Google Drive Integration with Docs

Question

Hello,

I recently got the Google Drive integration up and running and I'm able to use documents from my drive when assigning homework.

* The first issue I have is that whenever I attach a document it turns it into a PDF. Below that section we can include a link to the document and that works well. If anyone knows how to attach a document so that it won't turn into a pdf that would be great.
* Does anyone know how my teachers can create a document, share it with students so that they each get a copy when they click on it? I think this is how it is done in Google Classroom.

Thank you in advance!

JC

Dani Filas · Answer

Yeah- this is a great hack, but it sure does leave a lot to be desired. In addition to the issue with students "forgetting" (or actually forgetting) to change the title to something other than "Copy of XXX" and also change the share settings so the teacher can see it, this also leaves the Docs students create open and editable past the due date. So, if I'm grading Suzy Q's paper after the due date, little Johnny can keep editing his.

What a poor integration!

I see that Classroom is now available- but why would I want to add another LMS to my LMS? Oof. What a bummer.

Megan Day · Answer

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news…..

* There isn't a way. The "Attach files from Google Drive" feature was released last year and as soon as I realized that it converted the files to PDF, I sent an email to my faculty warning them to not use it. 
* I've always instructed my teachers to share the Google Doc with the correct permissions and then include the link on the assignment. Most of our teachers just show students how to create a copy of the document themselves. While it is extra steps, the benefit is that students have to then learn how to do this so we try to present it as a "teachable moment". If you want to force the copy, after you set the doc to "anyone with the link can view", you can edit the URL so when someone opens it, it prompts them to make a copy. This is the video I found years ago that I have posted for teachers.

With that being said, there is now a Google Classroom integration with Blackbaud through One Roster so that your teachers can use Google Classroom is they're already familiar with it. However, I haven't had a chance to try it out yet so I can't speak to if it works well or what quirks there may be.

Dani Filas · Answer

Use-LESS is what I meant!