Google Drive Integration with Docs

Jorge Chica
Jorge Chica
Kudos 1
in Blackbaud Learning Management System™

Hello,

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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

Answers

  • Dani Filas
    Dani Filas
    Facilitator 1

    I am interested in this! We just started using Blackbaud this year and have not yet integrated Google Drive for our teachers. I can't believe it would turn something as useful as a Google Doc into a pdf!

  • Dani Filas
    Dani Filas
    Facilitator 1

    Use-LESS is what I meant!

  • Megan Day
    Megan Day
    Ninth Anniversary Kudos 5 Name Dropper Participant

    Sorry to be the bearer of bad news…..

    1. 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.
    2. 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.

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