20 Google tools teachers should try (and how to use them in classrooms)

by

Jeff Dunn

September 11, 2014, 7:34 pm

There’s a reason teachers like Google tools. They’re free, easy to use, and you already have an account on basically all of them. Add in the fact that Google is making a huge push into the world of teacher tools and you quickly realize it’s a good time to be a teacher.

There are a ton of Google tools that you should try out. But not all of them are relevant to your classroom. What’s a teacher to do? Well, leave it to the Daily Genius team who had waaay too much fun making this graphic and list. We experimented with every single one of these tools to make sure they’re highly useful.

First, check out the graphic we worked hard on making for you. Then, scroll past the graphic to view links and descriptions of each tool. Want to add a Google tool? Do so down in the comments of this post – just add the tool and how to use it in the classroom. Looking forward to your contribution(s)!

Google Tools Teachers Should Try (And How To Use Them In Classrooms)

Scroll the whole way down this VERY long visual for links and more!

Links And Other Information

Privacy and Security Tools

Ensure your students’ (and your!) data is safe and secure with things like 2-step verification, analytics opt-out, off the record, incognito mode, and more.

Google Drive

Take your classroom paperless, collaborate, and share easily with this one stop for all of your documents.

Docs/Sheets/Slides

Easy to use word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools for classroom work and professional development.

Google Sites

Build a personal website, a classroom site, or have students build project sites with no coding necessary

Calendar

Keep all of your appointments straight (across all your devices). Keep/share/collaborate on group calendars (classes, departments, whole school).

Forms

Create polls, feedback forms and more. Great for class projects, data collection, and teacher feedback.

Google+

Create communities, host and participate in hangouts, bring virtual guests to your classroom, connect with just about anyone you choose

Groups

Connect with other like-minded groups around the globe via email and online forums

Moderator

Get input from your various audiences. Works especially well for large professional development groups, or very large classes.

Blogger

Have your students create and maintain blogs, or make one for your own purposes!

Course Builder

An open source education platform that lets you put your course content online for just about any audience! Use for your classes or to share your edtech prowess with other educators.

Chrome

An excellent web browser that supports a myriad of awesome extensions

Chromebooks

These relatively inexpensive laptops are a great choice for classrooms and offer a lot of bang for your buck

Scholar

A search engine especially for rooting through scholarly literature.

Mapmaker

Update Google maps with information pertinent to your area. Could make an excellent geography and cultural project.

Cultural Institute/Art Project/World Wonders

Explore things like world heritage sites, famous art collections, and information on significant historical events in this virutal museum.

A Google A Day

This game encourages efficient web researching. It is a great way to help your students rsearch quickly and easily – and it is fun, too!

Accessibility Tools

Tools to help blind, low-vision, deaf, and hard of hearing users navigate all that Google has to offer. A huge bonus for both special-ed classrooms or anyone that needs it.

Google Now

A personalized homepage of sorts for your device. Includes personalized weather, calendar, traffic, and other information it guesses will be relevant to you.

Written by Jeff Dunn

Jeff is an education and technology lover who has worked in far too many industries to count. Okay, like maybe 5 or 6. Jeff can indeed count that high but it’s not recommended. Jeff also likes to write bios in the third-person.