Why
Aspect schools use a range of online platforms to assist teaching and learning both in the classroom and remotely. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Australian students to be schooled from home, Google Classroom was the primary tool used in Aspect schools to support remote learning.
Is Google Classroom effective for remote learning? What was hard and what was easy about using Google Classroom? What did teachers and families like? Would they use it again?
The research
Following a two-month period of using Google Classroom in Aspect schools, 172 participants – 99 parents/carers and 73 teachers – completed an electronic survey about their experiences. The survey asked questions about:
- level of satisfaction in using Google Classroom
- level of student engagement
- technical difficulties.
What we learnt
Teachers' experiences using Google Classroom
Teachers' satisfaction with the quality of education they delivered
Benefits
- Engaging videos
- Adaptive worksheets
- Interactive websites and learning resources
- Real-time supervision of students' work
- Sharing documents with colleagues
- Chance to learn a new skill
87% Teachers using Google Classroom for the first time
57% Teachers confident using Google Classroom
Teachers' ease of tracking their students' participation
Challenges
- Time consuming to create new resources
- Difficulties measuring student engagement
- Technical difficulties
- Students unable to access Google Classroom
- Was not appropriate for all students
68% Teachers experienced challenges
44% Teachers spending significant time addressing technical issues
Families' experiences using Google Classroom
Families' satisfaction with their child's experiences using Google Classroom
Benefits
- Child can work at their own pace
- Child more engaged with content delivered by technology
- Child encouraged to problem solve
- Child able to interact with peers and teachers
- Child able to work on and improve computer literacy
83% Families using Google Classroom for the first time
71% Children were able to use Google Classroom
"My child was very engaged with learning with Google Classroom"
Challenges
- Keeping child engaged, focussed and attentive
- Change in routines
- Technical difficulties
- Extra screen time and reduction in face-to-face learning
- Need for parent support and supervision to successfully complete work
85% Children required parent support to use Google Classroom
27% Families spent significant time addressing technical issues
The future of Google Classroom use in Aspect schools
Should Google Classroom be used in future as a supplement to face-to-face learning?
Teachers
Parents/carers
Recommendations
- Upgrading technology and equipment
- Provision of adequate and onsite technical support
- Introduction of teacher and parent training for using Google Classroom
- Dedicated staff for delivery of virtual learning
Find out more
Research team
Dr Abbey Love, Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP)
Started
2020
Ends
2021
Funding
Aspect