Google Classroom - Moving pupils...

[Koldov]

We don't use GAM or any kind of 'sync software' for our Google Workspace, I deal with uploading and deleting users.

 

However, I haven't been involved in the 'Classroom' side of things.

 

I am now being asked to move the pupils into their new classes and I haven't got a clue!

 

I have seen it being asked a few times whilst Google searching, but those questions are a few years old now.

 

Has this been rectified/implemented in Google Classroom yet?

 

It seems a very basic and obvious need...

[the_quick]

In your situation, wouldn't it be easier for teachers to invite student to the new classroom? Just give them invitation code.

 

Otherwise I think you would need to use GAM

[3s-gtech]

Move them manually? Hell naw. That's not only an admin nightmare, but a complete waste of many hours of your time. Either the teachers can do it, or you need to get it to sync from your MIS.

[Koldov]

I see... thanks!

 

Do Google not know children move class every year...? It should be as simple as moving them between OUs.

 

Anyway, I have found a way to at least bulk add them to the class I think and that will invite them en masse.

 

 

Does anyone know if they are fairly 'fluid' and I can invite them to a new class before deleting them in their old class (can they be in 2 classes at once) or is it fairly rigid like you can't have 2 users with the same name in a system?

[Koldov]

Yeah there are rumours about getting some sort of sync tool (we use Wonde for other things, but they're not flavour of the month at the moment due to syncing issues with another platform we use), the issue is that the whole Google thing was created by me from home over the first lockdown in a couple of days with no time to sort reviewing and testing a sync software out. I guided the Business Manager through some of it and did some myself. This was done manually with a CSV export from SIMS... However, the fields in SIMS were chosen by the BM and one lot had Preferred names and another lot had Given names and it all got a bit messy...

 

Then I left them to create Classroom on their own (probably a mistake but hey ho)!.

 

Now if we use anything to sync it will probably recreate or duplicate most of the students!

 

Teachers can do it... I wish...

[3s-gtech]

It shouldn't recreate the students, if it gives them the same login as you have set already. Worth testing on a subset.

[Chaniel]

Honestly, if you aren't going to invest in a sync software like Salamander, you need to be using GAM. Google even has a support article that references it (https://support.google.com/a/answer/10014088?hl=en). Doing it manually or "The google way" is just a waste of time.

 

Students can just leave classes if they want to, you'd then have to manually invite them back again and hope they accept the invite (unlikely). With GAM/Sync solutions, they just get added. If they leave, they re-added when it next syncs, very straightforward. TA needs to be added to all the classes of a certain student? That's one line with GAM.

 

 

If student names aren't quite right in Google, do you use AD? If so, set up Google Cloud Directory Sync to synchronise your AD and Google environments, that will keep names, emails etc. all up to date. GC Password sync for making sure passwords stay synced.

 

EDIT:

Do Google not know children move class every year...? It should be as simple as moving them between OUs.

 

You shouldn't be moving students around in OUs for this really. You just archive the old academic years classes and make new ones for the new academic year.

Edited September 9, 2021 by Chaniel

[highsky]

Sheet addon:

https://www.goldyarora.com/classright/

 

Or as mentioned gam, you can sync groups with classes or with a csv.

 

You can use the google sync to keep your groups updated

[TwistedHelixis]

with Google Classroom the teachers simple archive last years classroom, create a new classroom and add their pupils.

 

EDIT - the staff can still access last years work and add what they need to this years assignments.

Edited September 9, 2021 by TwistedHelixis

[TwistedHelixis]

Sheet addon:

https://www.goldyarora.com/classright/

 

ohhh that looks handy, have you used this ever?

[Koldov]

Honestly, if you aren't going to invest in a sync software like Salamander, you need to be using GAM. Google even has a support article that references it (https://support.google.com/a/answer/10014088?hl=en). Doing it manually or "The google way" is just a waste of time.

 

That article references the 'paid version' does it still work on the basic free education version? We also only have a few hundred students.

 

Students can just leave classes if they want to, you'd then have to manually invite them back again and hope they accept the invite (unlikely). With GAM/Sync solutions, they just get added. If they leave, they re-added when it next syncs, very straightforward. TA needs to be added to all the classes of a certain student? That's one line with GAM.

 

We don't have any issue with students leaving their classes, but I take your point.

 

If student names aren't quite right in Google, do you use AD? If so, set up Google Cloud Directory Sync to synchronise your AD and Google environments, that will keep names, emails etc. all up to date. GC Password sync for making sure passwords stay synced.

 

We don't have the children in AD.

 

EDIT:

You shouldn't be moving students around in OUs for this really. You just archive the old academic years classes and make new ones for the new academic year.

 

I really don't know enough about Classroom, but I have seen the 'archive' class on another thread, so I'll look into this. The OU reference was just that I just thought it would be something simple like a checkbox to be ticked and move into a new class, like most other platforms.

Edited September 9, 2021 by Koldov

[Koldov]

with Google Classroom the teachers simple archive last years classroom, create a new classroom and add their pupils.

 

EDIT - the staff can still access last years work and add what they need to this years assignments.

 

Thanks, might be the way to go but where do the teachers get the list of new students for their class (and is it done on username or email address or something)?

[highsky]

I had to clean the mess that wonde caused.

About 350 incorrect classes archived and deleted.

Before that archived the ones from last year, as wonde failing to do it.

 

Its like a gui for specific Gam commands

[the_quick]

if you have any budget for it, Wizkids have tools specifically for Google-MIS sync - I use their Edulife Classroom Manager and it is very good for what we need it to do.

[paulkerton]

Thanks, might be the way to go but where do the teachers get the list of new students for their class (and is it done on username or email address or something)?

 

From their registers. They can type the name in to invite them, and it'll autocomplete as they go.

[jthompson]

with Google Classroom the teachers simple archive last years classroom, create a new classroom and add their pupils.

 

EDIT - the staff can still access last years work and add what they need to this years assignments.

 

I'd say this is the 'correct' way to do it. Staff and students can then continue to refer back to work from previous years, and nothing has to be deleted. Have your staff create their own classes if you can, and suggest that they include the current academic year in the title or description (or at least update the title/description of last year's classes in the same way when archiving them).

 

Not using Salamander or anything here yet, but I'm assuming that's what it would do: create new classes and archive the old, rather than repopulating existing classes.

[K-ITS]

Hi +1 for Classright. I have used it this year to move all of my school over. It is very easy to use and saved me countless hours. The Add Student function also pushes them into the classroom without having to accept an invite. Its completely free as well. I have cleaned up the mess left by Wonde and will never go back.

[paulkerton]

Not using Salamander or anything here yet, but I'm assuming that's what it would do: create new classes and archive the old, rather than repopulating existing classes.

This. Just make sure the old classes have end dates on them, rather than relying on the end of the school year to tidy them up.

Create new classes, archive the old. Don't repopulate existing ones.

 

Any sync tool worth it's salt should do that, but don't necessarily blame the sync tool. It could easily be something hasn't been set correctly on your MIS end.