Can you really use Google Classroom to teach an

online or blended course?David Wicks, Seattle Pacific University

Abstract

The Digital Education Leadership program at Seattle Pacific University has been using Google Classroom as a learning management system (LMS) since it became available in September 2014. Faculty enjoy the ease of use and students enjoy learning with a platform they can use with their own students.

Participants in this session will learn: 1) Research-based practices for setting up online or blended courses in Google Classroom. 2) Google Classroom's advantages over a conventional LMS such as Blackboard or Canvas. 3) Workarounds for missing features such as no built-in gradebook. 4) Best practices for using Google Classroom online or face-to-face.

Overview

1. Research-based practices for setting up a course

2. Google Classroom's advantages over other LMS

3. Workarounds for missing features

4. Best practices

Research-based practices for setting up a course

https://coi.athabascau.ca/

Social Presence

Teaching Presence

Cognitive Presence

Workarounds for missing features

Calendar

Posted link to a Google Calendar (fixed now)

Gradebook

Used EnGrade

Discussion Forum

Used Google Groups

Will try Question feature in Stream this year

Inability to reorder content in the About section

Pre-populate content placeholders in About section

Best practices for using Google Classroom

All: Check into Google Classroom every day (once per day)

Students: Ask questions. At least one other person has the same question.

All: Connect Google Classroom Calendar to personal calendar

All: Share answers to questions. Post in Stream, possibly as Google Slides.

Students: Schedule distraction-free “class time” for yourself

Teachers: Schedule face-to-face (online or in person) meetings

Teachers: Use Hangouts on Air to record meetings

Teachers: Use Vialogues to have asynchronous discussion about Hangout

content for those who miss real-time discussion.

Vialogues Discussion of Google Hangout on Air

Google Classroom's advantages over other LMSs

Ease of use

Integration with Google Drive

Instructor-Initiated

Integration with Google Calendar

For SPU: Teaching teachers in LMS they use w/ students

Others?

Disadvantages?

Can you really use Google Classroom to teach an

online or blended course?

Comments or Questions?

David Wicks, Ed.D.Associate Professor, School of EducationChair, Digital Education Leadership MEd

Seattle Pacific Universitydwicks@spu.edu

Twitter: @drdavidwickshttp://spu.edu/digital-ed

http://davidwicks.org