Write notes on your work

On the Classroom mobile app, you can draw and write on your assignments with the note tool. You can underline words, highlight text, draw shapes, and leave notes. For example, you might highlight a sentence, color a map, sketch a plant cell, or show your work on a math problem.

You can draw and write notes on these types of files:

  • Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
  • Microsoft® Office® documents
  • JPEG or GIF
  • Adobe® PDF®

Note: Currently, writing and drawing on work is available only on mobile devices. This feature isn’t available on computers.

Write and save notes

  1. Tap Classroom Classroomand then the class.
  2. Open the assignment for the file you want to write on.
  3. To open a file, choose an option:
    • To open a file that is already attached to the assignment, tap it.
    • To open a new file, tap Add attachment, upload the file, then tap it.
  4. To open the note tool, in the top-right corner, tap Edit Edit.
  5. Make any notes or drawings.
    (Read more about colors and pen sizes below.)
  6. To save your notes, choose one:
    • On an Android device, click More Moreand then Save.
    • On an iOS device, tap Save.
  7. (Optional) To discard your changes, choose one:
    • On an Android device, tap Back Backand then Discard.
    • On an iOS device, tap Back Backand then Discard.

How notes are saved

If the original file was It's saved as
Google Docs file Separate PDF
Microsoft Office document Separate PDF
JPEG or PNG image file Edited file that replaces original
PDF Edited file that replaces original

Use the drawing and writing tools

Choose a tool

You can find all tools at the bottom of the app screen.

Tool Use it to
Select Select Select a note to resize or move it.
Erase Erase Erase a note.
Write Write Write or draw lines with a pen.
Mark Mark Write or draw lines with a marker.
Highlight Highlight Highlight text or images.
Add text Add text Add a text note.

Change a tool's color or size

The write, mark, and highlight tools are available in different sizes and colors. 

  1. To see color and size options, double-tap Write Write, Mark Mark, or Highlight Highlight.

    Choose color and size

  2. To see more colors, tap the Up arrow Up arrow.

    Choose color

  3. Tap a color or point size to use it. 

Add a text note

  1. Tap Add text Add text.

  2. Drag your finger to create a text field.
  3. Enter your message.
  4. (Optional) Customize your text:
    • To make the text larger, select it and pinch 2 fingers apart.
    • To make the text smaller, select it and pinch 2 fingers together.
    • To resize the text box, tap a corner and drag it.

Erase a mark

  1. Tap Erase Erase.

  2. To erase a mark, tap it. 
  3. (Optional) To delete all marks on the page, double-tap Erase Erase and then Clear page.

Resize or move a note or image

You can resize or move a new note or image. Before you can select a saved note or image to resize or move it, change it first.

  1. Add a text note or image.
  2. Tap Select select and tap the note or image.
  3. Pinch 2 fingers apart or together on the note or image to resize it.
  4. Drag the note or image to move it.

Zoom in or out on a note

  • To zoom in, pinch 2 fingers apart on the note.
  • To zoom out, pinch 2 fingers together on the note.
  • To pan over the drawing, drag 2 fingers across the page.

Undo or redo actions

  • Tap Undo Undo to immediately cancel an action. You can use it repeatedly to undo consecutive actions.

    Undo

  • To redo an action, tap Redo Redo. You can use it to redo consecutive actions.
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