Google Classroom

Student User Manual

August 2018, Volume 1.

prepared by:
misheck diza,
cuthbert makuvara,
shingirirai.f simango,
viola machingura.
Contents
1 Welcome to Google Classroom 1
1.1 Using Google Classroom at Great Zimbabwe University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Activating your GZU - Google student account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Accessing Google Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3.1 Method 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3.2 Method 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.4 Joining a class/module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2 Google Classroom Main Menu 7

3 Inside the Class/Module Dashboard 8

4 The Stream Menu 8

4.1 Sharing with the class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.2 Creating and replying to a class comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5 The Classwork Menu 10

5.1 Writing and submitting an Assignment using Google Docs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.2 Viewing and un-submitting assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.3 Submitting an Assignment or Question inside Google Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.4 Viewing all Assignments and Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.5 Viewing Marked Assignments and Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6 The People Menu 16

7 Working Offline Using Google Applications 17

7.1 Working offline in Google Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
7.2 Working offline in Gmail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
7.3 Working Offline in Google Docs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
7.4 Setting specific Files to Offline Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

8 Installing Useful Google Docs Add ons 22

9 Using Chrome Web Extensions 23

10 Google Classroom On The Go 24

11 Other Educational Google Apps 25

12 Summary 26

13 Further Reading 26

14 For Assistance 26
1 Welcome to Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a free online application designed for teachers to create, col-
lect, grade and return students’ work using computer technology. The platform
helps lecturers and students communicate, organize and manage assignments and
go paperless. The application integrates with other Google Applications that we
use on a daily basis. Google Drive is used for storage while Docs, Sheets, Slides,
Drawings, Maps and Forms are used for the creation and grading of assignments.
The Gmail App is used for communication purposes. The use of Google Applica-
tions in the classroom is sometimes referred to as the ‘Google Infused Classroom’.
Google Classroom is meant to transform the teaching and learning process thereby
empowering both lecturers and students. Prominent authors on the subject had
this to say:

The Google Infused Classroom is the perfect marriage of sound pedagogy and
digital tools, (Clarke and Avrith 2017).

“Google Classroom is a Learning Management System (LMS) offered by Google

to teachers", (Zhang, 2016; 6).

1.1 Using Google Classroom at Great Zimbabwe University

Local universities and colleges are embracing the use of e-learning facilities through
adoption of Google Classroom. With this in mind, GZU places the lecturer and
the student at the center of the teaching and learning process. Therefore, educat-
ing the lecturer and the student on this matter is very crucial. GZU is a registered
user of the Google Suite Applications for Education. At GZU, the Google Class-
room LMS is administered by the Information Technology Department. Lecturers
and students are authorized to use the service by the Systems Administrator. The
Systems Administrator manages lecturers while lecturers manage students. If a
suspicious activity is observed, your account may be placed on hold by the sys-
tems administrator. In addition, only management, academic staff and students
are authorized to use the service through their GZU-Google email accounts. For
security reasons, other personal emails (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail etc.) cannot be
used to access this service from the university domain.

1.2 Activating your GZU - Google student account

All students enrolled at GZU have student emails created for them at initial
registration. The email can be accessed using the Google platform. This can be
done using any standard browser (as shown below) or the Gmail App on your
mobile devices.

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 Figure 1: Activating Your GZU - Google Account.

1. Type your reg number followed by: @elearning.gzu.ac.zw

2. Click Next to proceed.

If you fail to proceed to the next stage due to a non existing account error, contact
the systems administrator. If your account exists, the following dialogue box pops
up:

Figure 2: Activating Your GZU - Google Account.

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 1. Enter your password in any one of the following ways as it appears on the
student portal:
• firstnamesurname e.g: jesuschuma
• firstname middlenamesurname e.g: jesus tatendachuma
• Other names with special characters: try leaving a space either between
the first and middle name or middle name and surname.
2. Click ‘Next’ to proceed.

When you sign in successfully, click Accept and enter a new password. Please
enter a password which is easy to remember. You will use the new password each
time you access any Google Application inside GZU.

1.3 Accessing Google Classroom

Google Classroom can be accessed using the following two methods.

1.3.1 Method 1

Google Classroom works on any standard browser. However, Google Chrome

Browser is the most recommended when accessing Google Apps. If you don’t
have one, simply download and install.

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 Figure 3: Accessing Google Classroom Using Method 1

1. Sign into your GZU - Google account (or Gmail) and access the applications
icon.
2. Click ‘More’, and then ‘Classroom’ icon to launch the application.

