[ARCHIVED] Is there a way to allow students to upload multiple files through the same file explorer?

[lpheaney]

Currently, students have to "Add Another File" for every individual file they plan on uploading for an assignment. This can become tedious when the assignment requires a large number of files to be submitted. Is there any way to allow students to select all of their files at once using the "Choose File" button? 

[kblack · Accepted solution]

Hi lpheaney Welcome to the Canvas Community. I see you joined us in November but this appears to be your first question here, and it's a good one. In fact, it's so good that it is indeed something in the works....though I do not know when it will be introduced or available.  It's currently available as a feature option in Beta as outlined here, where you can read all about it:  Canvas Release: Student Assignment Enhancements .  At this point, again, it is only available on the Beta servers and even then it may not have been enabled by your Canvas administrator.  (And even if it were, the only way an instructor could test it would be in Student View. But if you're interested, instructors can access their Beta installation by following these instructions:  How do I access the Canvas beta environment as an instructor? ) 

I happen to be an administrator and decided to try it out for the first time on our Beta installation, and I can verify that indeed a student will be able to click-and-drag multiple assignments into the submission box either one-by-one or by selecting multiple files at a time.  I have not done much other testing at the moment, but it will definitely be a big change in the workflow of assignment submissions, to say the least, as the look and fell of it is entirely different from what it is now.  (Hence why it is only on Beta at the moment!)  

So basically...stay tuned and keep following this community and that link above regarding news on this possibility!

Edit - I realize I didn't directly answer your "Is there a way to...." question.  Unfortunately, the answer is "no," but it's coming! 

[lpheaney]

Hi Ken! Thanks so much for the thorough response, it is much appreciated! I am going to read more about the Student Assignment Enhancements release. I will definitely follow the community and the news surrounding this topic! 

[CorinneDeltoro]

Hi!

I just wanted to clarify, can I have students upload multiple files to an assignment AND do that on different days. Basically make a report repository. ie; they need to turn in a report for an activity, this activity will be done multiple times during the semester at different times, and I would like all of their reports in one single place, no matter WHEN they turn them in. 

[chriscas]

Hi @CorinneDeltoro ,

You could do this with a single assignment, but in SpeedGrader, you will see a dropdown box listing each time a student submitted something and you'll need to use that dropbox to go through the different submissions.  While they are all in the same assignment, you won't necessarily see everything at the same time.

Hope this helps!

-Chris

[CorinneDeltoro]

Thank you! I will try that with my test student!