Tech Tips for Dealing with PDFs:
(This is for Apple iPhones/iPads, but similar options exist for Android devices.)
There are some documents that are easy to change digitally, e.g. Word, Excel, Google Docs. Here
is a short tutorial of submitting many types of work on Google Classroom.
For PDFs (which happens a lot with kid assignments), the following tips could save you a lot of
time because it will minimize printing, scanning, parental pain, killing of trees, etc. The methods
below will allow a user to open a PDF, write, draw or type onto the PDF directly from an
electronic device, and then subsequently submit electronically – needing no paper, printing,
pens, or pencils (and hopefully less parental intervention).
Please notice all the hyperlinks provided through the entire document. They are useful tutorials,
info, and guides providing further information.
If you are using Google Classroom, first install the Classroom, Drive, and Docs apps from the App
Store to your iPad and/or iPhone.
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How to “write” directly on a PDF from a computer, tablet, or phone (the latter being
difficult due to screen size)
PDFs are frequently sent electronically. You can add text, writing or drawings on top of the PDF
using a device or computer – which is called “Annotation” or “Markup”.
Via iPad/iPhone
First option: Using only Classroom app’s basic annotation functions
Open PDF in Classroom app, select the pencil icon in the right upper corner. Now you can use
any markup tools with pen/pencils in different sizes/colors. By choosing your preferred
pen/pencil/text box/etc., you can now write/type/draw anything and save the permanent
annotations. (You can add more later, but not erase.) Make sure to save, and then turn in
electronically. Here is a video to assist you.
YouTube: Annotating Documents in the Classroom App
Second option: Many other apps can annotate PDFs if you want to explore outside of the
Classroom app or if you want to get a bit more versatile/fancy
1) The PDF will need to be exported to the annotation app
a. Via Classroom using Drive: Open the PDF in Classroom, then select the arrow/box
button in the upper right corner to open the file in Drive. In Drive, click the 3
vertical dots in the right upper corner, and select either “Send a Copy” or “Open
in” and select the app you want to use to Annotate the file.
b. Via Thinkwave: Open the PDF in the browser, then “Share” and “Save to Files” or
copy to PDF annotation app directly (see below)