Effectiveness of Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Platform: A Case Study of University Students

Abstract

Google Classroom, a virtual learning platform, can be used to enhance classroom performance. The paucity of research on Google Classroom, particularly in the context of Indian higher education, necessitates additional research on the application’s effectiveness. The purpose of the study was to examine university students’ use of Google Classroom to determine the effectiveness of using Google Classroom for student learning, and to identify the benefits and disadvantages of using Google Classroom as a platform for educational purposes. A survey questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was distributed to 169 undergraduate and graduate students from MLCU to collect the data. The results of the study indicated that the majority of students agreed that Google Classroom is a useful place to access study materials shared by the teacher, class-related updates and notices, and shared assignment questions. The majority of students disagreed that Google Classroom has led to study distractions and that its use poses privacy and security risks. In addition, the results indicated that resource and material sharing and flexibility in learning whenever and wherever are positive effects of Google Classroom in education. Lastly, the majority of students indicated that network issues are the greatest impediment to online learning. This study concludes that the use of Google Classroom is a valuable pedagogical strategy that is immediately appealing to youth and enhances their learning experience.