How to Create a Google Classroom in 2024 – Teachers Guide

Google Classroom is a free platform developed by Google for schools. Its primary goal is to streamline the process of creating, distributing, and assessing assignments.

Google Classroom enables teachers to post announcements, create and collaborate on group assignments, and efficiently collect and grade student work.

The learning management system streamlines classroom management, reduces paperwork, and provides tools for practical student assessment. It offers students easy access to learning materials, clear assignment instructions, and timely feedback. 

Educators should familiarize themselves with Google Classroom features to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Let’s uncover more about the helpful learning management system and learn how to create a Google Classroom.

What Is Google Classroom? 

Google Classroom is a free online platform designed to simplify the learning process for both teachers and students. Teachers can use the platform to create and share assignments, collect and grade work, communicate with students, or just organize their work.

Google Classroom was first publicly released in August 2014. It was initially designed to simplify the sharing of files between teachers and students, making it easier to manage learning and assignments.

Since its launch, Google Classroom has evolved and now incorporates features such as creating and collaborating on group assignments, assigning video-based learning, and providing detailed feedback on student work.

It integrates with other Google services, such as Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Earth, and Gmail, to streamline the educational workflow for both teachers and students. It can also be reinforced with Meet or Hangouts for virtual learning and inquiry sessions.

According to Google for Education, there are 150 million active users on Google Classroom worldwide. 

Google Classroom's primary objective is to manage and enhance communication between students and teachers through its features that streamline classroom activities. 

Teachers can go paperless, distribute assignments, provide resources, and offer feedback, while students can submit their work, ask questions, and receive timely responses.

Google Classroom is centralized, ensuring all classroom interactions are organized and accessible, enhancing the learning environment.

Overview of Google Classroom’s Features

Google Classroom learning management system has features designed to enhance the educational experience. 

The following are some of the most important features for teachers, helping you determine whether this tool is the right choice for your classroom.

• Grading: Simplify grading with built-in tools for evaluating assignments. Educators can use point-based or rubric-based grading systems.
• Feedback: Provide detailed feedback on student work with comments and suggestions. Teachers can also use rubrics to ensure consistent and transparent grading.
• Accessibility: Ensure all students can participate by supporting various devices and including accessibility features like screen readers and captions.
• Organization: Keep all class materials, assignments, and resources organized in one place. Use the class stream and classwork page to structure content logically.
• Communication: Streamline communication with students through announcements, class discussions, and private messages. This keeps everyone informed and engaged.
• Data Analysis: Access analytics to track student performance, identify areas for improvement, and tailor instruction accordingly.
• Collaboration tools: Facilitate group work by allowing students to collaborate on documents, presentations, and projects in real-time using Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
• Assignment management: Easily create, distribute, and collect assignments. Teachers can set due dates, attach resources, and monitor student progress.
• Integration with G Suite: Seamlessly integrate with other Google apps like Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, and Meet, creating a digital ecosystem for education.
• Class management: Efficiently manage multiple classes and sections. Teachers can reuse posts, assignments, and quizzes across different classes.
• Efficient commenting system: Provide contextual feedback directly within student submissions, making it easy to address specific areas of improvement.
• Paperless environment: Reduce the need for physical paper by digitizing assignments, handouts, and grading, promoting an eco-friendly classroom.

How to Set up Google Classroom 

If you plan on using Google Classroom, it's essential to understand its purpose and how it benefits teachers. As we mentioned earlier, the platform's tools will help you streamline communication, foster collaboration, and enhance classroom organization.

In this section, we'll cover the steps to setting up Google Classroom. Follow these steps to get started with Google Classroom and create a paperless learning environment for your students.

1. Visit classroom.google.com

To begin setting up Google Classroom, you must have a Google account. If you don’t already have one, here are the steps to set up a Google account:

1. Go to accounts.google.com
2. Fill in your first and last name, desired email address, and password.
3. Follow the prompts to verify your account. For security purposes, you may be required to enter a phone number.
4. Once you've verified your information, your Google account will be ready to use.

After creating and logging into your Google account, visit classroom.google.com. This is the central hub for accessing all your Google Classroom features.

We recommend creating a separate Google account for classwork and teaching for organizational purposes. This will help you keep your personal and professional activities distinct and ensure all your educational materials are in one place.

Additionally, you can take advantage of the Google Classroom mobile app. The app allows you to provide instant feedback when students are working on the platform, even when you're away from the computer. 

2. Create Your First Class

Once you’re logged into your Google account and have visited classroom.google.com, you’re ready to create your first class. Follow these steps:

1. In the top right corner of the Google Classroom homepage, you’ll see a “+” button. Click on it to proceed.
2. When you click the “+” button, a dropdown box appears. From the options available, select ‘Create class’.
3. If your school is listed in the options, choose it to link your class to your institution. This ensures that your class is associated with your school’s domain.

