Google Classroom Vs. SeeSaw

In (online) Classrooms

By: Alexa Adix and Alexis Condray

Teaching through the times of coronavirus has been tough for everyone, especially those in primary grades where the prior use of technology was less prevalent and there is a strong importance and value in face to face instruction. Having suddenly been thrown into an unchartered territory of online teaching, a new platform for instruction was necessary. Here we explore two major platforms and their advantages and disadvantages. 

• Ms. Adix uses Google Classroom in her kindergarten classroom 
• Ms. Condray uses Seesaw in her 1st grade classroom

Ms. Adix and Ms. Condray are in two different districts in the state of Colorado that approved two different tools. Ms. Condray had been previously using Seesaw before remote teaching and Ms. Adix had never used an online method of teaching before COVID 19 caused schools to close and transition to remote learning.

Both websites serve as platforms for all lessons and activities to be organized in one place. Both tools provide a way for teachers to communicate with students and for students to keep track of assignments and post their work. Although similar in some ways, they differ in many important ways as well. Below we explore those similarities and differences in relation to  some important questions that teachers may have when choosing an online instructional platform. We have also linked to examples of the various features so that you can see how they work.

	Google Classroom	Seesaw
Is it easy for teachers to get their classrooms and students set up and also to manage the site?	Yes, but if you need help,  there are tutorials on Google for both teachers and students. It is also easy to create materials, lessons and assignments.	Yes. There are many support groups on Facebook to help new teachers set up their classroom and create activities.
Is it user friendly for parents?	Yes, and can be clearly organized to show what exactly is due on which dates.	Yes.
Is it user friendly for primary aged students?	Not right away, initially they will most likely need adult assistance.	Yes.
Does it provide language translation for families?	No.	Yes, it automatically translates all prompts and messages into the users device default language.
Does it cost money?	Google Classroom is available for free for schools that are using Google Apps for Education, but there’s a paid G Suite Enterprise for Education tier that includes additional features.	There is a free version or a paid version. My school district has the paid version. The paid version is affordable for teachers.
Can teachers and students  access it on a cell phone as well as computer?	Yes. You can get the Google Classroom App for your mobile device  or in your browser.	Yes. It is more accessible to respond to activities on a tablet or computer since their screens are larger. You will need the SeeSaw App on a tablet or phone.
Can students and teachers have more than one class?	Yes.	Yes.
How do teachers know when a student has turned something in?	Teachers get email notifications. Next to the assignment, it will also say which students have turned it in and who has not, and will show any attachments that have been uploaded by the student.	Teachers can set up email notifications or push notifications. They can also view each specific assignment to see if a student has turned it in.
How do students submit work?	Students can upload a picture, document or file with their work or simply click ‘mark as done’. They may also add a private comment to the teacher upon submission.	Each assignment is created to be an interactive activity on the SeeSaw platform. They complete the activity and then submit the completed version.
How do teachers give feedback to students?	Teachers can add a private written comment to students under each assignment and assign them points.	Teachers can add written comments or voice recordings under each assignment.
How does grading work?	Teachers can set due dates and points for each assignment created. Once a student has turned in the assignment, you can allot the number or points desired. You can also mark an assignment as ungraded. Under ‘ToDo’ there is a list of the assignments and it lists who has turned them in and who has not. It also shows which assignments have been reviewed and which still need to be.	Teachers can assign a standard to each activity. Once it has been completed, teachers can allot a certain number of stars (up to 4) for each activity. It then populates to the correlating standard. It averages all activities under a standard. You can also leave an activity without a standard attached. The number shows how many activities fit the standard; the color correlates to the grade.
Do all assignments get assigned immediately as a teacher creates them?	No, a teacher can schedule a time they’d like the lesson to be posted.	No, a teacher can schedule an activity to be released to students at a specific time on the paid version.
Is there a way to directly communicate with families?	Yes, if you add parent emails, there is an option to email all guardians. You can send private messages and comments to students on their work and students are able to send comments to the teacher as well. Teachers can also post on the ‘stream’ page that students can see. Students can post to their classmates on the stream page and through private comments, but the teacher has the option to turn this feature off.	Yes, SeeSaw has a built in messaging system. It notifies teachers when the family or student has seen the message, too. You can share announcements to the entire class or send private messages to a guardian. You cannot privately message a student.
Is there a bank of teaching resources available for teachers?	No, but the Classroom ‘owner’ can invite other teachers/ adults to be co-contributors and they can post to the classroom page.	Yes, teachers can view activities by teachers on SeeSaw and assign them to their class.
Advantages	-Directly correlated with Wevideo, which makes uploading videos easy.  -Directly correlated with Google, so teachers can easily get to MyDrive and everything gets added to the Classroom Google Calendar. -A MyDrive is also created for the class so all work and assignments go there in an organized way.  -Can link to Google Slides. -A spreadsheet is automatically created showing which students are missing which assignments and what their scores have been. Makes final grading easy.   -Posting an assignment is very simple and teachers  can post links, videos, websites and even pictures of anchor charts under each assignment.  -Teachers can post a question (multiple choice or short answer) for students to answer.	-Can easily get to MyDrive and upload any documents in MyDrive.  –Simplistic view for teachers and students. This view shows only a few tools to use with a visual to help students understand which tool they are selecting. –Allows for directions to be recorded with a lesson attached to the specific activity.  -Families can comment or ‘like’ a student’s work.  -Variety of privacy settings. There is an option for teachers to approve the work before it is posted to the student journal. Another option is to allow students to see each other’s work.  -It is geared for primary grade students
Downsides	-For primary ages, it’s often hard to prove the work was done unless a picture is taken by a parent and uploaded. It can be a hassle for parents to have to upload student work.  -It is hard to give feedback to primary aged students, since it is only in written form. Other websites are often needed for this.  -It is geared more for older students, so children need assistance from parents or older siblings.	-Writing assignments are hard for primary students on SeeSaw. The screen is not that big and often the pen to write with is too big so the letters get smashed onto one side. -Cannot upload a video that is more than 10 minutes

What We Found… 

Both Google Classroom and Seesaw are amazing tools and resources for teachers and students. Which works better for you depends on the needs of your students and your particular preferences as a teacher. A lot may also depend on the requirements of certain districts. We did not find any big differences between the two and they both have great components to offer. Google Classroom is better geared for older students, but primary aged students were able to get the hang of it after some practice and assistance. The ease and organization of Google Classroom is appreciated by both teachers and students. Seesaw allows for a platform geared more towards younger students. While older students will be able to easily use the platform, it might feel a little ‘childish’ to them. While SeeSaw is easier for the students and families to access, it does take a bit more work for the teachers to manage grading systems. 

We recommend that you explore both options, focusing on your goals and the age and needs of your students.  Good luck!

About the Authors

Alexa Adix

My name is Alexa Adix. I grew up in Denver, Colorado and have lived in Colorado my entire life. I am currently a kindergarten teacher in Boulder Valley School District. I have always wanted to be a teacher and grew up playing ‘school’ for countless hours. My biggest passion was to become a teacher and here I am! I spend a lot of time exploring and researching new tools to better my instruction. I absolutely love teaching and adore the primary age group. In addition to teaching, I love to run, read, and go on hikes with my dog and fiance. I love being outside and staying active.

 

Lexi Condray

Hi! I am Lexi! I was born in California but moved to Colorado when I was about a year old. While I still love the beach and humid air, I also love the mountains and frequent weather changes in Colorado. I have lived here since we moved back, with a few small trials in other states and countries. Although I love to travel, my home will always be Colorado. I have taught 1st grade for 3 years and absolutely love it. The kids, their hugs and their imagination make my heart beam.