Google Drive is a FANTASTIC tool for teachers and students. It seems more and more classrooms are jumping on the Google bandwagon – to the benefit of everyone!
A great feature of Google Drive is organization through folders. I love folders. I love color-coding folders. I love sharing folders. I love love love folders! In case you haven’t noticed … I’m a bit of a Google Drive nut 🙂
I also love the ability to search my Drive … but that’s another post for another day!
I was recently asked on Twitter about the “view only” setting on Google Drive folders, so I thought I would share a quick tutorial on how (and why!) to create this type of folder in Drive.
First … the how…
To create a view only folder in Google Drive:
- Open your Drive
- Click “new”
- Select “folder”
- Name your folder
- Select your folder by “single clicking” it
- Adjust your sharing settings by selecting the sharing icon
- Select “get shareable link”
- Then copy and paste the link that is highlighted. Share this link with anyone you would like to have access to the folder.
- Voila! You’ve created a view only folder 🙂
You’ve no doubt noticed that while working with Google Drive, there is more than one way to accomplish a task. Here’s another way to create a view only folder in Google Drive.
- Open your Drive
- Click “new”
- Select “folder”
- Name your folder
- Double click on your folder
- Select the drop-down arrow by your folder name
- Select “get shareable link”
- Make sure the slider indicates that link-sharing is on and that everyone with the link can view.
Done!
Everything you create in or add to that folder will now have the view only permissions. Hooray!
Now, to the why…
Why would you want to create a view only folder? Here are a few ideas …
- Sharing course documents (syllabus, etc.)
- Curriculum information
- Presentation information
- Guidelines and important information for staff
Any information you wish to share but do not want others to edit can go in a view only folder in Google Drive. How can you use this feature in your classroom?
Thanks for reading 🙂
Another option is to use google classroom, which makes it extremely easy to share with students and making a decision for each document whether you want them to view, edit or have it make a copy for each student.
Hi, Rachel!
Absolutely! I’m a huge fan of Classroom and love the different document options for students.
Thanks for stopping by!
Bethany
If i have hidden slides will those show up at all in read-only presentations on google slides?
Hey, Scott!
Yes, the presentation as it is created will be in the view only folder. Hope that helps!
Bethany