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Google Workspace is already an essential tool for educators, but did you know that with the right add-ons, you can take it to the next level? Whether you're looking to streamline grading, enhance student engagement, or automate administrative tasks, these powerful tools can revolutionize your teaching experience.
Google Classroom add-ons allow teachers to integrate top EdTech tools directly into Classroom, streamlining lesson planning and student activities. Since 2024, developers have had free reign to create amazing add-ons and publish them to the online marketplace. This opportunity for creativity has resulted in a plentiful amount of useful apps for educators around the world. Once enabled by an admin, teachers can log in easily using Google's single sign-on, eliminating multiple passwords. Assignments can be created with add-ons, enabling features like content browsing, filtering, and automatic grading. Students complete work without leaving Classroom, and grades may be uploaded automatically. This feature enhances learning, organization, collaboration, and creativity within Classroom.
Google Classroom add-ons let teachers integrate third-party tools into assignments, quizzes, materials, and announcements. Admins must install or allowlist add-ons, but teachers can install them if permitted. Add-ons can only be created and assigned on the web but can be viewed and completed on mobile. Teachers can install new add-ons via Classroom or the Google Workspace Marketplace. Some third-party providers allow assignment creation directly from their platforms. Issues may arise due to pop-up blockers or third-party limitations. Add-ons can access assignment details and manage submissions.
When making a new assignment. Teachers and/or students can interact with add-on content.
Grades section also works with certain add-ons
Here are some of the best add-ons that can make your life easier and improve student learning outcomes.
Certify’em allows teachers to automatically generate certificates for students who pass a Google Forms quiz. No more manual certificate creation—students receive their certificates instantly, making it a great way to motivate and reward achievement.
Have a folder full of student-submitted images in Google Classroom? Photos to Slides helps you organize and display these images efficiently by converting them into a Google Slides presentation. This makes it easy to review student work and share it with the class.
This tool transforms Google Docs into fill-in-the-blank worksheets, allowing students to engage more actively with the material. It’s an excellent way to reinforce learning concepts and test comprehension.
If you're not using Autocrat yet, you’re missing out on one of the best time-saving tools. Autocrat merges data from Google Forms into Google Docs or Slides to create detailed reports automatically. It’s perfect for progress tracking, feedback forms, and report generation.
Math teachers, rejoice! Hypatia simplifies the process of inserting mathematical symbols and equations into Google Docs and Slides, making it an essential tool for creating math worksheets and presentations.
Need to turn a document into a presentation quickly? Doc to Slides by Schoolytics lets you do just that in seconds. Simply input a Google Doc, and it converts seamlessly into a slide deck, saving you time and effort.
Pear Deck is a beloved interactive presentation tool that enhances classroom engagement. It allows teachers to create interactive slides with quizzes, polls, and activities, making lessons more dynamic and participatory.
Instead of manually creating Google Forms, Automagical Forms converts your PDFs into interactive forms automatically. This ensures you collect meaningful student responses and valuable data instead of static PDF submissions.
We all have pictures or images that need to be incorporated into our Google Forms. Snip makes this process seamless, allowing you to quickly turn images into form elements without any hassle.
Ever wished Google Forms had better quiz settings? Quiz Helper by Schoolytics automates quiz settings, making the process smoother and more efficient. It’s a game-changer for teachers who frequently use Google Forms for assessments.
Want to use YouTube videos in your classroom without the distractions of ads? Import Playlist for Slides allows you to embed videos into Google Slides without ads, providing a seamless viewing experience for students.
If you use Google Forms for data collection, Copy Down ensures that your spreadsheet formulas remain active as new responses come in. This is especially useful for tracking student progress, grading, or organizing class data.
After students collaborate on a shared Google Slides presentation, Randomize Slides shuffles them to ensure fairness in presentation order. This prevents any bias in student presentations and adds an element of surprise to class activities.
TemplateTab is one of the most efficient tools for classroom organization. It creates a single Google Sheet where each student gets their own tab, simplifying data collection and tracking student progress all in one place.
The Newsela add-on for Google Classroom allows teachers to integrate Newsela articles into interactive Google Slides lessons, similar to Nearpod. It enables teachers to search for articles, adjust reading levels, view Spanish versions, and add built-in multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Students can read the article and answer questions directly within the lesson, with real-time response tracking. Additional features include drawing prompts and image uploads for creative assignments. While still in beta, the add-on offers great potential for enhancing engagement and comprehension in the classroom.
Google Classroom add-ons are transforming the way teachers manage their digital classrooms. These tools help automate tasks, enhance engagement, and improve learning outcomes. Whether you need better organization, automated grading, or more interactive lessons, there’s an add-on for you.
Try these add-ons today and discover how they can make teaching more efficient and enjoyable! There are many more apps that work directly with Google Classroom and they are available in the Google Workspace marketplace.
Kami
Kahoot!
Edpuzzle
Genially
Screencastify
Google Arts and Culture
Nearpod
Adobe Express
Pear Deck
Sora
Formative
BookWidgets
Figjam
Google Classroom is an incredible tool for managing digital learning, but with the right extensions, it can be even more powerful. Here are five must-have Chrome extensions that will save you time and improve the student learning experience. Here are 5 Essential Google Classroom Extensions to Boost Your Teaching Efficiency.
If you frequently assign online articles or YouTube videos, the Add to Classroom extension is a game-changer. Instead of copying and pasting links manually, this extension lets you push any webpage into Google Classroom in just a couple of clicks. Once installed, simply click the green and yellow extension icon, select your class, and choose whether to create an assignment, discussion question, or material post. This tool makes sharing resources faster and more efficient.
Providing feedback is crucial but time-consuming—especially when students don’t always read your comments. Mote is a free Chrome extension that lets you leave voice feedback directly in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Classroom. Instead of typing comments, you can record verbal feedback, making it more personal and engaging for students. If students have Mote installed, they can listen to your comments directly in their documents. Even without it, they can still access the recording via a link. This tool encourages students to engage with feedback and improves communication.
Entering grades in both Google Classroom and your district’s gradebook can be a tedious task. Grade Transferer automates this process by allowing you to copy grades from Classroom and paste them into most major gradebook systems, including PowerSchool and Infinite Campus. While not free, it’s highly affordable at $30 per year and can save teachers hours of work. Many educators swear by it for its time-saving benefits.
Ever wonder how much time a student has spent on an assignment? Classwork Zoom provides a detailed timeline of student activity, including when they started working, how long they spent on a document, and whether they copied and pasted content. This insight helps teachers identify struggling students and intervene when needed. The free version allows you to view one student at a time, while the premium version ($30/year) gives access to full-class data.
Designed for students, Classroom Quickview provides an overview of all upcoming assignments every time they open a new browser tab. It also includes a clock and a rotating Google Earth background. Students can click on any assignment to go directly to it in Classroom, making it easier for them to stay organized and submit work on time.
If we didn't cover a tool that you love to use as a teacher leveraging Classroom, please consider reaching out to us and sharing your thoughts. Let's gather all the best resources to improve the classroom experience for teachers and students.
