Access Google Classroom
Google Classroom can be easily accessed via the DoE Staff Portal
Transcript and instructions
Log in to your Staff Portal
Click on ‘My Learning Tools’ hyperlink on the left hand side of your Portal
Click the ‘GSuite (Google Apps for education)’ link
Click ‘Classroom’
Access from your Google Drive
Transcript and instructions
- Click the 9 squares icon at the top right of your screen
- Click 'Classroom'
Add G Suite as an ‘essential’ for easy staff portal access
Transcript and instructions
- Navigate to 'My Learning tools' following the instructions above
- Click 'Show details'
- Then click 'Add to my essentials'
Student access to Google Classroom
Transcript and instructions
Google Classroom can also be easily accessed via the DoE Student portal.
Log in to the student portal
In the ‘Learning’ section on the right hand side, click 'GSuite (Google Apps for education)'
Click 'Classroom'
Changing user in an ‘incognito’ window
Transcript and instructions
The same computer may be used by multiple teachers and/or students. In these cases it is good to use an ‘incognito’ window so the computer will log in to multiple accounts easily on the one machine.
Open the Google Chrome Browser.
Click on the three dots icon to the right of the URL bar and select ‘New incognito window’. The keyboard shortcut is ctrl + shift + N
Navigate to your staff portal and go to your GSuite as per the instructions above.
Access Google Classroom from a tablet or phone
Instructions
Find and install the Google Classroom App from the App store
Open the Google Classroom App
Sign in to your Google account using your @education.nsw.gov.au account details. E.g. firstname.lastname1@education.nsw.gov.au
Your Google Classroom will now open in the App
Managing classrooms
How to create a class
Transcript and instructions
Open the Google Classroom dashboard
Click on the plus icon in the top right hand corner (+)
Select 'Create class'
Populate the form as required (only the class name is mandatory)
Click 'Create'
How to copy a class
Transcript and instructions
Sometimes you may wish to copy a class you have created. You may be teaching multiple classes of the same grade or type. Google classroom allows you to quickly copy a class you have set up.
Open the Google Classroom Dashboard
Go to the classroom you wish to copy
Click on the 3 dots for more options
Click 'Copy'
Populate the form as required (only the class name is mandatory)
Click 'Copy'
How to customise a class - changing a theme
Transcript and instructions
To change the theme:
Open the Google Classroom Dashboard
Go to the classroom you wish to customise
Open the classroom
Click 'Select theme'
Choose the theme you wish from the many available options
Click 'Select class theme'
Your new theme will appear
How to customise a class - uploading a photo background
Transcript and instructions
You can add your own photo as a background (minimum 800x200px)
Open the Google Classroom Dashboard
Go to the classroom you wish to customise
Open the classroom
Click 'Upload photo'
Choose the photo you wish to use from its location
Move the slider to show the part of the picture you want
Click 'Select class theme'
Your new background will appear
Tips on settings
Transcript and instructions
Email notifications
There are a few options available to you in terms of email notifications.
You can turn off all notifications and you will not receive notifications for any classes
You can turn off notifications by class
You can customise to receive notifications on comments, submissions, mentions
Open the Google Classroom Dashboard
Click the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) to access the menu
Click the cog icon to access settings
To disable all notifications toggle the top blue switch
To disable notifications by class scroll down to the bottom of the page and toggle the required blue switch
To disable specific notifications, toggle the blue switches as required
How to add topics
Click the class
Click on 'Classwork'
At the top, click '+ Create'
Scroll down to 'Topic'
Enter the topic name and click 'Add'
You can add as many topics as you like
Topics can be moved up and down the page, copied and deleted using the 3 dots (...) button
Managing students and teachers
Inviting co-teachers to Google Classroom
Transcript and instructions
Click on the 'People' tab at the top
Click on the 'Invite teacher' icon
In the pop up window, type the email address of the teacher using @education.nsw.gov.au account details
Select teacher from the list of suggested people
Click 'Invite'
Note: Teachers you add can do everything you can, except delete the class. The maximum number of teachers for a class is 20.
Accept an invitation to co-teach a class
Invited teachers get an email asking them to co-teach your class. To join the class, the invited teacher must click a link in the email, or sign into Classroom and click 'Accept' on the class card.

Removing co-teachers from Google Classroom
Transcript and instructions
Go to the 'People' tab
Click on the 3 dots (...) for more options
Click 'Remove'
Click 'Remove again' in the pop-up window to confirm action
Leaving a Google Classroom as a co-teacher
Transcript and instructions
Open Google Classroom Dashboard
Click the 3 dots (...) in top right hand corner of the class you wish to leave
Select 'Leave class'
Confirm 'Leave class' in pop-up window
Note: You won't be able to open this class unless you're reinvited. You will no longer have access to class files in Google Drive.
Changing the Google Classroom owner
Transcript and instructions
Click the 'People' tab
Click the 3 dots (...) next to the name of the person you wish to transfer ownership to
Select 'Make class owner'
Confirm transfer of ownership by clicking 'Invite'
Adding students using the class code
Transcript and instructions
Check if you have a class code activated for your Google Classroom
Click the cog icon to access settings
Under 'General' then 'Invite codes', check if 'Manage invite codes' is turned on. Click the drop down arrow to turn on if required
Now you can see your unique random class code
Display the code for students to join by clicking 'Display class code'
The class code will now be displayed in a large font. You can enlarge it further and make it fullscreen if required by clicking the square corner icon in lower left hand corner
Your class code will now also be displayed in your classroom banner
Tip! Turn off your class code once all your students have joined to stop people from randomly joining. You can also Reset your class code if required.

How to join a class using the class code
Transcript and instructions
Open the Google Classroom Dashboard
Click on the plus icon (+) in top right hand corner
Select 'Join class'
Check that your correct Google account is displayed. Switch account if required
Enter the class code in the 'Class code' field
Click 'Join'
You should now be in your new Google Class
This class will also appear in your Google Classes list and dashboard
Adding students using the URL invite link
Transcript and instructions
Go to 'Settings'
Check if 'Invite codes' is turned on. Use the drop down arrow to turn on Invite codes if required
A URL invite link will now appear
Copy to your clipboard by clicking on the copy icon (two pages siting on top of each other) You can now paste this link in an email or other electronic document for your students to click on
OR
Go to the 'People' tab
Scroll down to 'Students'
Click the 'Invite students' icon (person with plus symbol)
Copy the URL link by clicking the copy icon
Adding students by email
Transcript and instructions
Go to the 'People' tab
Scroll down to 'Students' and click on the 'Invite Students' icon
Start typing in their student email address
Select student from the list that appears
- Click 'Invite'
Removing students from Google Classroom
Transcript and instructions
Go to the 'People' tab
Scroll to 'Students'
Tick which student/s you want to remove
Click on the 'Actions' drop down arrow
Select 'Remove'
A pop up window will appear. Confirm that you want to remove these students by clicking 'Remove'
Students are removed from your Google Classroom
NOTE: Removing a student from your class removes their grades from the gradebook and they won't see your assignments in Classroom. However, their work remains in the class folder in Google Drive and their posts remain in the class stream.