Google Drive is a suite of word processing and presentation tools that are absolutely amazing.  They include Docs which is just like Microsoft Word, Sheets which is like Excel, Slides that is close to PowerPoint,  Forms which helps make quizzes, and other online surveys, and Drawing.  As a teacher I use all of these tools in my classroom.  I have used the drawing feature to create Venn diagrams and flow charts.  My students also like to complete online surveys that I have created using Forms.  I plan to create self grading quizzes or assessments to monitor student progress this year.  I will talk more about the self grading part later in this post.

Google Drive files can be shared with select people that you choose or can be made pubic in which anyone with the link can access the file.  This is great for collaborative projects.  My district used this feature with our Curriculum Team.  We took a look at our curriculum and compared them to the standards to make sure we were meeting all of the standards.  The document was create and each grade level teacher was allowed editing privileges to add additional resources that they used in their classroom to the document.  This made the task so much easier because it is difficult to find a time when everyone is able to meet.  This way they could work on the document when time allowed.

Here are a couple of great videos about Google Drive:

My most favorite tool is definitely Forms!  I mentioned earlier that I have used it in my classroom and that my students loved it.  While working on my masters in Curriculum and Instruction I have had to collect information from my students and parents.  Google Forms made this quick and easy.  Here is a video on this "Hidden Gem".

As you can see this tool can be very useful in the classroom.  Recently I was introduced to an add-on feature (that is free) to create self-grading quizzes, worksheets, or assessment tools.  Grading is a never ending chore for teachers so why not get rid of a few headaches!  Flubaroo is a great tool for creating these self-grading masterpieces.  It took a little trial and error to get the hang of using this tool, but was well worth it.  Here is a link to the assessment that I created in Forms.  Below is a screenshot of the graded results for the assessment.

Don't worry!  These were my fake students that took this quiz since it is summer and I do not have any current students.

I am including some videos that explain Flubaroo and how to start creating self-grading quizzes.

Happy creating and less grading hassle!