High school implements Google classroom
District takes step toward paperless campus
Paso Robles High School
–In an effort to take a step toward a paperless campus as many college campuses are moving toward, Paso Robles Unified School District has contracted and subscribed with Google Apps for Education, Paso Robles High School journalism teacher Jeff Mount said.
“It’s an improvement … and a bold move by district leaders,” Mount said.
Google Classroom is a free web-based program that integrates a user’s Google Apps for Education account with all his or her other Google Apps services. It also creates Google Drive folders for each assignment and class. According to Google’s description of Classroom, students can track when assignments are due, and teachers can see who has completed work.
One transition Mount said that teachers face is transitioning email from their previous system, Novell Groupwise. However, Mount said, so far 20 high school teachers out of 90 are using Google sites and classroom.
“That is not to say teachers do not have websites and online delivery/collection of curriculum,” he said. “Google is one of several tools, which also include Aeries grading, data layer and individual hostings at Weebly, Arvixe, Hostmonster, etc. Google classroom does streamline the collection of papers, calendaring of assignments and events.”
All students have Google accounts with Pasoschools.org and 15 MB of storage if their teachers use Classroom. Classroom allows the students to subscribe to the courses, read assignments, posts and chats and links about course material, which can include links, videos and readings. Students can also submit presentations and papers via Classroom and then they receive comments and scores through the site.
“Personally, I have assigned around 20 assignments over Classroom across my three courses –English 1 H, Journalism 1, Journalism 2– graded them with scores and comments, then returned them to students, who receive email notification of their results,” Mount said.
How Google Classroom works:
- Teachers set up a class, invite students and co-teachers, and share all class information via the class stream.
- The paperless assignment workflow allows teachers to manage students’ work quickly, all in one place and without the change of losing or damaging any students’ assignments.
- Students can see all assignments on the work page, in the class stream and on the class calendar.
- Teacher are able to create assignments and announcements, as well was start class discussions, and students are able to share resources.
