Google Docs: Insert Boxes Not Lines

From Alice Keeler at Teacher Tech:

When students fill out information on a worksheet typically there is a line for the students to place their answer. When students fill out information on a digital document the line does not make as much sense. Placing the cursor in the middle of the line pushes the line and the text is not underlined.

Create a Box

Instead of a line, give students a box to fill out. In the table menu choose a 1×1 table or a 2×1 table depending on how you want it to look. If I am looking for an extended answer I will type the question, press enter and use the Table menu to choose a 1×1 table.

If I want the box to be right next to the text, I will choose a 2×1 table.

In the first cell, resize to fit the text. Hovering the cursor over the edge of the cell changes the cursor to allow for dragging the width of the cell. In the upper right hand corner is a small drop down arrow to choose the type of border for the cell. Select the outer border option.

In the toolbar choices are given for the border color and width. Choose a border width of zero.

This will eliminate the right edge of the cell which you need for your box. Move your cursor over to the other cell where the student would type their answer. Click on the drop down arrow in the upper right of the cell adn choose the outer border option. For this cell, choose a cell border width of 1.