Forcing Users to Download a Copy

Why Would I Want to Do This?

This feature helps tremendously if you want students to complete a document, graphic organizer, worksheet, etc. that you have already set up with information on it. Obviously, you don't want one student to write his/her answers on the original shared document, which all students need to complete the assignment. Instead, you want students to each have their own copies, which they can alter and submit for formative or summative assessment.

***An Important Note Regarding Sharing and Forced Downloads***

When you want to use the forced download feature, you will need to provide students with the shareable link to the document. If you use the blue share button, the forced download will not work. Students will actually have to click on the URL for the document you want their Chromebooks/computers to copy.

The Process

• First, create your document in Google Drive, or upload the file (if you already have this document in another format) into Google Drive. I would suggest saving it as a Google Drive document to eliminate any possible formatting issues when students add their own information to the copy. 

• Next, look at the URL showing for your document. It should have /edit as the very end of it. This is what you will need to alter to enact the forced download. Before you share the link with your students, you need to change /edit to /copy. This one little detail makes a huge difference. See the sample URLs below.
• original document URL: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tL45WDaKkdgjV9nBdGvoGI9r7Rlj1MBYJ5366iMSd9Y/edit

• forced download document URL:
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tL45WDaKkdgjV9nBdGvoGI9r7Rlj1MBYJ5366iMSd9Y/copy

• If you type in (or click on) the above forced download document URL, you will see a screen that looks like this:

                        Go ahead, give it a try!

• Then, all you (or your students) need to do is click on the blue button to make a copy. This will copy the document, so students can rename it and complete the worksheet.

***Reminder for Student Submissions***

Remember to have students either SHARE the completed (and renamed) document with you or MOVE it to the shared folder, so you have access to the assignment!