Use the course Drive
Share and manage always-available course files for all participants through the Drive tab — separate from the sequenced learning journey.
The Drive tab in a course is a shared file store for all course participants. Teachers can upload materials here, and students can access them at any time. Unlike content blocks, Drive files are not part of the learning journey sequence — they are always available to anyone with Drive access.
Think of Drive as the course filing cabinet: syllabi, reading packs, templates, and reference assets that should not depend on completing earlier journey steps. The journey remains the place for sequenced learning and assessed activities; Drive complements it with open access to shared files.
Why it matters
Not every file belongs in the learning journey. If you place every handout as a Files block, students may hit conditions, start dates, or section clutter before they can open a syllabus. Drive solves the “always available reference” problem: one place in the course where participants download or preview materials without treating each file as a tracked learning step.
Clear separation also helps teaching teams. Journey blocks stay pedagogically ordered and gradeable; Drive stays practical for logistics and shared resources.
How it fits
| Related area | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Configure course features | Enable Drive so the tab appears for the course |
| Open a course | Find the Drive tab among other course tabs |
| Add a content block | Use Files or other blocks when the material should be a journey step |
| Content and assignments | How Drive sits beside blocks, Workbench, and hand-ins |
| Learning journey | Sequenced content — use Drive when sequence and completion tracking are not required |
Key concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Course Drive | Shared file store scoped to one course |
| Drive access | Permission to view Drive files; permission to upload and manage files is required to add, move, or delete |
| Folders | Optional structure for organising files inside Drive |
| Journey vs Drive | Journey blocks are sequenced and trackable; Drive files are always available outside that sequence |
Open the course Drive
Open the course.
Click the Drive tab in the course navigation.
If the tab is missing, confirm that Drive is enabled in Course Settings and that your role has Drive access.
Upload a file
In the Drive tab, click Upload or drag and drop files onto the Drive area.
Select the file from your device and confirm the upload.
The file appears in the Drive and is immediately accessible to all course participants with Drive access.
Download or open a file
Click any file in the Drive to download it or, for supported file types, open it in a preview window.
Organise with folders
You can create folders in the Drive to keep files organised. Click New folder, name it, and then drag files into it.
When to use Drive vs a content block
| Situation | Prefer |
|---|---|
| Syllabus, schedule PDF, or standing reading list | Drive |
| Week 3 required reading that should show as a journey step | Files (or Text/Link) content block |
| Assignment that must be submitted for grading | Hand-in block — not Drive alone |
| Optional extras that should not lock the path | Drive (or an unconditioned journey block) |
Best practices
- Create a small, predictable folder structure early (for example Course info, Readings, Templates) so students know where to look.
- Prefer clear file names with week or topic cues; avoid generic names like final_v2.pdf.
- Put assessed submissions through Hand-in blocks so teachers can review and grade in the journey — Drive is for sharing, not for formal submission workflows.
- Limit Drive management to teaching staff so students cannot overwrite shared materials.
Common pitfalls
- Enabling Drive in settings but forgetting write permission for the people who need to upload.
- Uploading the only copy of a required reading exclusively to Drive while students expect it as a journey step — or the opposite, duplicating huge packs in both places without a clear primary source.
- Using Drive as a drop box for graded work; that bypasses hand-in status, deadlines, and the submission overview.
FAQ
Why do I not see a Drive tab?
Drive must be enabled for the course in Course Settings, and you need permission to use the course Drive. See Configure course features.
Can students upload to Drive?
Only users with permission to upload and manage Drive files can add, move, or delete them. All course participants with permission to view the Drive can see and download files.
Does uploading to Drive mark a learning journey block complete?
No. Drive is separate from the learning journey. Completion and grades attach to content blocks, not to Drive uploads.