30 Days of Google Classroom: A Guide for Future Educators

Day 7: How Students Experience Google Classroom – Understanding Their Perspective

Introduction

To create an effective and engaging digital classroom, it’s essential to understand how students interact with Google Classroom. Seeing the platform from their perspective helps teachers improve organization, communication, and learning outcomes.

In this guide, we’ll explore how students navigate Google Classroom, submit assignments, participate in discussions, and manage their workload.

1. How Students Access Google Classroom

Students can log in to Google Classroom using their school-issued Google account on:

A web browser (classroom.google.com)
The Google Classroom mobile app (iOS/Android)

💡 Tip: Encourage students to enable notifications on their devices to stay updated on assignments and announcements.

2. Navigating the Google Classroom Interface (Student View)

Once inside a class, students will see four main tabs:

📢 Stream Tab (Announcements & Updates)

Displays teacher announcements, reminders, and discussions.
Allows students to post comments (if enabled by the teacher).
Shows upcoming assignments in the right-hand panel.

💡 Tip: Students should check the Stream daily for important updates.

📚 Classwork Tab (Assignments & Materials)

Organized into topics (e.g., Week 1, Unit 2, Homework).
Lists all assignments, quizzes, and materials in one place.
Shows due dates and submission statuses.

💡 Tip: Teach students to use the “View Your Work” button to track missing, completed, or graded assignments.

👥 People Tab (Class Members & Teacher Contact)

Lists teachers and classmates.
Allows students to email the teacher directly.

💡 Tip: Encourage students to use this feature responsibly when seeking clarification.

📊 Grades Tab (Tracking Progress & Feedback)

Displays graded assignments and teacher feedback.
Shows missing work to help students stay on track.

💡 Tip: Remind students that private comments on assignments can be used for one-on-one communication with the teacher.

3. Submitting Assignments in Google Classroom

To turn in work, students follow these steps:

Open Classwork and click on the assignment.
Read instructions and click Add or Create to upload files (Docs, Slides, PDFs, etc.).
Click Turn In (or Mark as Done for ungraded tasks).
(Optional) Add a private comment for the teacher.

💡 Tip: If resubmission is allowed, students can unsubmit assignments to make changes before the deadline.

4. Participating in Discussions

Depending on the teacher’s settings, students can engage with class discussions:

Comment on Stream posts (if enabled).
Reply to questions in the Classwork tab.
Engage in peer discussions in Google Docs, Slides, or Jamboard.

💡 Tip: Set expectations for respectful and meaningful online discussions.

5. Managing Workload & Staying Organized

Encourage students to use these built-in tools: ✔ “To-Do” List – Found on the main Google Classroom dashboard, showing all assignments.
✔ Google Calendar Integration – Automatically updates with due dates.
✔ Email & Mobile Notifications – Alerts for upcoming work and teacher comments.

💡 Tip: Recommend a weekly check-in routine where students review their progress.

Best Practices for Supporting Students in Google Classroom

✔ Give a virtual tour – Start each course with a walkthrough of Google Classroom.
✔ Post clear instructions – Keep assignment details concise and structured.
✔ Encourage questions – Let students use private comments for help.
✔ Check in regularly – Use the Stream for reminders and encouragement.
✔ Provide video tutorials – Show how to navigate, submit work, and access resources.

What’s Next?

Now that you understand the student experience, in Day 8, we’ll explore creating engaging assignments and activities in Google Classroom.

How do you help students navigate Google Classroom? Share your tips in the comments!