1.3.2 Method 2

Sign into your GZU - Google account (or Gmail), create a new tab, type the
following in the omnibox and press enter:
classroom.google.com

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 Figure 4: Accessing Google Classroom Using Method 2

The following message appears:

Figure 5: Welcome to Google Classroom

1. Click Continue to proceed.

The following message appears:

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 Figure 6: Selecting a role.

1. Select the ‘I’m a student’.

NB: Students are are not allowed to pick the teacher role. Once the Google
Classroom app is launched, you are encouraged to add the page to your
bookmarks for easy access in future.

1.4 Joining a class/module

Figure 7: Joining a class

1. Click the + icon to join a class.

The following message pops up:

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 Figure 8: Joining a class.

1. Enter the class code provided by your lecturer. This is a special code gener-
ated by Google Classroom to help you join a module.
2. Click Join to proceed.

2 Google Classroom Main Menu

When successfully joined, classes (modules) are collected inside Google Classroom
as shown in figure 9 below.

Figure 9: Google Classroom Main Menu

1. Google Classroom Main Menu Icon.

2. A joined class (module) inside Google Classroom.
3. Name of the lecturer taking you for the module.
4. Class Edit icon. (You can un-enroll if you joined the wrong module).
5. Google Calendar.
6. Classroom Google Drive folder for the module.

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 7. Use this for joining other modules.
8. Google Apps icon.
9. Notifications icon.
10. Your GZU-Google Account.

3 Inside the Class/Module Dashboard

The class/module dashboard has four important features as shown below.

Figure 10: Class/Module Dashboard

1. The Stream Menu (home page inside the class).

2. The Classwork Menu (for assignments and questions grouped by topic).
3. The People Menu (where students and co-teachers’ information is shown).
4. The About (where the module synopsis is normally given).

4 The Stream Menu

The stream is the home page of the class and is mainly used for communication
purposes.

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 Figure 11: The Stream Menu.

1. Upcoming - A list of all upcoming work. The work may be scheduled in

the class Google Calendar under Classwork Menu.
2. Use this for raising a discussion topic/question. Important announcements
can also be sent to the class using this selection. Other students can comment
and reply to your post.
3. How assignments and questions look like under stream.
4. An example of a post/announcement sent by a student.

4.1 Sharing with the class

As shown in figure 11 above, in the Stream Menu, click share something with
your class. The following dialogue box pops up. This feature may not be available
if your lecturer does not want you to post anything to the class using this method.

Figure 12: Sharing a post with your class.

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 1. Type your message to the class.
2. You can add an attachment. (file from computer, file from your Google Drive,
a YouTube video or a link).
3. Click Post to send your message.

4.2 Creating and replying to a class comment

Another way of communicating inside the class is through sending a class com-
ment.

Figure 13: Creating a comment for the class.

1. Use this arrow to reply to a comment sent by a classmate or your lecturer.

This is suitable for discussions if you want to direct your point to a particular
individual in the class. When replying type @Name, for easy identification,
since Google Classroom does not pick names but registration emails.
2. Use this feature to add a new class comment.

5 The Classwork Menu

This menu shows the classwork organized by topic. The student is at liberty to
view all the work at once.

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 Figure 14: The Classwork Menu.

1. Click to view all your assignments and questions.

2. Google Calendar.
3. Google Drive folder.
4. Topics to be covered (4 and 5).
5. Item 6 shows Assignments and Questions classified by topic.

5.1 Writing and submitting an Assignment using Google Docs

Students are familiar with MS Office products such as word, excel and power point.
Google offers similar and equally competitive applications which can be used inside
or outside Google Classroom. These are Google Docs (word processor), Google
Sheets (spread sheets), Google Slides (for presentations). All these applications
can be set to allow offline access.
If your lecturer created an assignment using Google Docs and expects you to type
and submit, this is how you go about it:

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 Figure 15: Writing an assignment in Google Docs.

1. When you open the Google Docs assignment, your name and assignment title
is given, (Do not change anything here).
NB: all work is automatically saved in Google Drive, hence nothing will be
lost.
2. Use the Explore button to access Google Search while inside the document.
In addition, click Tools, then Voice Typing to speak to Google Docs while
it does the typing. Voice typing distinguishes Google Docs from other word
processors.
3. When you finish the work, click Turn In to submit your assignment.

The following dialogue box pops up:

Figure 16: Creating an Assignment

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 1. Click Turn In to submit or Cancel if you have not finished. If you click
Turn In, go back to Google Classroom and make sure that the assignment
is marked Turned In.

