Google Classroom FAQ's

General Questions

What is Google Classroom Integration?

Google Classroom Integration is a suite of tools at Science Buddies designed to help teachers more easily create and manage science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) assignments and announcements.

Is Google Classroom Integration free?

Yes! Our Google Classroom Integration features re free to use and enable teachers to easily add science assignments and announcements into the Google Classroom environment.

Who can use the new Google Classroom Integration?

Google Classroom Integration is available to any teacher using Google Classroom.

I already have Google Classroom. How do I get started with Google Classroom Integration?

If you already have a Google Classroom account and have at least one active class with at least one student enrolled, you can use our Google Classroom Integration by logging in at Science Buddies as a Google Classroom teacher. When logging in, select the "Google Classroom Account / Log in as a Teacher" option. Note: If you already have a Science Buddies account, you will still need to log in using the Google Classroom option to access these features for Google Classroom teachers.

Does Science Buddies have an integration with learning management systems other than Google Classroom?

No. At this point, Google Classroom is the only learning management system you can make assignments/announcements to directly from the Science Buddies website. However, Science Buddies' resources can manually be added to any learning management system.

How can I get started with Google Classroom?

Google Classroom is available to all schools that have G Suite for Education.

Using Google Classroom Integration

Why don't I see "Google Classroom" buttons when viewing the projects and resources at Science Buddies?

"Google Classroom" buttons are visible for all users except those logged into Science Buddies with a student account. If you are an educator and do not see the "Google Classroom" buttons when you are logged in at Science Buddies, please go to your Account Profile and confirm you are registered at Science Buddies as a teacher. Please note that in order to use our Google Classroom features, you will need to be logged in as a Google Classroom teacher.

What resources can I assign/announce to students using Google Classroom Integration?

Currently, you can create assignments or announcements for any of our student resources including pages in our Scientific Method and Engineering Design Process Project Guides (including worksheets and quizzes), our Topic Selection Wizard, any of our more than 1,200 Project Ideas, STEM Activities, Science Careers profiles, and articles from our Science News feed and the Science Buddies Blog. Videos on Lesson Plans and other pages can also be independently assigned/announced using the Google Classroom button that appears on the video frame.

My classes use the Topic Selection Wizard. Can I assign/announce that?

Yes! You can assign/announce the Topic Selection Wizard to your students. With Google Classroom Integration, when your students take the Topic Selection Wizard survey, you will be able to view the list of projects that were recommended to them based on their survey answers.

To use Google Classroom Integration, do my students submit work the same way as they might for other Google Classroom assignments?

No. To take advantage of Google Classroom Integration features for managing your science class assignments and grades, your students should use the "Turn In" button at Science Buddies to submit their work instead of the "Mark as Done" button within Google Classroom.

Some of your pages have "tabs." How does the "Create Assignment" button work for these pages?

If you create an assignment or announcement on a resource that uses tabs, the entire resource will be linked for the student as the assignment/announcement. If you want a student to focus on a specific tab or do a specific task, we recommend you note this in the description for the assignment/announcement.

I teach multiple Google Classroom classes. Can I still use Google Classroom Integration?

Yes! When you click the "Google Classroom" button, you can choose to make an announcement or an assignment. After making your choice, you will be asked to select the class from your Google Classroom classes. If you return to the resource and need to assign/announce the resource again or assign/announce it to another class, click the "Need to create this assignment/announcement again?" link to reload the page and repeat the steps to add it to Google Classroom.

Can I make an assignment or announcement for multiple classes at a time?

No. You will need to make assignments and announcements for each class individually. (See also Can I use the "Reuse Post" option in Google Classroom to duplicate or reuse a previous assignment/announcement?)

Scoring and Grading (Assignments Only)

Do I grade assignments at Science Buddies or in Google Classroom?

All assignments should be graded at Science Buddies. The Teacher Dashboard lets you see and manage all of your assignments and announcements at Science Buddies. Once you assign the grade at Science Buddies, the work will be returned to the student, and the grade will be recorded in Google Classroom.

How many points are assignments worth?

You can specify the points possible for any assignment when you create the assignment. You also have the option to create assignments that will not be graded (and have no point value).

Can I change the number of points possible for an assignment after I have created the assignment?

No. At this time, it is not possible to edit the points possible for an assignment after the assignment has been created.

How does quiz scoring work?

After submitting a quiz, your student's work will show up as "done" in Google Classroom (or on the Teacher Dashboard). Following the link to view the submission will take you to Science Buddies where you can view the student's submission. Correct answers appear in green, and incorrect answers appear in red. Any question left blank will be noted. Next to each incorrect (or blank) answer, the correct answer is shown for reference. At the top of the page, you will find a space to enter the final score for the student. (For reference, we also provide a calculated score (based on 100 possible points) for the submission.) Enter the score and any comment you wish to send to the student, and then click the "Return Assignment" button to record the grade.

Can I edit a grade after it is recorded?

Grades can not be edited on the Science Buddies site once you have returned the assignment to the student. You can edit the grade you assign a student from within Google Classroom.

Creating and Managing Student Assignments & Announcements

Can I use the "Create Assignment" or "Create Announcement" option in Google Classroom to make my assignments/announcements?

If you want to use our Google Classroom Integration features to view student work (e.g., Topic Selection Wizard results, quizzes, worksheets, etc.), you need to use the "Google Classroom" buttons at Science Buddies to create assignments and announcements. Originating the assignment/announcement from Google Classroom will not enable you to use these Science Buddies features.

