Since I published “Stop Taking Grading Home,” I’ve had a ton of teachers ask me how I am able to give feedback on Google Docs so quickly. I give real-time feedback to ~8 students in a 25-minute station.
It definitely helps that I am a skilled typist. I also keep the scope of my feedback narrow, so I am not trying to correct everything in one real-time editing station. In a single real-time editing session I might focus on their thesis statements, topic sentences, analysis, or citations. It depends on the day and where we are in our work, but I don’t try to provide feedback on the entire paper all at once.
The real secret to my success is in creating shortcuts right in my Google Documents. Here’s how…
I hope this tip helps other teachers provide feedback on student writing more efficiently!
If you have a strategy you use to provide feedback or assess student work, please share it!
38 Responses
Brilliant! Thank you!
Thank you for creating this quick how-to for the Tools>>preferences! I knew there was a way to make this part of Google Docs, but I just couldn’t remember where to go. This will truly make my grading life much easier! Thanks again.
You’re welcome, Susan!
Oh my gosh! I love you! I have not been able to give up using turnitin.com in my classroom because of the ability to pre-type all of my comments. I had no idea that this was even possible in Google! What I want to know now is whether or not there is a way to grade a Google doc when you do not have Wi-Fi. Also, do you use Doctopus to attach a rubric? I have found it to be a little tricky which is another reason I like turn it in. However, I love the idea of keeping everything in Google classroom. Love your tweets and book!
Hi Jacquelyn,
You can set Google Docs to work offline, so I can edit documents offline then the changes sync next time I’m online.
I don’t use Doctopus anymore because I fill out the rubric with my student in a side-by-side conversation during station rotation model.
Here are a couple blogs that make my approach to grading more clear.
http://cluttered-record.flywheelsites.com/2016/05/conversations-instead-of-grades/
http://cluttered-record.flywheelsites.com/2017/04/stop-taking-grading-home/
I’m so glad this is a helpful strategy and that you’ve enjoyed my book!
Catlin
Thank you for your continuous sharing of ideas to make blended learning so beneficial for students… and efficient for educators!
You’re welcome, Dominic!
You are amazing! Thank you for helping teachers become better!
Check out these four options for grading rubrics in google docs: http://www.controlaltachieve.com/2017/12/docs-rubrics.html?m=1
I have been using orangeslice.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, William.
Glad I listened to this. Very good information that I previously questioned but now I am knowledgeable.
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this! All teachers know the gift of time is the BEST gift of all, and you’ve just given generously! Whoo hoo!
You’re so welcome, Donna!
Time is the ONE thing I would love more of as a teacher 😉
Catlin
Do these ‘preferences’ work in the comments if you add comments instead of typing them directly in the essay?
Nope. That’s the shortcoming of this strategy.
Catlin
You can use a generic text expander if you want to have shortcuts in comments! I use this for long-form feedback in Turnitin, but because it is a browser plugin it will work on pretty much any part of a website. There is a youtube guide on this here: https://youtu.be/VQXqqi4u4ek?list=PLuuOV6nj7vpSLOmFiHkE-3fvEeqjHDOx6
Hi Jon,
I just watched your video and went through the whole process and it won’t work on Google Docs. Have you ever used it with Google Documents? I wonder if I’m missing something…
Catlin
I use ProKeys, a free Chrome extension. It works very well in comments on Google docs. The snippets can be as short or as long as you need them to be. I love it because I can include web links for sites that students can use to get help with a particular problem. For example =, my comment for fused sentences has the shortcut “fs”, but it expands out to “fused sentence. Go to this site to learn how to fix fused sentences and comma splices.http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm#Comma_Splices_and_Fused_Sentences.” Add it to your Chrome browser by using “Get More Extensions” and searching for ProKeys. The creator is Aquila Softworks.
Caitlin,
Thank you for this shortcut. Do you have to type in these preferences to each student document? If using Google Classroom and making individual copies of a teacher master document, could these preferences be set up for all students from the beginning in the original document before sending a copy to each student?