5.2 Viewing and un-submitting assignments

In the Classwork Menu, click on an assignment you have submitted.

Figure 17: Viewing submitted work.

1. Turned In means the work was successfully submitted to the lecturer.

2. Use this button to un-submit an assignment.
N.B: Only un-submit after seeking permission from your lecturer. Un-submitting
without the lecturer’s consent would be regarded as an academic offense.
3. Add a private comment which you and your lecturer can only see. No other
student has access to your private comments.

After receiving permission from your lecturer to unsubmit as shown in figure

17, item 2 above, click unsubmit. The following message pops up:

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 Figure 18: Unsubmitting an Assignment.

1. Click unsubmit to proceed.

5.3 Submitting an Assignment or Question inside Google Classroom

Students can submit their solutions to Assignments or Questions inside Google

Classroom.

Figure 19: Submitting an Assignment inside Google Classroom.

1. An assignment done in Google Docs. Normally this is sent to you by your

lecturer and you work on it using Google Docs.
2. Use this option to add any other attachments.

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 3. Use this option to create new Google Docs.
4. Add a private comment/message which your lecturer can see. (This is op-
tional).
5. Click Turn in to submit your work.

5.4 Viewing all Assignments and Questions

In the Classwork Menu, click ‘View Your Work’.

Figure 20: Viewing all your work.

1. Assigned - means the work is not yet due and has not been submitted.
2. Returned with Grade - means the work was marked and returned by the
lecturer.
3. Missing - means the work was not done and is past due.
4. Item 4 and 5 show the assignment title and due date of the work.
5. Turned In - means the work was submitted to the lecturer for marking.

5.5 Viewing Marked Assignments and Questions

In the classwork menu, marked assignments and questions are shown as follows:

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 Figure 21: Viewing marked work.

1. Comments made in connection with the assignment.

2. Attachments to the assignment.
3. The mark for the assignment.
4. Filters previously explained.

6 The People Menu

The People Menu shows all the respective participants in the class, that is,
teachers and students.

Figure 22: The People Menu

1. Teachers’ List.

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 2. Students’ List.
3. Use this option to send direct emails to the lecturer or your colleagues.

7 Working Offline Using Google Applications

Some of the Google Applications are accessible while offline. Google Drive, Mail,
Docs, Sheets and Slides can be accessed while offline. When online, the documents
update automatically. Before turning on offline access on a computer or laptop,
make sure that you are the owner of the device. Do not turn on offline access
on public devices such as those in the library or computer laboratory to prevent
access to your account by other individuals.

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7.1 Working offline in Google Drive

From the Google Apps icon, select the Google Drive icon to launch Google
Drive.

Figure 23: Setting Google Drive to offline access.

1. Click the Settings icon.

2. Then click Settings.

The following window pops up:

Figure 24: Setting Google Drive to offline access.

1. Make sure the offline check box is selected. (Turns blue if selected).
2. A message is displayed in the left bottom corner which shows that Google
Drive is setting offline access. Let it finish.
3. When offline, in your browser type: drive.google.com to access the drive in
offline mode.

7.2 Working offline in Gmail

From the Google Apps icon, select the GMail app to launch Gmail. Settings.

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 Figure 25: Setting Gmail to offline access.

1. While in Gmail, click the Settings icon and go to Settings, then Offline.
2. Check Enable offline mail.
3. Choose the number of to days.
4. Select Keep offline data on my computer.
5. Then click Save Changes. Gmail will begin syching your emails to be
accessible offline. It can take some time depending on network speed and the
size of your Gmail files and folders.

The following warning message pops up:

Figure 26: Setting Gmail to offline access.

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 1. Click Got It.
2. When offline, in your browser type: mail.google.com to access the Gmail
in offline mode. In offline mode, you can create, reply to email and view
attachments. Once you are online, the messages will update automatically.

7.3 Working Offline in Google Docs

Click the Google Apps icon, select Google Docs to launch the application.

Figure 27: Setting Google Docs to offline access.

1. Click the Main Menu and navigate to Settings.

The following message pops up:

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 Figure 28: Setting Google Docs to offline access.

1. Select this check box (It turn blue when selected).

2. Click OK when done.
3. NB: Make sure you are the owner of the device to turn offline access. Do not
do this on public computers.
4. A message is displayed in the left bottom corner which shows that Google
Docs is setting offline access. Let it finish.
5. When offline, in your browser type: docs.google.com to access the Google
Docs in offline mode.

