Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More About DocsTeach
Explore our common questions and answers.
What are the benefits of signing up for an account?
With a DocsTeach account, you can save and share the primary sources you discover. You can also create, save and share teaching activities. And you gain access to hundreds of additional activities created by fellow educators. You can even copy and modify these activities to fit your needs.
How do I update my password or email address?
Log in and manage your account information in My Account. Select Account Settings, Login Information, and follow the prompts.
How do I assign activities to students and manage their work?
You can use activities for classroom demonstration, small-group or full-class work, or individual in-class or homework assignments. Students can turn their work in to you via your DocsTeach account, Google Classroom, or the DocsTeach App for iPad.
Does DocsTeach work with Google Classroom?
Yes. Look for the “Share to Google Classroom” button. You can add activities straight to Google Classroom for your students — and your students can turn in their work via the Google Classroom button.
Learn How to Assign and Receive Student Work via Google Classroom
I'd like to use a document that's not from the National Archives in an activity I'm creating. Is there any way to upload my own primary sources?
Yes, use the Image Upload feature to pull in your outside document or image. When you’re creating an activity, go to the “Add Elements” tab; then click on Add Activity Element and it will be one of your options. Please note that this feature is only available for multi-document activity types (Weighing the Evidence, Making Connections, etc.).
Do primary sources include transcriptions?
Often, yes. See Gen. Eisenhower’s “In Case of Failure” message as an example. Transcribing is an ongoing process — there are over 10,000 documents on DocsTeach and we add more constantly. We try to transcribe some of the hardest-to-read documents first. If there is a particular document(s) that you would like to see transcribed, let us know!
What if I can't remember the username I used previously?
Email us at docsteach@archivesfoundation.
Why can't I log in? I already have an account.
If you already had a DocsTeach account before we redesigned the site in 2016, you’ll need to re-register. You must use the same username that you used previously in order to sync your account. You’ll receive an email with a link to click on to verify your account, then you can log in.
What’s new about the redesigned site?
DocsTeach has a new look and updated features — but at its core, it’s still the same site. And now you can explore and create activities on both computers and tablets! In addition to mobile friendliness, we made other improvements as well, making the site easier to use, more customizable, and a more complete experience for students. See the list of changes in this post on our Education Updates blog.
Where do I find the activities I previously created on DocsTeach before the 2016 redesign?
Make sure that you used the same username to register for an account that you used before the redesign. Then use the menu to go to My Account and Migrate Activities. Use the checkboxes to select the activities you’d like migrate. Then you can find them in My Activities in your account, and your students can access them (if you publish them).
What if I followed the instructions above but don't see my migrated activities in My Activities?
Please email us at docsteach@archivesfoundation.
How do I download document images on a mobile device?
Document images download as zip files. To download on your mobile device, you must have an app installed and designated to handle zip files on your device.
What if I have a question not listed here?
Email us at docsteach@archivesfoundation.