Document Integration

Integrating Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive Files

Instructors now have the ability to add files from their Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive accounts directly into their Brightspace course. Any changes you make to the document in Google or OneDrive are pushed instantaneously to the live version of your course.

Note: You must have a Google account or OneDrive account to use this feature.

To Add Google Drive Files

  1. Go to the module in which you want to add the file in your course.
  2. Click the Existing Activities button, then select Google Drive from the dropdown menu. The first time you select this option, you will need to log into your Google account.
  3. From the Add Activity window, select the file you want to insert into your course.​  Note: If your file is not publicly viewable, a notification that says “This file is private” will appear. Next to this, a checkbox says “Change permissions so that anyone with a link can view.” If you uncheck this box, students will not be able to view the file.
  4. Click Select
  5. Your file is now embedded in your course.

Note: If your file is set to “Anyone with the link can view,” your students will just be able to view the document. If it is set to “Anyone with the link can edit,” students will be able to make changes to the document. This would be useful for something like a sign-up sheet.

To Add OneDrive Files

  1. Go to the module in which you want to add the file in your course site’s Content area.​
  2. Click the Existing Activities button, then select OneDrive from the dropdown menu. The first time you select this option, you will need to log into your Microsoft account and allow D2L (Brightspace) access to your account.
  3. From the Add Activity window, select the file you want to insert into your course.​
  4. Click Select
  5. Your file is now linked in your course.

Note: By default, files are set to “Read Only.” If you want students to be able to makes changes to the file, change the permissions on the file.

Privacy and Security

  1. Students can see files shared by instructors after the course has ended.
    1. One Drive allows instructors to specify an end date for the sharing.
    2. Google Drive must be manually unshared at a date decided upon by the instructor.
  2. If students make changes to the documents you share, those changes will be anonymous. You will not know who made the changes.