7.4 Setting specific Files to Offline Access

Once you complete the above steps, locate a file that you want to edit in offline
mode. The file can be in Google Drive, Docs, Sheets or Slides.

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 Figure 29: Setting a file to offline access.

1. Click the File Edit (Snow man)(Three dots) icon.

2. Check Available Offline.

8 Installing Useful Google Docs Add ons

Google Add ons are stand alone packages developed by third parties and approved
by Google to be integrated inside Google Applications. Google Docs/Sheets/Slides
work best with add ons. These are meant to make life easier for both lecturers
and students. The list of useful add ons and their functions is given below. Open
a Google Doc/Sheet/Slide of your choice. You can search for add ons that are
important in your area of specialization. As an example, open a Google Doc and
proceed as follows:

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 Figure 30: Working with add ons.

1. Click Add ons.

2. Click Get Add ons to install new add ons.
3. Click Manage ad ons to remove/delete unwanted add ons.
4. You will be taken to a window with a list of add ons. Type the name and
search. When prompted to access to your email or drive, simple accept and
install using your GZU email account. The table below shows some examples
of add ons which can be used by both lecturers and students.

Item Add on Purpose

1 Copyleaks Plagiarism Checker
2 Unicheck Plagiarism Checker
3 EasyBib Creating Bibliography
4 Paperpile Creating Bibliography
5 Lucid Chart Diagrams Editing diagrams

9 Using Chrome Web Extensions

Just like Add ons, Extensions and Apps can be installed directly onto the browser.
Google Chrome Web Extensions help Google users with some functions that are
not available in other browsers. The List of useful extensions is also given below.
You can search for extensions that are important in your area of specialization.

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 Figure 31: Google Chrome Web Store

1. In your browser, type: chrome.google.com/webstore and press enter.

2. Search for the extension of your choice by name.
3. When you select an extension, click add to chrome and allow access to your
drive and email.
Item Chrome Extension Purpose
1 Chrome Webstore Launcher Launching the Chrome Web Store
2 Extensity Managing extensions
3 EquatIO Editing Maths and Graphs
4 FMaths Editing Maths and Graphs
5 Google Docs Offline Launching Google Docs Offline
6 Google Dictionary Dictionary

10 Google Classroom On The Go

Lecturers and students can download Google Classroom and other educational
apps on their mobile devices. Google Classroom, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides,
Forms and Calendar are available for Android and iOS devices. On Android
devices, visit Google Play Store for these applications. If you are using an apple
device, visit the App Store. Many people are familiar with using the Gmail
Mobile App. It is advisable that you add your GZU - Google Account to your
Gmail mobile app such that you can receive Google Classroom notifications when
something new has been posted in your class. The figure below shows how the

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Google Classroom looks like on an Android Mobile Device. This makes learning
on the go more convenient!

Figure 32: Google Classroom on a Mobile Device.

11 Other Educational Google Apps

Lecturers and students are encouraged to explore the following Google Applica-
tions:
1. Google Docs - For editing word documents.
2. Google Slides - For presentations.
3. Google Sheets - For spreadsheets.
4. Google Forms - For quiz and surveys (best for online questionnaires).
5. Google Hangouts - For calls and video conferencing.
6. Google Groups - For organizing people into groups.
7. Google Sites - For building websites.
8. Google Drawings - For Graphical representations.
9. Google My Maps - For creating custom maps in Google.
10. Google Calendar - For Scheduling events and tasks.
11. YouTube - For organizing and viewing multimedia content.

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12 Summary

Using Google applications and products for educational purposes is an activ-

ity which requires commitment from management, lecturers and students. The
Google Classroom LMS brings with it a multiplicity of benefits for the univer-
sity and its various stakeholders. This document is the first of its kind at Great
Zimbabwe University and shall be updated on a regular basis to incorporate any
changes announced by Google from time to time.

13 Further Reading
Clark, H., and Avrith, T. (2017). The Google Infused Classroom. EdTechTeam
Press.
Zhang, M. (2016). Teaching with Google Classroom. Packt Publishing Ltd.
https://support.google.com/edu/classroom

14 For Assistance
For asistance on Google Classroom, feel free to contact the following:

1. Mr Cuthbert Makuvara, ICT Dpt, Email: [email protected], Ext 1250, Cell: +263-713869198.

2. Mrs Shingirirai. F. Simango, ICT Dpt, Email: [email protected], Ext 1275.

3. Mrs Viola Machingura, Teaching and Learning Center, Email: [email protected], Ext
1142.

4. Mr Misheck Diza, Lecturer-Banking and Finance Dpt, Email: [email protected].

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