So many middle school teachers turned to Google Classroom™ more than ever in 2020. Many of us continued relying on this platform because of its flexibility and ingenuity. But have you been using all of the Google Classroom features, such as “Questions”? If not, you are really missing out on easy, engaging, and meaningful opportunities with your students. Read here to get new ideas on how to use Questions in Google Classroom™.
The “Question” feature on your Google Classroom is a gold mine for your classroom!
What are “Questions” and What are Some Features?
The “Questions” feature is a way to ask your students a question and to get a response from them. It is found on the “Classwork” tab. From that tab, you click “Create” then “Question”. Here are some features:
You can do a short answer (which I prefer), or multiple choice.
It can be graded or ungraded.
It can be scheduled in advance. I love doing this so I am all set, but it’s easy to do “on the fly” when you have an idea.
You can add videos or links as needed. For example, if I am teaching about theme and I want kids to tell me a theme of their book, I might attach a document with some sample theme statements.
You can allow or not allow kids to edit their answer after posting. I usually allow this.
You can allow kids to respond to each other. I love this feature. Sometimes I require kids to respond to at least 2 classmates.
Here is an example of how I set up a Google Question.
Why Use “Questions” from Google Classroom Features?
There are so many reasons why you should use Questions in Google Classroom™!
It’s quick. You can post any question quickly and have kids working on it right away.
It works great as an anticipatory set (aka “bell ringer” or “do now”). It can set the stage for what’s to come in class.
It also works great as an “exit ticket” or a general way to close out class.
It’s great to use before a more in-depth discussion. It gives kids a way to organize their thoughts before joining in the discussion.
As stated above, it allows you to attach docs or videos so kids can easily refer to material that you want them to reference.
It creates immediate accountability. You can easily see who has done what you have asked them to do.
It can be graded, so you can decide to use this if you want, for example, a participation or accountability grade for your students.
3 Ways to Use Google Classroom Features: Questions
I teach middle school language arts and social studies, so my suggestions on ways to use Questions in Google Classroom™ will reflect that. However, these ideas can be easily transferred between grades and subjects. Here are some examples and tips:
Ways to Use Questions in Google Classroom Features as a Language Arts Anticipatory Set
Keep it personal: I think bringing difficult subject matter to a personal level will really help solidify the topic. For example, if you are teaching hyperbole, a question could be, “Describe your lunch table using hyperbole.” I’ve done this particular question before, and the kids LOVED it.
Review material: If yesterday’s lesson was on the Acts that Parliament passed before the Revolution broke out, a good question could be “If you were a colonist, which Act would you find to be the most offensive?” This will have kids quickly skimming to review, but it is also asking them to think more deeply and analytically as well.
Respond to classmates: There is a feature that will allow kids to respond to their classmates. When you assign the question, simply click the box that says “Students can reply to each other”. Sometimes I will tell kids that they have to write 2 replies. I do give them a minimum requirement (at least one complete sentence, for example) so they don’t just write “me too” or something like that. I also ask them to try to be sure each student has a response. This sets the stage if you want to have further class discussion or a debate, but it’s also great to just use it as is for a way to get kids to see different perspectives.
What’s Next?
After kids answer, you can quickly share them. This gives everyone a turn to be heard. Tip: Don’t force kids to share out loud, but they do need to write something. I project their answers and I quickly read through them. It’s honestly so much fun.
I would love to share two sets of questions with you. One is for ELA, and one is about the Constitution. If you are a language arts or social studies teacher, be sure to grab yours! It will give you two weeks worth of engaging questions that you can easily post: