Google Assignments are a good way to have students submit Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Presentations, and Google Drawings.


If you are only sharing a Google Drive file and do not want students to submit a copy of the file please use the Google Drive option instead of the Google Assignment option.


When using Google Assignments every student will be given a copy of the file with their name added to the title. The teacher is always the owner of the students’ copies of the Google Assignment. Then students will be able to edit this copy of the file until it is time to submit. After submitting, the student's permissions will be changed to viewer/commenter. 


If it is the teacher's first time creating a Google Assignment in eKadence, then an eKadence folder will be automatically generated in the Google Drive of the connected Google account. All future Google Assignments and student copies will be stored in that eKadence folder.


For co-teachers to be able to assign Google Assignments, the main teacher will need to go to their Google Drive and share the Google Drive folder that was created for the class and give the co-teacher Editor access.


Creating a Google Assignment

  1. First, create your Assignment or Assessment activity. It is a good idea to not publish the activity just yet until you are done setting up your Google Assignment.
  2. In the Work/Questions tab of your activity, mouse over [+] Insert Content and select Google Assignment under Questions. Selecting the Google Drive option will only allow users to view the Google file.
  3. If you haven’t connected a Google account to your eKadence account, you will be prompted to now. You should see something like the image below. Please, click the Connect with Google button to connect. When prompted for allowing eKadence access to your Google account, make sure to allow access to your Google Drive. If you would like to learn more about how eKadence uses these permissions, please read our article Google Permissions within eKadence.
  4. Now you will have 3 options for assigning a Google Assignment, Create new Google File, Open Google Drive, and Link to an existing. If you have not already created a template use the Create new Google file option and you can create a template on the spot. You can also leave it blank for students to work on an empty Google file.
    • Create new Google file - A new blank template will be created
    • Open Google Drive - Choose a file you have already created in your Google Drive
    • Link to an existing - Have students continue work on a previously assigned Google Assignment (more information at the end)
  5. Here the user will have the ability to create or add any final edits to the file inside of eKadence. After selecting one of the first two options, you will notice that the file opens in eKadence with all of the tools from Google. If you chose the Open Google Drive option, the file that you are presented with in eKadence is a copy of the original file.
  6. If you want the whole class to contribute and work on the same Google file, you should turn on Collaboration mode. If you don’t see the toggle yet, try saving the assignment or clicking on another content block. When Collaboration mode is toggled on, any edits students make will be visible to the other students in that class, even for group assignments. If you created a group assignment and want each group to have their own copy please leave the toggle off.
  7. Now you are all set. Be sure to finish making edits to the Google Assignment before you publish. If you make edits after students open the Google Assignment they will not be able to see those edits.


Using the Link to an existing option for Google Assignments allows the class to continue working on a Google Assignment that they had previously worked on in another activity.

  1. After selecting the Link to an existing option, teachers will be shown a small pop-up where they can select from different Google Assignments that have already been created in the current class.
  2. To link a Google Assignment, simply click on any of the desired assignments. Then, click on the Save button that will appear after selecting the desired Google Assignment.
  3. Teachers will then see the linked Google Assignment inside of the content block. Teachers will be unable to edit the Google Assignment. Any edits made will not be shown to the students who already have a copy of the original Google Assignment.
  4. Once the user is satisfied with all settings made for the Google assignment, click on Save at the bottom of the content editor to save the new Google assignment.