Canvas Student Orientation Collaborating Using Google Docs

Introduction

Google Docs is a great place to collaborate on a group project. You can start a new collaboration using Google Docs in Canvas. Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time. However, a Google file may be shared with up to 200 email addresses including viewers, commenters, and editors.

Course Navigation menu with Collaborations annotated

In Course Navigation, click on the Collaborations link.

Things to Know:

When collaborations are created in a group, only group members and users with instructor-based roles (including TAs) can be selected as collaborators. However, your instructor can always view your collaboration.
Each collaborator will need a Google account and will need to connect Google Drive as a registered service in Canvas If you are the owner of the collaboration, you will have to turn on the Share settings to allow people who have the link to edit the document.
Email notifications for Collaborations relate directly to the account used to connect to Google Drive. Learn more about notifications (Links to an external site.).

For more information please see Canvas Guides: Collaborations .

Creating and Editing Collaborations

Click the Start a new collaboration button.

Authorize Google

If you have not previously authorized Google Drive access in Canvas, you may be prompted to authorize access. Click the Authorize Google Drive Access button to log in to Google.

Collaborate Using Google Docs

Click the Collaborate using drop-down menu and select Google Docs.

Create Collaboration Document

To create a collaboration document using Google Docs, you will first need to name the document [1], create a description [2], and select collaborators [3]. By default, you can view the list of people in the course and can collaborate with individual or multiple users in the course. You can also click the Groups tab and collaborate with a group.

Click the Start Collaborating button [4].

Note:

Google Docs allows you to add up to 50 users per collaboration, and all users can view and edit a document at the same time.

Edit Document

View the newly created document in a new browser window.

Video Tutorial(s)