[ARCHIVED] A possible solution to Canvas not supporting the web browser on mobile devices

[bbelew]

As many of you know the mobile app, at least on iOS, is great when it works.   We've been running into app issues where multiple choice questions don't display, or the students are kicked out of quizzes, a known API issue I guess, or various other problems that manifest with the apps.    So what do our teachers do?  They switch over to the web interface, which also doesn't work correctly on the iPads.    We as i'm sure many others do as well, file support tickets to get the issues fixed.  We are told to use the app, because the web interface isn't supported on mobile devices.  We of course mention that the app also is broken, to which they reply use a computer.  Not really a solution for daily use of canvas in a 1:1 environment.

The issue we have with the web interface on mobile devices is the right side bar covers the content area.   Sometimes closing the left menu works, but it seems like with the majority of students that button will work sometimes and not others  ( new interface by the way ).  

To get around that I put in some javascript to add a "close right sidebar" option in the footer of the page.  Students can click that to toggle the visibility of the right sidebar.      Note this only works when viewing the device in landscape mode, and requires a double tap to make it hide.  But it seems to be a viable solution as a backup to the broken app.

function toggle_visibility(id) {
   var e = document.getElementById(id);
   if(e.style.display == 'block')
      e.style.display = 'none';
   else
      e.style.display = 'block';
}
var div = document.getElementById('footer-links');
div.innerHTML = div.innerHTML + "<a href='#' onclick=\"toggle_visibility('right-side-wrapper')\">Hide Right Side</a>";

[jayhawktech]

Our 1-1 iPad program users are also becoming increasingly frustrated by the iOS app.

[bbelew]

I hope more schools are reporting the issues they are having and not just waiting it out.   We need to put pressure on them to a.) correct the app, and b.) make the web version support mobile devices.     The web version should always be supported, on every major browser.   Sure the web crew will have to work harder to make it work with other browsers, but countless other companies manage to make that happen...  There is no reason instructure can't.

[hottingert]

We are running into an issue with Lockdown Browser by Respondus.  The short of it is Respondus says it is Canvas and Canvas says it is Respondus.  Ugh.

Canvas needs to support mobile browsing.  And if we want to suggest this feature, we have to have a popularity contest in voting it up.  Mobile browsing usage will continue to increase so why avoid it?

As to your work around, how do I make it happen?  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.