Whether you’re stepping into the world of digital education for the first time or looking to simplify your classroom setup, Google Classroom offers a great platform to help you get started. But like any tech tool, it’s only as effective as your ability to use it confidently.
At Qlic, we understand how overwhelming it can be to implement new platforms, especially in education, where time and clarity are critical. That’s why we’ve created this beginner-friendly guide on how to use Google Classroom.
We’ll walk you through
- What Google Classroom is
- How it works
- What you can do with Google Classroom
- Common questions answered (like whether students need a Google account)
- And how Google Classroom helps simplify education for both teachers and learners
- How you can make the most of it to streamline your teaching, whether you’re delivering lessons in person or remotely.
What is Google Classroom?
Google Classroom is a free online learning management system (LMS) created by Google. It’s part of the Google Workspace for Education suite and designed purposefully for schools to simplify teaching, learning, and improve collaboration. It’s a place where teachers and students can connect, work together and keep track of their class assignments. It helps make classrooms more organised and run better.
Top Benefits of Using Google Classroom
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by new software, but Google Classroom brings genuine value to educators:
- Efficiency: Set up classes and post materials in minutes
- Accessibility: Students can access resources from any device
- Transparency: Grades, feedback, and deadlines are always visible
- Integration: Seamlessly works with Google Drive, Docs, Meet, Forms and more
- Cost-Effective: It’s free, secure, and constantly updated
Google Classroom offers a wide range of functionalities. With Google Classroom, teachers can:
- Set up digital classrooms in minutes
- Share assignments and learning materials effortlessly
- Give grades and feedback online
- Track student progress and engagement
- Communicate with students in real time
- Seamlessly integrate with tools like Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
Beyond Google Classroom, Google Workspace tools boost productivity and empower learning through collaboration, real-time feedback, cloud storage, and accessibility, whether you’re using Docs for group writing or Google Meet for virtual lessons.
Key Functionalities of Google Classroom
Google Classroom is more than just a digital noticeboard. It’s an interactive hub where teachers can teach, engage, and support students with ease.
Google Classroom offers easy-to-use tools that help organise and run classes smoothly, zero cost for basic functionality and an intuitive interface.
Here’s how to make the most of Google Classroom:
- Get Insights Into Student Learning
- Giving Grades and Personalised Feedback Online
- Using Quizzes and Forms for Instant Feedback
- Distributing Assignments and Resources
- More Ways to Engage Students
Get Insights Into Student Learning
Google Classroom integrates with Google Workspace tools to provide detailed data on student activity. For schools and districts with a Google Workspace for Education Plus license, Classroom Analytics offers a centralised dashboard for a complete overview of class and student performance.
Key Insights:
- Assignment Completion: See the percentage of assignments turned in by students.
- Average Grade: View the average grade for all graded assignments within a selected time period.
- Active Students: Find out what percentage of students in your class have interacted with the platform (e.g., viewed a page, submitted an assignment).
- Actionable Alerts: The system can provide you with insights like, “X students haven’t visited your class page in a week” or “Y students missed their last three assignments.”
It’s a smart way to recognise where students might be falling behind or identify topics that need reteaching.
Even without the premium analytics, you can get valuable insights directly from individual assignments. Teachers can track attendance, assignment submission rates, and engagement trends, helping teachers make data-informed decisions.
It’s a smart way to recognise where students might be falling behind or identify topics that need reteaching.
Giving Grades and Personalised Feedback Online
Once students submit work, teachers can review and grade assignments immediately in Google Classroom. Teachers assign points or use rubrics. Rubrics can be reused across assignments, making grading both reliable and quick. Grades are automatically calculated, and students can view their progress in the “Grades” tab.
But it’s not just about ticking boxes. You can leave personalised, private comments for each student to encourage deeper learning, correct misunderstandings, or simply acknowledge progress.
Using Quizzes and Forms for Instant Feedback
Google Forms lets you create self-marking quizzes that integrate seamlessly into your Classroom. This means instant feedback for students and a clear understanding for teachers of who has understood the topic, and who needs more support.
Quizzes can be timed, reordered, or differentiated, making them versatile tools for both formative and summative assessment.
Distributing Assignments and Resources
You can post assignments with clear deadlines, attach supporting materials from Google Drive, and set instructions, all in just a few clicks. Better still, resources stay organised within the Classwork tab, so students always know where to locate them.
No more “I lost the worksheet” excuses.
More Ways to Engage Students
The communication features in Google Classroom can also boost student engagement. Here’s how:
- Schedule posts ahead of time to plan your week
- Host discussions through the Stream for collaborative learning
- Share recorded lessons from Google Meet directly in Classroom
- Invite teaching assistants or co-teachers to collaborate in real-time
How to Use Google Classroom: A Beginner's Walkthrough
If you’re new to the platform, here’s how to get started.
How to Sign In for the First Time
Google Classroom is a web-based platform, so you don’t need to download it. However, mobile apps are also available for added convenience. All you need to do to sign in is:
- Go to classroom.google.com
- Log in with your school-issued Google account (not a personal Gmail)
- Click “Continue” to accept the terms
- Choose your role: select Teacher
- You’re in! Now you can start creating classes
Do you need a Google account to join?
Yes. Both teachers and students must have Google accounts, usually issued by the school or organisation.
How to Start a Google Classroom
You can create up to 100 active classes using your Google Workspace for Education account:
- Click the “+” icon and select Create Class
- Fill in the class name, section, subject, and room
- Click Create, and your classroom is ready
From there, you can:
- Invite students via email or class code
- Post an announcement or assignment
- Add topics to keep your classwork organised
How Do Students Access Your Google Classroom?
Once you’ve created a class, students can join by:
- Entering the class code in their Google Classroom dashboard
- Accepting your email invitation
- Clicking on the Classroom link shared via a school portal
Final Thoughts
Google Classroom helps teachers do what they do best, teach, without getting tangled in admin tasks. From streamlined grading to accessible lesson distribution, it supports a more organised and collaborative learning environment.
If your school is looking to get started with Google Workspace or needs support setting up digital classrooms, Qlic’s IT for education is here to help. We’ve helped schools across the UK simplify their tech setup, stay secure, and get the most from their digital tools.
Start optimising your school’s digital classroom experience with Qlic for education.
