Google Assignments in Moodle

Harness Google’s rich feedback tools and grade directly from a Google Drive file right inside Moodle. Google Assignments can simplify grading, feedback, and file sharing between you an your students..

Features and Limitations

Here’s what to consider as you decide whether Google Assignments in Moodle is right for your course or assignment.

Feedback: Rich, In-Context Commenting: Because students submit Google files (doc, slides, etc.), you can use Google’s built-in tools – inline suggestions, comments and a reusable comment bank – to provide detailed, contextual feedback. This is especially helpful for both drafts and final submissions. Note: If you prefer to annotate by drawing or highlighting directly on student work, Moodle Assignment may be a better fit for you as it includes a built-in annotation tool and Google Assignments does not.

Grading: Flexible, Rubric-Based Scoring: You can attach a custom rubric to a Google Assignment, or upload one to guide your grading. Scoring is flexible—you’re not locked into whole numbers. For example, if “Excellent” earns 4 points and “Good” earns 3, you can award 3.5 for “Very Good.” Grades entered in Google Assignments sync automatically with the Moodle Gradebook.

Automatic File Sharing and Permissions: Google Assignments handles file permissions and storage for you and your students. You interact only through the Moodle interface, not in Google Drive. Neither you nor your students has to manually change sharing permissions to pass documents back and forth. Here’s how it works: 

  • When a student submits a file, you become the owner of that file. The student keeps a read-only virtual “carbon copy” and viewing access to the file they submitted.
  • You add comments and grade the submission. Student’s don’t see your feedback until you return the assignment.
  • When you return the file to the student, ownership transfers back to them. They can see your feedback and grade. A copy of the graded version stays in your Drive, and the grade posts to Moodle automatically. You maintain “view only” access to the file you returned.

Originality Reports: Built-In Plagiarism Checks: If enabled, Originality Reports compare student work to internet sources and a database of previous submissions and alert you if plagiarism is suspected. Students can run up to three Originality Reports on their work before submitting it.

Group Work Limitations: Google Assignments assigns a grade to one student only: the file’s owner. If multiple students collaborate on a submission, you’ll need to manually enter grades for the other group members.

Ready To Use Google Assignments?

Follow these instructions for adding a Google Assignments activity to your Moodle space

Tips for Effective Use

Start with low-stakes practice. Before using Google Assignments for a large assignment, give students a chance to try it out. Include a short practice activity—like submitting a short paragraph or reflection. Provide clear instructions on how to submit, view feedback, and resubmit if needed. Give your students instructions and a low-stakes practice assignment before assigning a high stakes Google Assignment.

Reuse and share rubrics. Create rubrics once and use them across multiple assignments. Download your rubric to share with colleagues or upload one you’ve used before. Google’s rubric documentation and this editable rubric template (click to make your own copy) can help streamline your setup.

Award partial credit thoughtfully. Google Assignments’ rubrics support flexible scoring. You can manually award in-between scores—for example, 3.5 points if a student’s work is better than “Good” (3) but not quite “Excellent” (4).

Build a Comment Bank for Faster Feedback. Save time by adding frequently used feedback phrases to your comment bank. These can address common strengths or areas for improvement. See Google’s documentation on feedback tools for step-by-step instructions.

Use Originality Reports as a Teaching Tool. Enable Originality Reports to help students understand and improve their citation practices. They can check their work up to three times before submitting. Watch this short video from Google (~3 minutes) or review their help article on originality reports.

Provide Templates to Standardize Submissions. If you attach a file as a template when creating an assignment, each student gets their own editable copy. Templates might include prompts, worksheets, or structured guides. Templates standardize filenames and saves students from having to create and name their own files.

Workshop Information

Register for the self-paced workshop

  • Discover rich feedback capabilities within Google Assignments
  • Compare similarities and differences between Google Assignments and Moodle grading panels
  • Create assignments in Moodle, using Google Assignments

You can also request an instructional consultation from LearnTech about this topic.

Resources

Help Documentation from DELTA

External Resources