Nope. Just do it in one document in the account you use to edit student essays and it will work in every student document you edit.
Catlin
I will have to try this! Right now I have a doc of comments and copy/paste them using the comment feature.
Do you have (or would it be possible) a list of your common shortcuts and phrasing? I know each of our students are different and our phrasing as teachers can be individual, but it would be nice to have a starting point.
Here are my go-to shortcuts:
awk = Awkward –> Rework for clarity
cap = Capitalization error
con = No contractions in formal writing
frag = Sentence fragment
punc = Punctuation error
sp = Spelling error
? = Unclear –> Rework for clarity
dev = Develop analysis
cit = Citation error
fir = No first person –> Maintain the objective third person
sec = No second person –> Maintain the objective third person
Super helpful, thanks so much!
[…] Sheets Table of Contents for GClassroom. Faster Feedback: Create Editing Shortcuts in Google Docs. Since I published “Stop Taking Grading Home,” I’ve had a ton of teachers ask me how I am […]
This is wonderful! Thanks!
On another note, I want to start blogging with my 8th graders. I would love for the students’ blogs to all show up on one page that they can scroll through and read each one another’s work. Do you have any suggestions for good blog sites to use in the classroom? Preferably free :). Thanks!
Hi Brenda,
Hmm…not sure I know of a blog tool that does what you are describing. I had my students use Blogger (Google’s free blogging tools) last year, collected blog titles and URLs via a Google Form, and then shared the spreadsheet with all that info with the class. This allowed them to easily access each other’s blogs easily. Would that work?
Catlin
I will try that. I fell like you showed a blog from your class when you spoke at my school a few years ago and it looked like they were all on the same webpage so that they could view each other’s work. Thanks again!
Yep, I used to do it as a whole class! 28 tabs open at one time. Now I do it in station rotation so I only have 7 or 8 open at a time.
Catlin
Have you tried Clipboard History 2? I use this all the time to insert text that I use often. It will work in comments as well. Downside: takes about 3 extra clicks. it doesn’t let you just type in the shortcut, but rather you right click and select one of your favorites from the menu. Saves time, but not as much as typing the shortcut.
Hi Lauren,
I hadn’t heard of Clipboard History 2, but I will definitely check it out! Thank you for the recommendation!
Catlin
[…] Faster Feedback: Create Editing Shortcuts in Google Docs. Since I published “Stop Taking Grading Home,” I’ve had a ton of teachers ask me how I am able to give feedback on Google Docs so quickly. I give real-time feedback to ~8 students in a 25-minute station. It definitely helps that I am a skilled typist. I also keep the scope of my feedback narrow, so I am not trying to correct everything in one real-time editing station. In a single real-time editing session I might focus on their thesis statements, topic sentences, analysis, or citations. The real secret to my success is in creating shortcuts right in my Google Documents. I hope this tip helps other teachers provide feedback on student writing more efficiently! If you have a strategy you use to provide feedback or assess student work, please share it! Google Forms Basics in 7 Steps [infographic] Here is how to quickly make a basic Google Form in 7 steps. […]
[…] Faster Feedback: Creating Shortcuts in Google Docs has a GREAT tip allowing for more efficient feedback! Thanks, Catlin Tucker! […]
Omg! What an amazing tool! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing!
Amazing–I shared this with our dept. Thank you! 🙂
God bless! Thank you so much! Love it.
I purchased this extension last friday. Never received an activation email after purchase, my support emails have not been answered. It states 24-48 hours for a reply. Sent an Email on friday regarding this. Another one on Tuesday. It is now Thursday afternoon and nothing yet. Is there a problem with the support system? I only purchased because it was from you and have always been rustworthy with everything. Never purchased other online things such as this from other sources just for this reason. Can you advise what to do? I know it may not be the proper channel, but see no other way to get it resolved. Plan to cancel payment tomorrow if no response from my emails. Thanks.
Hi Kelly,
I’m not sure which extension you purchased. I build my shortcuts into the Google Document itself. I do not use a separate text expander.
Catlin