendar automatically created. Adding and removing students to classes? Also easy.
3. Students can’t “lose” assignments. It’s all cloud-based.
4. Individuals can work and turn in assignments on their cell phones. Talk about keeping your classroom in their pockets.
5. While kids are collaborating, you can watch, join in remotely, and offer feedback and support in real time.
6. No more waiting in line at the copy machine! You’ll save money, time, trees, and ink. Google handles your documents for you. When you create an assignment in Google Docs and share it with your class, they will each get their own editable copy with a big blue turn-in button at the top. You will receive notifications on your device as students turn in their work.
7. Paperless is the future, and the future is now. Handing in a stapled, hardcopy essay to a college teacher is rare these days. By exposing kids to online platforms, you’ll be prepping them for their next steps.
8. If you’re a fan of flipping your classroom, Google Classroom makes it even easier. The cloud-based program is accessible anywhere with an internet connection. You can share a video (and even schedule when it goes live) for students to view as homework.
9. Oh, you caught that? Yes, you can schedule out assignments in the future. Total win for streamlining your prep.
10. Google Classroom is a lifelong learner. The web service is continually updating and improving. So while it’s awesome as-is, it’s got a go-getter attitude to match yours.
11. Got Chromebooks? The apps are fully integrated and the updates are pushed out automatically.
12. Got iPads? The Google app for iPads rocks. Consider the possibilities of a student who can create videos and submit directly to their teacher.
13. Did we mention it’s free?

If you’re ready to take your class efficiency and communication to new heights — whether you’re tech savvy or not —than you’re ready for Google Classroom. This unintimidating tool is one guaranteed to transform your classroom workflow.