[ARCHIVED] How can I allow students to write on a pdf document to submit as an assignment?

[kiara_johnson]

I know how to upload pdf documents to Canvas but I want students to be able to type on the document and submit their completed assignments.

[ericwerth · Accepted solution]

Hi  @kiara_johnson  and welcome to the Community!  Just for clarification, are you looking for a tool external to Canvas that allows a student to write/type on an existing PDF document, save this, and then upload the new PDF to Canvas?  This isn't something where they would be peer reviewing another student's document, correct?

Thanks for the clarification!

[kiara_johnson · Accepted solution]

Yes, that’s exactly what I am looking for. 

[KristinL · Accepted solution]

There are many apps available to do this outside of Canvas. GoodReader, Notability, and PDF Expert are just a few that come to mind.

With Canvas Student, if an instructor includes a PDF in the assignment's instructions/details, students are given the option to annotate the item right inside Canvas Student and then submit it! It saves things in-progress in case the student can't finish in a single sitting, too. How do I add annotations to a submission in the Student app on my iOS device?‌

[ericwerth · Accepted solution]

Hi  @kiara_johnson  and welcome to the Community!  Just for clarification, are you looking for a tool external to Canvas that allows a student to write/type on an existing PDF document, save this, and then upload the new PDF to Canvas?  This isn't something where they would be peer reviewing another student's document, correct?

Thanks for the clarification!

[kiara_johnson · Accepted solution]

Yes, that’s exactly what I am looking for. 

[ericwerth]

Hi  @kiara_johnson   I will ask around and see if anyone I know has a good solution.  Perhaps someone in the Community can chime in if there are particular tools they have found useful.  I personally have used PDF Pro 3 for a number of years.  It wasn't a free app and takes a few steps to write on and then share a PDF document, but I like the overall functionality.  Probably not the best choice for students being a paid app.

All the best!

[KristinL · Accepted solution]

There are many apps available to do this outside of Canvas. GoodReader, Notability, and PDF Expert are just a few that come to mind.

With Canvas Student, if an instructor includes a PDF in the assignment's instructions/details, students are given the option to annotate the item right inside Canvas Student and then submit it! It saves things in-progress in case the student can't finish in a single sitting, too. How do I add annotations to a submission in the Student app on my iOS device?‌

[beckysunday]

I am going into student view and it isn't allowing me to write on the pdf document in the assignment. Can you please break down the steps I must be missing?

[bhaus]

These directions show up as "removed" or "needing permissions." Is there a way to make these public?

[clickh · Accepted solution]

Would you mind expounding?

Do I need to embed the pdf in to Canvas? Is that how students gain annotating rights?

You're not talking about providing a link to a pdf that takes a student out of Canvas right?

[bhaus]

Kami comes at a cost but has integration with Canvas. At this time, they are offering a free trial window for teachers and students. Kami's site also has a walk through of how to use it as a teacher and student.

It's very frustrating that Canvas has built-in student pdf editing functionality at the app level and not for desktop usage. A majority of our Canvas users are desktop users.

[alcalafoto]

Just thought of this, haven't tried it yet:

• I created a Google Slide, made it 8.5x11 like a page. 
• Exported the PDF as a PNG (JPEG works too)
• Imported to the slide and made  it the background image
• Created text boxes over the "Fillable part"

I'll tell you how it works next week.