VIDEO SERIES: Google Classroom Introduction
Facilitator Notes
VIDEO PLAYBACK: If you will be showing the videos to a group of people, please use the button in the bottom right corner of each video to expand it to full screen when presenting. Pressing the ESCAPE key on your keyboard at the conclusion of the video will return you to this page. If you have a need to download the videos ahead of time (poor network connection in the area where you are presenting them, for example) a video download link has been provided below each video. You can download them to your computer ahead of time if needed.
EXTENSIONS: For each section of this video series listed below you will find discussion questions, suggested activities, and other extension items that will assist you in guiding teachers through a staff development session on the ideas presented in the videos.
QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK: Questions will surely arise during discussion. We in Computing Services would like to be responsive to these questions. Please share them with us via the form linked here and we will respond as quickly as we are able.
- LINK: Question/Feedback Form
If you have any further questions, please contact a member of the LPS Computing Services Training team. (Kristi Peters, Chris Pultz, Tim Hahn, Jarred Rowe, Drew Ramaekers).
Topic 1: Overview
Extension Activities:
- If you’ve just logged in for the first time, Google may offer you a guided “walk-through” of the tool. Take them up on that offer.
- In the next videos we’ll start looking at how to start using Google Classroom.
Topic 2: Set up a Class
Extension Activities:
- Go ahead and set up a class, even if it is just a practice class that no one will ever see. You can invite a colleague to be a student as practice. You can always delete a class if you are done playing to learn.
Topic 3: Communication
Extension Activities:
- Consider how you could use the Announcement area in your Class Stream to conduct a “Silent Discussion” around a topic. Students could sit in the room with their devices on and open to the Class page, responding to the initial question you post in the announcement, as well as replying to each other’s comments. You could jump in at any time and add furthering, probing questions.
- The Classroom Team at Google values their users. They read every single piece of feedback they receive and respond accordingly. If you think of a feature that Google Classroom desperately needs, send them your feedback! Click the “?” in the bottom right corner of Classroom and choose “Send Feedback”.
Topic 4: Content & Assignments
Extension Activities:
- Teachers experienced with Google Classroom suggest that they benefit from numbering their assignments. This makes it a easier for students to locate the right assignment in the stream and also organizes the folders in your Google Drive Classroom folder.
- #001 – President Assignment
- #002 – Vice President Profile
- #003 – Branches of Government Drawing
- etc.
- Notice that you can create assignments that do not have a document attached. Students would respond to your question or prompt with a comment and “Mark as Done”. We will talk more about this in the next section, but begin thinking about how simple document-less assignments could be used in your classroom.
Topic 5: Student Perspective
Exit Ticket:
- In this video series, you’ve been exposed to a number of ideas. Choose a partner and share:
- 3 things you learned
- 2 ideas you want to practice
- 1 thing you hope to implement by the end of the week
