Ryann Conlan

About me

This is my second year in the CDIT program and I hope to graduate this coming May. I received my BS degree in Health K-12 from SUNY Brockport in 2012. I have worked in an alternative school for the past two years and a couple weeks ago was offered a job to teach high school health 9-12. Along with getting a new job, I just got married last Saturday! Therefore, I did not have much time for hobbies (besides shopping) this summer because I spent all of my time planning a wedding, taking summer grad classes, and now getting my classroom ready to roll for next week!

My Topic/Purpose

Google Classroom is a free web-based platform that was introduced for schools that work to simplify creating, distributing, and grading assignments. This blended platform saves time and paper! It allows teachers to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate to students, and grade assignments all while staying organized and eco-friendly. This feature was introduce two years ago and continues to grow in interest. Some fear the idea of change, especially with new technology, so for this wiki-page I plan to create simple step-by-step instructions on how this platform works. For this wiki-page I plan to provide students with the knowledge to successfully use and set up Google Classroom. After completing the course, educators will be able to create their own Google Classroom experience.

"Google Classroom is your mission control for class. Create classes, distribute assignments, send feedback, and see everything in one place. Instant. Paperless. Easy." -Google for Education

Needs Assessment

1. Instructional Problem

“Technology is becoming more and more a part of classroom instruction and teachers are encouraged to use technology for their lessons. Technology in education has the potential for improving teaching and learning.” (Baytak, Tarman, & Ayas, 2011, p.140).

Educators all over the world spend many hours printing and copying worksheets and later organizing and grading the assignments. They then spend more time inputting all these grades in to their grade books. Why not complete all these time consuming tasks in one online platform? Google Classroom offers a “one-stop platform” for facilitation and communication tools for teachers and students. Google for Education states, “Classroom was designed collaboratively with teachers to help them save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students.”

Today, technology surrounds us where ever we go. Incorporating this new innovation in to our classrooms will help engage students and provide advances in learning for both teachers and students. “Google Classroom offers an easy-to-use, entry-level step into making your class more digital” (Catapano, n.d.). This is a great way for teachers who are new to technology or are not very tech-friendly to start incorporating technology in to their classes. This is also a great option for educators who already love using technology in their classes and are looking for more ways to enhance their learning.

2. What is to be Learned

Educators will learn how to create a classroom, add their students, and create their first assignment for their class to see. This will allow the teacher to see who has completed the assignment and who is still working on it. Educators will also learn how to educate their students on using Google Classroom.

3. The Learners

The learners will include current teachers in the K-12 setting. They will have had experience using computer technology and are interested in bringing technology in to their classrooms to accomplish more with their students. Instruction will be geared toward all education teachers, however teachers in the elementary level may have difficulties using this technology with young, inexperienced students.

This will support both teacher and student connection in a new convenient way to achieve more together.

4. Context for Instruction

Participants will learn the provided content online through this min-course. An Internet connection and Internet friendly device is required to participate with the content.

5. Exploring the Instructional Problem and Solution

Learners will complete modules within this course that will examine reasons and benefits for using Google classroom, steps to create and set up a classroom, and steps on educating students how to properly navigate the classroom. Learners will engage in activities that will allow them to set up their classrooms step-by-step and create their first Google assignment for their class.

6. Goals for this Mini-Course

One goal of this course is to help educators explore a new innovative way to run their classes. The second goal is for educators to actually incorporate this method of technology in to their classes and create “classrooms.” The third goal is to train the educators how to properly educate their students on how to use the classroom.

Performance Objectives

Course-level objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Explain what exactly Google Classroom is.

2. Describe how Google Classroom can be used within their own classes.

3. Understand how Google Classroom enhances student/teacher communication and involvement

4. Create a personalized Google Classroom to utilize for their own classes.

Task Analysis

Unit 1: What is Google Classroom?

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Unit 2: How Google Classroom Can Impact Class

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Unit 3: Creating a Google Classroom

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References and Resources

Baytak, A., Tarman, B., & Ayas, C. (2011, March). Experiencing Technology Integration in Education: Children's Perceptions. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 3(2), 139-151. Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://eric.ed.gov/?q=usingtechnologyineducation&id=EJ1052441

Catapano, J. (n.d.). Technology in the Classroom: A Look at Google Classroom. TeachHub. Retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-look-google-classroom

Google for Education: Save time and stay connected. Retrieved October 14, 2016, from https://www.google.com/edu/products/productivity-tools/classroom/