title: Uploading new files to a Git repository directly through the GitHub web application
body: <p>It is possible to directly edit files in a repository stored on GitHub through the web interface. Most of us would never do this but it has its uses.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/wwFYs.png" alt="Edit button on GitHub"></p>
  
  <p>I teach an introductory level course. I'd like to use Git and GitHub for homework distribution and collection (GitHub offers free private accounts for education). However, I can't ask completely fresh students to learn Git, at least not in the first few weeks. For the first few weeks I would like to say</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>"You can upload your homework by clicking on this sequence of buttons on github.com"</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>and then eventually teach them how to use the command line.</p>
  
  <p>Ideally I'd like for them to be able to upload new files, not just edit existing ones. I can't find a way to do this though. How can I use the GitHub web interface for a similar purpose?</p>