My student turned an assignment in using Google Classroom rather than the Science Buddies "Turn In" button. What do we do now?

If a student marks an assignment as done in Google Classroom rather than using the "Turn In" button at Science Buddies, you will not be able to view the student's work. To correct the problem, have the student "Unsubmit" the assignment in Google Classroom and complete and submit the assignment at Science Buddies.

I created an assignment, but I can't see my student's answers to the questions even though Google Classroom shows that the student finished the assignment.

If your student clicked the "Mark as Done" button in Google Classroom rather than completing and turning in the assignment on the Science Buddies site, the student's assignment will show in your Google Classroom as "done," but you will not be able to view the completed assignment at Science Buddies. To correct the problem, have the student "Unsubmit" the assignment in Google Classroom and complete and submit the assignment at Science Buddies.

I need my students to record information in a Google Doc to complete the assignment after doing certain steps on the Science Buddies website. How should I instruct them to turn in the assignment?

The best sequence is to instruct your students to do the assigned steps (e.g., research or reading) on the Science Buddies website first, then create the Google Doc (or other attachment) and attach it to the assignment in Google Classroom, and then return to the Science Buddies website to click the "Turn In" button. (Note: if students click "Turn In" before uploading their Google Doc, they will need to unsubmit their work in Google Classroom in order to complete that step of the assignment.)

I need to assign or announce a Science Buddies resource again, but it won't let me.

When you follow a link to a resource you have previously assigned or announced, you will see the assignment/announcement details in the information box at the top of the page. If you want to assign or announce the resource again (or to create the assignment/announcement for another class), click the "Need to create this assignment/announcement again?" link to reload the page so you can assign or announce it.

Can I use the "Reuse Post" option in Google Classroom to duplicate or reuse a previous assignment or announcement?

No. Unfortunately, using the "Reuse Post" option will cause problems for your students. A unique link ties the assignment/announcement from Science Buddies with a specific Google Classroom assignment/announcement. If the link is "reused," students will encounter problems when trying to view or submit their work.

What does the "Save" button do?

When working on an assignment, students can use the "Save" button to save their work so that they can return to the assignment and complete it at another time.

Logging In and Permissions

I already have a Science Buddies account. Why can't I get the Google Classroom buttons to work?

To use our Google Classroom Integration, you will need to log in at Science Buddies as a Google Classroom teacher. When logging in, select the "Google Classroom Account / Log in as a Teacher" option.

I need to change the email address on my Science Buddies account.

You can update your Science Buddies account information by logging in at Science Buddies and clicking the My Science Buddies Account link in the top right of the Science Buddies site and making any necessary changes on the My Account Profile screen. Please note that to use Google Classroom Integration, you must be logged in using the Google Classroom / Teacher option.

Will my students need to register at Science Buddies to do assignments I make with Google Classroom Integration?

Yes. To take advantage of Google Classroom features, your students will need to log in at Science Buddies using their Google Classroom accounts.

What steps will my students need to take the first time they follow an assignment or announcement to Science Buddies?

When a student follows an assignment or announcement from Google Classroom to Science Buddies, students will need to log in at Science Buddies by selecting the "Log in as a Student" option on the Log in with your Google Classroom Account screen. The student will then be asked to provide the email address and password for the Google Classroom account. If this is the first time the student has visited Science Buddies, the student will be prompted to authorize Science Buddies to access certain information related to Google Classroom. Once logged in, your student will be able to see content related to Google Classroom assignments and announcements, including the "Turn In" button for assigned resources.

Why do I need to authorize Science Buddies to access information in to use Google Classroom Integration?

To enable the connection between Google Classroom Integration and Google Classroom, you must allow Science Buddies to know certain information related to your Google and Google Classroom accounts. This information enables Science Buddies to interact with your Google Classroom to make, view, grade, submit, or return assignments.

What information do I need to authorize (as a teacher) to use Google Classroom Integration?

The very first time you visit Science Buddies from Google Classroom and log in with your Google Classroom account, you will be asked to authorize Science Buddies to know who you are on Google, view your email address, view your basic profile, view your Google Classroom classes, view your Google Classroom rosters, view and manage coursework and grades for students in your classes, and view and manage announcements in Google Classroom.

What information do I need to authorize (as a student) to use Google Classroom Integration?

The very first time you visit Science Buddies from Google Classroom and log in with a Google Classroom account, you will be asked to authorize Science Buddies to know who you are on Google, view your email address, view your basic profile, view your Google Classroom classes, manage your coursework, view your grades, and view announcements in Google Classroom.

Why does a Science Buddies login or registration screen come up when my students visit Science Buddies to complete assignments?

Your students will need to be logged in at Science Buddies as Google Classroom students in order to complete and submit Google Classroom assignments.

I no longer want to use these features. How can I remove the permissions I gave to Science Buddies?

You can review or remove the permissions from your Google account.

Other

Can I still use the Google Classroom Mobile App?

Of course! Anything you assign using Google Classroom Integration will show up in your Google Classroom when viewing with the app or within a browser.

Can I use the Share to Classroom Chrome extension with Google Classroom Integration?

No. To take advantage of the way Google Classroom Integration will allow you to manage Science Buddies assignments/announcements, you will need to use the "Google Classroom" buttons on the Science Buddies website instead of the Chrome extension.

How can I suggest new features?

We would love to hear your feedback on Google Classroom Integration and hear about features you would like to see added. You can send us your ideas and comments by emailing us at scibuddy@sciencebuddies.org.