About Google Assignments

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Overview

Google Assignments (previously known as Google Course Kit) is a suite of tools developed by Google that provides integration between Google Drive and learning management systems like Canvas. The following are available:

  • Google Assignments: Facilitates the workflow for submitting, reviewing, and grading assignment submissions in native Google format (for example, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Sites, etc.) as well as almost any file type stored in Google Drive (including files produced by connected apps like LucidChart, Draw.io, and others)
  • Google Drive: Allows instructors and students to embed any file stored in Google Drive in the Canvas Rich Content Editor. Embedded files are automatically shared with "Anyone with the link" to ensure that all course members can view the file.
Important:
Important:

Always use your Google at IU account for Indiana University coursework and other university business. Personal (free) non-IU Google accounts are not approved for institutional data. When working in Google apps, you can check the upper right to see which account you're logged into.

By default, unless you sign out, Google keeps you logged in, even if you close your browser; thus you could be logged into your personal account, even if you started from google.iu.edu. Consider adding a profile picture for each of your accounts to help differentiate between them.

Google Assignments

The Google Assignments tool is designed to allow instructors and students to take full advantage of the collaborative content creation, review, and editing tools built into Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Differences between this tool and the Google Docs Cloud Assignment tool (developed by Instructure) include the following:

  • Unlike the Google Docs Cloud Assignment tool, which converts Google documents to PDF format upon submission to Canvas, Google Assignments submissions remain in their native format once they are submitted and file ownership is transferred from the student to the instructor (students retain read-only rights).
  • Instructors and graders can freely edit and comment on the original Google Drive files.
  • Grading takes place inside Google Assignments, and grades are sent back to the Canvas Gradebook. Instructors can simply enter point values, or create and use rubrics for grading.
  • Teachers and TAs can create a bank of reusable comments that can be inserted into any Google document submitted via the Google Assignments tool.
  • When Google submissions are returned to students, ownership is returned to the student, but teachers and TAs retain editing rights. This allows students to turn in new versions of the same file for a resubmission or another assignment.
Notes:
  • When selecting the external tool for the assignment, look for the tool named Google Assignments.
  • The first time Google Assignments is launched by a teacher, TA, or student, a containing folder named Assignments is created in that person's Google Drive. Within it, a separate subfolder is added for each course in which Google Assignments is used. For previous users of Google Course Kit, the containing folder will be named Course Kit rather than Assignments.
  • The course folder for teachers and TAs contains students' original assignment submissions. In addition, when submissions in Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides formats are returned to students, dated copies are retained in the course folder for instructors and TAs.
  • The course folder for students contains dated snapshots of Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides files submitted to Google Assignments.

Help documentation

Instructors and TAs

Students

Embed Google content with Google Drive

The Google Drive tool gives users the ability to embed Google Drive files in content created with the Rich Content Editor. This tool is distinct from the Google Drive tool developed by Instructure.

To use the Google Drive tool to embed Google Drive content in the Canvas Rich Content Editor:

  1. When creating content in Pages, Assignments, Announcements, or another Canvas tool, in the editing toolbar, select the Apps icon (Apps icon), and search for Google Drive.
  2. A Google Drive pop-up will appear. (Ignore the word "Assignments" in the window; this tool is available in all Canvas tools that use the Rich Content Editor.)
    • If you are already logged into your Google at IU account, choose Select File to go to the next screen.
    • If you are not already logged into Google, select Sign In and log in with your Google at IU account (your_username@iu.edu).
      Note:
      Your account ends with @iu.edu regardless of your campus or your primary email address.
  3. Use the options in the "Insert Files using Google Drive" window to locate or upload the file you want to embed, and select Add.
  4. You will be notified that attaching the file will share the file with anyone who has the link. Select Attach to proceed.
  5. You'll be returned to the Canvas Rich Content Editor. Continue editing or save your work.

Additional resources

Get help

Instructors can get help using technology in their teaching at the teaching and learning centers on each campus.

For help from a UITS Support Center consultant, fill out the "Ask for Help" form found in the Canvas Help menu. You can also contact your campus Support Center directly.

This is document aquj in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-10-24 16:49:29.