Note: Your school needs to have G Suite for Education to enable you to link your class and use Google Classroom effectively. G Suite for Education provides additional tools and resources tailored for educational purposes, enhancing your ability to manage your classroom and collaborate with students.

3. Add the Class Name and Information

After selecting “Create class,” you'll be prompted to add information about your class. 

Enter a descriptive name that identifies the class. This is the only obligatory field.

You have the option to add the following details:

• Section: Useful for differentiating between different classes in the same subject. For example, you could have “History – Section A” and “History – Section B.”
• Subject: Specify the subject area for the class, such as Music, Science, or History.
• Room: Indicate the physical or virtual room where the class takes place.

You can organize your students into smaller groups for projects or activities. Follow these steps:

• Once the class is created, go to the “People” tab.
• Click on “Invite Students” to add students to your class.
• After students have joined, you can create groups and organize them into different assignments or using separate topics in the “Classwork” tab.

Remember: Only the class name is required initially. If you prefer, you can add or modify additional information later. 

4. Customize Your Google Classroom

Customizing your Google Classroom can make it more engaging and tailored to your teaching style. 

You'll see a default banner at the top of your class page. To customize it:

• Click “Select Theme” in the bottom right corner of the banner.
• Choose from various themes provided by Google, or click “Upload Photo” to add your own image.

Class thumbnails are the images that represent each of your classes on the Google Classroom homepage. Google automatically generates the thumbnails. However,  you can ensure your banners are distinct to make your classes easily identifiable.

To create work within your class, click the “Classwork” tab and click the “+” button to create new assignments or materials. You have several options:

• Create standard assignments where you can attach documents, videos, links, and set due dates: Click on “Create” > “Assignment.” Add a title, instructions, attachments, due date, and point value. Use the “Rubric” option to add grading criteria.
• Use Google Forms to create quizzes that can be graded automatically: Click on “Create” > “Quiz Assignment.” A blank Google Form will be attached automatically. Customize your quiz, set points, and enable quiz settings such as locked mode for Chromebooks.
• Post a single question for discussion or assessment. This can be a multiple-choice or short answer: Click on “Create” > “Question.” Enter your question, select the response type, add instructions if necessary, and set a due date.
• Share resources such as lecture notes, readings, or supplementary materials without creating an assignment: Click on “Create” > “Material.” Add a title, description, and attachments. You can also organize these materials under specific topics.
• Organize your classwork by topics to help students find relevant materials and assignments easily: Click on “Create” > “Topic.” Name the topic and use it to group related assignments and materials.

5. Invite Students to Join Your Class

Once your Google Classroom is set up, the next step is to invite your students to join. Google Classroom offers three methods to do this:

• Invitation link
• Generating a class code
• Email invitation

Through the invitation link:

1. Go to the “People” tab in your classroom.
2. Click on the “Invite Students” button.
3. Copy the invitation link provided and share it with your students via email, your school’s communication platform, or any other preferred method.

Students will click on the link and log in with their Google account to join the class directly.

Generating a class code:

• In the “Stream” tab, the class code is displayed in the header section.
• If it's not visible, click on the class code box, and a larger version will appear, making it easier to read and share.
• Share the Code with your students during class, via email, or through your school’s communication system.

Students should go to classroom.google.com, click on the “+” button in the top right corner, select “Join class,” and enter the class code.

Email Invitation:

1. In the “People” tab, click on “Invite Students.”
2. Enter the email addresses of your students. You can select multiple addresses by clicking My Contacts to access contacts from your Gmail.
3. Click “Invite” to send out the email invitations.

Students will receive an email with an invitation to join the class. They can simply click on the link in the email to accept and join.

Google Classroom Tips for Success

If you make the most of  Google Classroom, you can enhance your teaching experience and ensure your students get the best out of the platform.

Here are some tips to help you utilize it properly:

• Experiment with other tools that integrate with Google Classroom: Incorporate additional tools and apps like Google Forms for quizzes, Google Slides for presentations, and third-party educational apps that integrate seamlessly with Google Classroom to enrich your teaching materials and methods.
• Plan your assignments in advance: Schedule assignments, quizzes, and materials ahead of time to stay organized and ensure that your students understand what to expect.
• Communicate with students via announcements: Use the “Stream” tab to post announcements, reminders, and updates. It keeps your students informed and engaged with the class activities.
• Use Google Classroom to complement your school’s LMS programs: Integrate Google Classroom with your school's existing learning management system to streamline workflows and maintain consistency in managing educational resources and student data.
• Consider recording your classes for absent students: Use Google Meet to record your classes and share the recordings in Google Classroom. This helps students who miss a class catch up easily.

As an educator, it’s beneficial for you to embrace various technologies to enhance your teaching experience and improve academic outcomes for your students.

As we’ve established, Google Classroom can create a more efficient, organized, and engaging learning environment with its resources and tools.

If you haven’t yet joined Google Classroom, now is the perfect time to explore its benefits and make the most of the educational platform.