Google Apps
Use Google Apps to create and share course materials, collaborate with students, collect responses, create short videos and manage Google-based assignment activities. Several Google Apps also connect with Canvas.
Cost
No costAudience
Students, faculty & staffPurpose
Media creationCanvas integration
Available as an optional integrationGetting started
ASU faculty, staff and students can access Google Workspace using their ASURITE credentials.
- Access Google Workspace.
Access Google Apps through My ASU or sign in to your ASU Google account using your ASURITE credentials. - Don't see Google Workspace in your account?
Visit selfsub.asu.edu and look for ASU Google Workspace for Education under available services. - Explore Google Apps.
Visit the Google for Education Learning Center for guidance on Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drive and other Google Apps.
Commonly used Google Apps at ASU
- Google Docs, Sheets and Slides: Create and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations that students can work on together in real time.
- Google Forms: Create surveys, low-stakes checks for understanding, entrance or exit tickets and activities that direct students to different content based on their responses.
- Google Drive and Shared Drives: Organize, store and share course materials, collaborative files and project resources within ASU's Google Workspace environment.
- Google Vids: Create short instructional or explainer videos using tools for storyboarding, recording, AI-assisted drafting and transcript-based editing.
- Google Assignments: Give each student their own copy of a Google Workspace file through Canvas and connect the assignment with the Canvas Gradebook.
Using this tool in your course
Explore ways Google Apps may support common teaching goals and course activities.
- I want to create short video previews or explanations for my course without a complicated editing process.
Google Vids: Turn an existing lesson outline or slide deck into a video draft. Use the built-in teleprompter to support recording and transcript-based editing to refine the finished video. - I want to give each group member clear ways to contribute to a shared activity.
Google Docs and Slides. Create shared documents or presentations where students can work together in real time. Comments, @mentions and version history can help students communicate within the file and make individual contributions visible. I want to give each student their own editable copy of a document without managing downloads, uploads and file permissions.
Google Assignments: Attach a file from Google Drive to a Canvas assignment and give each student their own editable copy.
Make-a-copy links: When sharing a Google file outside Google Assignments, you can use a make-a-copy link to prompt students to save their own copy before editing.- I want to create a check for understanding that can direct students to different resources or questions based on their responses.
Google Forms: Direct students to different sections of a form based on their responses. Those sections can include additional information, resources, practice or questions.
Activity examples
Explore examples of how you might use Google Apps in course activities.
- Collaborative video project.
Students work individually or in groups to create a short video presentation in Google Vids. They can combine recorded content, text, images and other media while developing and editing the video. - Collaborative note-taking.
Students contribute to a shared Google Doc during a lecture, discussion or group activity. Group members can add notes, questions, links or other course information in real time, while comments and version history provide ways to review the group's work and individual contributions. - Response-based quiz.
Create a Google Form that directs students to different sections based on their responses. Those sections might include additional information, practice, feedback or different questions.- Explore an example: Watch the Google Forms walkthrough to see how the activity works.
- Try it in your course: Make a copy of the example Google Form and adapt it for your course.
Compare your options
Google Apps are one option for common course activities such as collaborative work, distributing individual copies of documents, creating short videos and checking student understanding. Other ASU-supported tools may be a better fit depending on how you want students to participate and where you want their work to live.
| Teaching goal | Google Workspace and Vids | Canvas | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time group collaboration | Well suited for collaborative editing: Docs and Slides let multiple students work in the same file at the same time. | Well suited for structured group work: Canvas Groups provide dedicated spaces for discussions, pages and files. Collaborative document editing may require another connected tool. | Well suited for collaborative editing: Web versions of Word and PowerPoint support multiple people working in the same document. |
| Giving each student their own document | Well suited for distributing individual copies: Google Assignments can give each student their own editable copy of a Google Drive file through Canvas. | Alternative approach: Students can download a template, complete it and submit the finished file in Canvas. | Well suited for Microsoft 365 files: OneDrive provides options for working with Microsoft 365 documents through Canvas. |
| Short instructional or explainer videos | Well suited for creating short videos: Google Vids supports drafting, recording, teleprompter use and transcript-based editing. | Alternative approach: Existing videos can be added to Canvas as files or embeds. Zoom or WeVideo may be useful when you need other recording or video-creation options. | Alternative: Clipchamp provides browser-based video creation and editing. |
| Checks for understanding | Well suited for lightweight checks for understanding: Google Forms can collect responses and direct students to different sections based on their answers. Results are managed outside the Canvas Gradebook. | Well suited for graded course assessments: Canvas Quizzes connects directly with the Gradebook and supports question banks and other assessment options. | Alternative: Microsoft Forms supports lightweight quizzes and forms, with results managed outside the Canvas Gradebook. |
FAQ
Use Google Assignments when creating a Canvas assignment. It can give each student their own editable copy of a Google Drive file and connect the assignment with the Canvas Gradebook. For files shared outside Google Assignments, you can also use a make-a-copy link.
Use Google Docs or Slides with comments and @mentions to support contributions within shared work. Version history lets you review document activity and see who contributed specific changes over time.
Google Vids is a browser-based video creation tool. You can turn an existing lesson outline or slide deck into a video draft, use a teleprompter while recording and edit recorded audio through the generated transcript. AI can assist with parts of the drafting and creation process.
Use Google Forms to direct students to different sections based on their responses. Those sections can include additional information, resources, practice or questions.
Accessibility, privacy and other considerations
Sharing and access: Google files can be shared with individuals, groups or through links. Before sharing course materials or student work, check who has access and choose sharing settings that fit the activity.
Accessible course materials: Accessibility depends in part on how documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms and videos are created. When using Google Apps for course materials, consider elements such as document structure, descriptive links, alternative text for images, captions for video and readable formatting.
AI features: Some Google Apps include AI-assisted features for creating or working with content. Available features may vary by application and ASU account settings. Consider what information is being shared with an AI feature and whether its use is appropriate for the course activity.
Resources
Explore ASU and Google resources for getting started, using Google Apps in your course and learning more about specific features.
ASU resources
- Google Workspace at ASU: Find information about Google Workspace at ASU, including available services and storage limits.
- Introduction to Google Sheets: Explore guidance for using Google Sheets.
- Introduction to Google Slides: Explore guidance for using Google Slides.
Google resources
- Get started with Vids in Google Workspace: Explore Google guidance for creating, recording, editing and sharing videos with Google Vids.
- Get help with Google for Education: Find guidance for Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drive and other Google Workspace apps.
- Use Assignments LTI™ with Canvas: Learn how to distribute Google files, collect student work and use Google Assignments within Canvas.
Get support
Need technical help?
Submit a How can we help you with Google? ServiceNow request for help with Google products and services at ASU.
Want to explore ways to use Google Apps in your course?
Learning Experience (LX) offers workshops and consultations where you can explore ways Google Apps and other enterprise technologies might support your teaching goals.
Looking for detailed Google guidance?
Visit Get help with Google for Education for guidance on Google Apps and education-specific features.