In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, teachers are facing a lot of challenges and problems that no other teachers in the history of education have encountered. In the past decade, the technology has leaped light years ahead, which dramatically the educational landscape. 

This technological revolution came bearing fruits, like more efficient communication, better access to knowledge and resources than ever, and increased student engagement. The twenty first century’s teachers woke up to a new digital age where teachers and students can collaborate more effectively through the power of technology in the classroom.

 We have found new ways to communicate instantaneously through the new age communication tools such as Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom.

Why Microsoft Teams? 

Teams is the Microsoft’s very own business communication and collaboration platform that shares the same DNA as the already popular Skype for Business. 

Teams is a central hub of communication that brings conversations, content, and apps together all in a single, easy to use platform. It is a chat-based collaboration service that is transforming the way people work and collaborate around the world.

 It is a virtual workspace which comes as a part of the Microsoft 365 family of products. It inherits all the experience acquired from other Microsoft enterprise solutions from the last few decades and is soon replacing the years old Skype for Business.

 Teams is all about embracing the modern workplace wherein employees can chat with their peers, access project documentation, schedule meetings, discuss on projects, share files, and do so much more. Teams also promote remote learning amidst the closures of schools in many countries in the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Why use Google Classroom?

Google Classroom is a free web-based service by Google that makes it easy for the teachers to assign, grade, collect, and return work for students. 

It is like a virtual classroom that aims to improve collaboration and foster communication between teachers and students. It is a free service for anyone with a Google account, especially for teachers who can conduct classes, share assignments, and create curriculums online.

 Classroom is a part of the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) suite of online productivity apps designed for teachers and students in an educational setting. It is a blend of different Google apps to streamline the workflow process of a teacher, while also utilizing it for communication with students. 

Think of Classroom as Microsoft Teams, but for students in a classroom setting instead of a corporate setting. Teachers can create a classroom and invite all their students to join. Google Classroom is a digital approach to learning and teaching online with a similar kind of experience of a brick-and-mortar classroom.

Difference between Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom

So what are the Tools needed for Microsoft Teams vs  Google Classroom?

 – While both Teams and Classroom are great online learning tools that aim to improve classroom collaboration and productivity, there are some notable differences between them. Classroom is a free web-based service by Google which is a part of the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) suite of online productivity apps.

 Teams, on the other hand, is a Microsoft’s proprietary business communication and collaboration tool which comes as a part of the Microsoft 365 family of products. It is a chat-based collaboration service that is transforming the way people work and collaborate around the world.

Availability of these two platforms

– Microsoft Teams is available for a variety of platforms meaning you can access Teams through either a web browser, a desktop application, or a mobile app. It can be accessed directly from a web browser by going to https://teams.microsoft.com.

 The full-featured Teams can only be accessed through the desktop application available for Windows, macOS and Linux. Teams is also available for Android and iOS. 

Google Classroom is also available as a web app and mobile app. It can be accessed via the site classroom.google.com. It integrates with G suite services such as Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, making it easy for anyone with a Google account to sign in.

Pricing of Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom

– Microsoft Teams offer two pricing plans. There is a free plan which, as the name suggests, is free of cost for anyone to use, and then there is a paid plan, which comes integrated with the Microsoft 365 Business plans, and starts at $5 per month, per user and goes up to $20 per month, per user for the Office 365 E3 plan. 

Google Classroom is free for schools that are registered for the Google for Education platform, but there is a paid G Suite Enterprise for Education plan which comes with advanced security controls and enhanced collaboration tools, such as live streaming, video conferencing, dedicated customer support, and more.

Microsoft Teams vs. Google Classroom: Comparison Chart 

Summary Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a simple web-based communication tool aimed at novice users and requires little knowledge for installation, thanks to its easy to use interface and fluid integration with G suite services such as Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar. 

If you are looking for ways to meaningfully incorporate technology in your classroom for improved productivity and collaboration, then Google Classroom is a more viable option and the Google’s G Suite for Education is probably the best place to start with. Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, is an all-rounder which brings people together for better collaboration and conversation in real time. 

It is a chat-based collaboration service that is transforming the way people work and collaborate around the world. However, Teams has its fair share of downsides too, such as tricky installation, time consuming, etc. In fact, both the tools have their positives and negatives, but they are great online collaboration tools.

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