Google Classroom: Handwritten Feedback for Realz, LOL!!!

I know what you’re thinking. This guy is crazy with this whole Google Classroom thing! You’re not wrong. Every month or so, Google Classroom gets an update to improve our experience, as teachers and as learners. One update kind of slipped past me. West Senior High Language Arts teacher Kelly Rintala told me about this, but I haven’t explored it until now.

For me, the Comment feature in Google Docs is how I respond to student work, but for many teachers, they miss the opportunity to draw on a document, to circle something or draw an arrow, or personalize their feedback with their own handwriting. Would you believe me if I told you that Google Classroom lets you write on student work in your own handwriting?

Check it. I did this on my iPhone 6S+.

This functionality is ONLY available when using the Google Classroom app on an iOS or Android mobile device or tablet. For those with touchscreen laptop or desktop omputers, this feature is not available, but you can ask for it!

The How-To

First, open Google Classroom on your mobile device or tablet. Go to the “Student Work” tab for an assignment you want to grade (distributed with “Make a copy for each student”), and select a student. Her name will be highlighted like in the image below.

Then click on the assignment you want to open (see the “Comparative Analysis Essay” below).

Find the pen icon in the upper-right corner, and click on it for all your editing options. You’ll be able to draw and type directly on the student response document. Multiple markers are available, including pen, marker and highlighter.

Once you turn editing on, you can interact with the document just like you would if you had collected papers and planned on marking them up with a pen. When finished, click the save symbol in the upper-right hand corner, and Google Classroom will generate a PDF and attach it to the student’s submission space.

When she logs in next time, she’ll see her original copy and a PDF of your written feedback.

Remember, this functionality is only available on iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets. But the technology is yet another way the Google Classroom responds to the needs and requests of the teachers and students who use the tool.