Google Assignments

Google Assignments is a third-party tool in Canvas that uses Google Apps to help instructors create, distribute, collect, analyze and grade student work. This page offers a summary of what Google Assignments provides instructors and students in Canvas, along with helpful guides, FAQs and troubleshooting tips.

Instructor Guides
Student Guides
FAQs and Troubleshooting

Things to Note:

  • Third party cookies must be enabled in your browser in order to use Google Assignments (this is largely true for all third-party tools in Canvas).
  • First time Google Assignment users will be prompted to connect their Georgetown NetID (Google account) via pop-up sign in screen while in their Canvas course. Users can choose to connect any Google account (personal or Georgetown) to their Canvas course. Check out the Google Assignments troubleshooting guide for step-by-step sign-in instructions.

Instructors use Google Assignments to:

  • Create “Collaborations” in a Canvas course. Make sure to select the Google Assignments LTI 1.3 version from the drop down menu, which supports Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drawings, and Sites.
  • Attach template files, using material from an instructor’s Google Drive account, to assignments and receive personalized copies from each student.
  • Give feedback and grades to students who submit files from their Google Drive account to assignments in Canvas (choose to grade with Canvas Speedgrader or use Google Assignment’s built-in grader).
  • Obtain originality reports on student submissions to help check for potential plagiarism– limited to 5 assignments per course (originality reports and privacy).

Instructor How-To Guides:

Students use Google Assignments to:

  • Create “Collaborations” in a Canvas course (if applicable). Make sure to select the Google Assignments LTI 1.3 version from the drop down menu, which supports Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drawings, and Sites.
  • Submit work assignment templates that were distributed using Google Assignments.
  • To scan their own work for recommended citations up to three times (can be toggled on/off by instructor).

Student How-To Guides:

Google Assignment FAQs:

How do I install it and where will it appear in a course?

It is already installed in your course! Google Assignments will be seen by instructors (TAs/designers) as an external tool in the course. Using Google Assignments as an external tool will allow the instructor to utilize the core features of the tool (e.g. file templates, rubrics, originality reports, commenting and grade pass-back). The tool also appears for all users in the Rich Content Editor (RCE) under the Apps button. Specifically for students, the assignment submission page will show a tab to submit materials located in their Google Drive.

What does it do?

Google Assignments has two main uses: Assignments that use Google Drive Apps to distribute and/or collect student submissions, and embedding Google Drive material in Canvas.

What Google Assignments DOES NOT DO: Allow the teacher to create a google doc/sheet/slide for all students in the course to collaborate on. This type of collaboration will only be available via the Collaborations tool and will be limited to only Google Docs.

Where is it used?

It can be used in Canvas Assignments, Modules, and in the Rich Content Editor (RCE).

What can I expect the first time I use it?

First time Google Assignment users will be prompted to connect their Georgetown NetID (Google account) via pop-up sign in screen while in their Canvas course. Users can choose to connect any Google account (personal or Georgetown) to their Canvas course. Once setup, users can access their Google Drive and create/embed materials in Canvas.

Are there known issues or limitations with it?
  • Once an assignment is set up, instructors can’t add or remove files attachments made through Google Drive.
  • Point values and due dates set in Canvas are NOT passed to Google Assignments. The instructor will need to re-enter that data into Google Assignments to match was is set in Canvas (or vice versa).
  • Originality reports are limited to 5 assignments per course. There are further limitations outlined on Google’s originality reports support page.
  • Instructors and students can select files in their Google Drive to embed anywhere the Rich Content Editor (RCE) is available in Canvas. However, before the file can be embedded, a warning message appears that the sharing permissions will be changed to allow anyone with the link to view the file. In other words, any share settings that were previously set are removed, allowing the file to be viewable by anyone with the link. This is different that allowing anyone to edit the file, as this change simply allows those with the link to view it. Also, it may require one to sign into Google (via Canvas) before it can be viewed.

Troubleshooting: