Teaching with Google Classroom

Abstract

The use of digital tools in education is subject to debate in school as well as in wider society. This motivates studies on the potential of these tools to facilitate teaching and learning. One of the digital tools being used is Google Classroom (GC). In order to increase knowledge of its usage and effects in content teaching, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 teachers in Swedish compulsory school. The aim is thus to answer three research questions: 1) How do teachers describe their usage of GC in teaching? 2) What effects of using GC do teachers perceive? 3) How can GC be used to develop students’ communicative and metacognitive abilities? In the interviews teachers primarily described usage of GC as structuring, but also with some pedagogical objectives. Teachers also reported on perceived effects on students’ motivation to learn and development of knowledge and skills. In summary, the interviews indicate teachers’ different degrees of appropriation of GC and opinion on its affordance. We conclude that GC has the potential to promote students’ learning, but that teachers may need training and support to take advantage of that potential.