Using Google Drive in Canvas LMS is mostly related to “Creating Assignments” and giving students their own copy of a document, presentation, etc, from your Google Drive. This allows students the ability to type on their own copy and then submit it when completed. This is similar to handing out a graphic organizer and having each student complete their own assignment and turn it in, only this is the digital method. If students don’t need their own copy, or just need to view something, providing a link or embedding a presentation, website or resource is more efficient. Google Drive is an accessible feature when creating Modules and Pages in Canvas LMS. Teachers and students can upload, or provide links to documents or presentations from their Google Drive. Google Drive is referenced as an “external tool” for “Submission Type”, when creating an Assignment.
Creating An Assignment With A Copy For Each Student
Once you have created a Module, you simply click on the plus sign “+” to create an Assignment.
Assign a title and then decide on how students will submit the assignment; paper, online or “external tool”. Click on Submission Type and select “External Tool”, then select Google Assignments (LTI 1.3). From your Google Drive select and “attach” the file, which will provide a copy for each student and allow them to edit and submit it. This feature is similar to Google Classroom where you provide a copy for each student and they submit it when complete. Keep in mind when you give every student a copy, you have to grade all those copies. I try to limit the number of these types of assignments because it is hard to provide that much feedback on a regular basis.
5 Ideas For Using Google Drive Assignments
When should you give each student their own copy of an assignment? What types of activities would this be best for? Remember when each student gets a copy, that is a lot of papers to grade and provide feedback on.
- Weekly Warm-ups/Do Nows-send out a weekly warm-up presentation or document for students to complete on their own. They can submit it every Friday.
- Graphic Organizers-I use technology stations to provide students with choice and voice in their assignments. Students complete the graphic organizer on their own but rotate in groups from station to station.
- Templates-Cyber Sandwich-this “Eduprotocol” from Jon Corippo allows students to work in partners while reading and discussing an article you assigned or they found in their research. This awesome template guides the collaboration with built in accountability.
- Hyperdocs-are a document or presentation that allows students to work at their own pace, or can be teacher directed. Students complete a variety of tasks and assignments usually focusing on the 5E’s; Engaging, Exploring, Explaining, Elaborating and Evaluating. A large bank of precreated Hyperdocs is available.
- One Minute Speech Outline-another form of a graphic organizer or worksheet that will help students prepare a one minute speech.