
Previously I had blogged on assignment naming conventions for Google Classroom. The more I use Google Classroom the more I am liking numbering my assignments. I have numbered my assignments for years. When attempting to enter grades into the gradebook it is easy to find where to input assignment #012, it is next to #011. No more scrolling through and overlooking an assignment. Numbering assignments also makes student conversations about work significantly easier. “Joe, you are missing assignments #013, #027 and #067.” It is easier to jot this on a piece of paper and solves some confusion problems about which assignment we are talking about exactly.
Google Classroom
When you make an assignment in Google Classroom it automatically creates a folder in your Google Drive with the same name. If you have your Drive set to organize by name, they are sorted alphabetically rather than the order you numbered it. Google Classroom does make it easy to locate the folders. Within the assignment status screen there is a button to launch the folder in Google Classroom.
However, if you want to look directly in your Google Drive the organization can be really nice.
3 Digit Numbers
I recommend you start each assignment with a 3 digit sequential number. The way a computer “alphabetizes” numbers clusters 1, 11 and 110 together and 2, 22 and 210 together. Always using a 3 digit number will solve this problem.
Assignment Title
Start the assignment with #001, #002, etc…
Assignment Resources
To help students clearly identify which resources go along with which assignment, start the document titles with the assignment number also.
This is a wonderful tip. thank you.
The numbering system makes complete sense. Thank you.
Alice,
I am also a product of Clovis Unified, Fresno State & National University. I’m currently working on my masters in EdTech through Concordia. I just wanted to let you know I am a huge fan of you work and check your blog regularly for tips and tricks.
This post is one of my favorites because I too am very into organization, especially with my files and naming conventions. If I don’t have everything organized, I feel like I’m not being as productive as possible.I love how you have all the resources named with a corresponding number. I will definitely introduce your idea to fellow colleagues.
When I first started using Google Classroom, I was trying to wrap my brain around a way to organize everything. One feature I wish Classroom had was around reporting data over standards within the grading system in the app. I know Google Forms is wonderful assessments, but I still want data on other student work. As a Teacher on Special Assignment, I’m no longer in the classroom, but when I first started using Google Classrom I was still teaching an intervention class, so I played around ideas for naming conventions and data reports on student work. Since “tagging” assignments with standards isn’t an option yet, I started naming my assignments with the main standard in front. For example, if it was a close read for my first graders to identify main idea on an article about the rain forest, I named the assignment “RI1.2 Rainforest Close Read.” Doing this with all my assignments allowed me to export all grades into a Google Sheet. I then copy all the info, add another sheet at the bottom of the document, and “paste transpose” the data from the original sheet. Doing so with a couple of minor adjustments allows me to sort assignment names and grades by standard because it’s listed at the beginning of the assignment name. I just add a column or row near a group of standards/assignments and insert a formula to average the scores. Viola! Results over standards. Showing other teachers at my site (as a coach) how to do this process really helped them understand where their students were and they had data over standards on student class work in addition to other assessments. They loved having this information put on our standards based report cards.
I agree. While the plusses of Google Classroom outweigh the minuses for me the focus on grading in Google Classroom drives me crazy. This is opposite what research says is good for learning. Please join me in sending feedback to Google Classroom to make the product first focus on making it super easy to give students feedback and secondary provide grades. I stopped giving grades due to all the research I read on the subject. Bottom line I did not read one piece of research that said grades are awesome. They distract from learning.
Alice,
I am also a product of Clovis Unified, Fresno State & National University. I’m currently working on my masters in EdTech through Concordia. I just wanted to let you know I am a huge fan of you work and check your blog regularly for tips and tricks.
This post is one of my favorites because I too am very into organization, especially with my files and naming conventions. If I don’t have everything organized, I feel like I’m not being as productive as possible.I love how you have all the resources named with a corresponding number. I will definitely introduce your idea to fellow colleagues.
When I first started using Google Classroom, I was trying to wrap my brain around a way to organize everything. One feature I wish Classroom had was around reporting data over standards within the grading system in the app. I know Google Forms is wonderful assessments, but I still want data on other student work. As a Teacher on Special Assignment, I’m no longer in the classroom, but when I first started using Google Classroom I was still teaching an intervention class, so I played around ideas for naming conventions and data reports on student work. Since “tagging” assignments with standards isn’t an option yet, I started naming my assignments with the main standard in front. For example, if it was a close read for my first graders to identify main idea on an article about the rain forest, I named the assignment “RI1.2 Rain Forest Close Read.” Doing this with all my assignments allowed me to export all grades into a Google Sheet. I then copy all the info, add another sheet at the bottom of the document, and “paste transpose” the data from the original sheet. Doing so with a couple of minor adjustments allows me to sort assignment names and grades by standard because it’s listed at the beginning of the assignment name. I just add a column or row near a group of standards/assignments and insert a formula to average the scores. Viola! Results over standards. Showing other teachers at my site (as a coach) how to do this process really helped them understand where their students were and they had data over standards on student class work in addition to other assessments. They loved having this information put on our standards based report cards.
Hello,
I have just started an on-line masters certificate program with TRU, in On-Line Teaching and Learning…I have sooooooo much to learn! For the last decade I have been focusing on raising my family, the last time I taught formerly in a school, tech in the classroom meant me pushing a TV and VCR in on a big awkward cart which I had checked out from the AV department 🙂 In September I will begin working at a school which has supplied you as a link in their handbook. I have an interest in setting up e-portfolios for my students (grade 3/4). I have looked into some other options but because my school is a Google Classroom, I am wondering what my options are through this platform? Do you have any suggestions or leads, can you help point me in the right direction?
Please excuse my inexperience in advance!
Thank you for your time!
Lots of choices for portfolios. Google Sites is nice because it is so easy to embed Google Docs if that is your primary tool. I used WordPress with my students. SeeSaw is very popular.
Thank you for all you do. This is a great help!!