[ARCHIVED] When will SpeedGrader be upgraded? It sucks!

[michael_steffan]

My god, Speedgrader is awful to use. When will it be upgraded/fixed/replaced? The drawing tools are painful to use--the check and trashcan are too close to the item being drawn, and somewhat randomly the view seems to jump to a different part of the document when I try to draw/write on the screen. it is infuriating to the point that if I was in the same room as the developer, there would be violence. 

Rant over, I feel slightly better. Now back to grading. Grrrrrrrrr...

[Chris_Hofer]

Good evening, @michael_steffan ...

I am sorry to read that you are having some frustrations with using the SpeedGrader.  While I may not have solutions for you at the moment, have you tried reaching out to the folks at Canvas Support to see if they would be able to help address any of the issues that you are having?  The jumping issue doesn't sound normal, and I would suggest reporting that to the Support folks so they can investigate it further.

One thing you can always do is submit a Feature Idea for any improvements you would like to see implemented.  While this is not the only way Canvas gets feedback, it is a way that your idea can be seen by other Canvas Community members so they can also provide feedback and "rate" your suggestion.  You can start a new idea by clicking on the PRODUCT menu from any page here in the Community and then clicking on IDEA CONVERSATIONS.  You'll see a red "Suggest an idea" button to start a Feature Idea.  See How do idea conversations work in the Canvas Commu... - Canvas Community for more information.

Finally, I just happened to stumble upon this blog entry about the Product Roadmap that was recently posted: The New Instructure Roadmap - Canvas Community.  While I don't really see anything on the roadmap specific to SpeedGrader (doesn't mean they aren't working on SpeedGrader-related things, however), I at least wanted to share the link with you so you can get an idea of their process for development.  This document may also be of some help: What is the feature development process for Instru... - Canvas Community.

Again, I probably didn't answer your question completely, but I do hope that the info I've provided will be of some use to you.  Take care, stay safe, and be well.

[michael_steffan]

Thanks for the reply, but I don't have time for anything like you suggest. I am just venting. I will not be using Canvas once we go back to face to face teaching--to me the cons outweigh the pros compared to what I had been doing before moving fully online. Problem solved.

[Chris_Hofer]

@michael_steffan ...

I can relate to venting...been there, done that.  If you ever have any "how to" questions about Canvas, the Community is here to help you along the way.  While I don't know the subject areas you teach, you may find that Canvas could be helpful to you in some way down the road...so keep it open as an option.  Again, we're here to help.  Take care...

[michael_steffan]

More venting. GRRRRRRRR! I am wasting my life using this piece of **bleep** program. Hours down the tubes just simply trying to grade some tests. Yes, I know how to use it (drawing with a pencil tool on a student pdf). It just has a bug (yes, I've tried different updated browsers, searched your forums, help etc...). It sure would be nice if the developer tested their product. It is clear to me who ever developed this isn't/wasn't a teacher--several of my colleagues have similar complaints about SpeedGrader. Consider me a Canvas hater. 

[MariaMcGrath]

I completely agree. I have been using Canvas for several years and just have been using speedgrader because I don't have any choice. The whole thing is clunky. It is about 5-10 years behind where it should be. Word has a much better editing tool. I WANT INLINE EDITING!!!!!!!!  I feel like I have to muscle through it, literally use my immense strength to add a comment, highlight, bubble comment--everything is clunky. I am getting repetitive stress injuries from it. 

[michael_steffan]

I gave up on it and now download the files and grade them in Acrobat which has better drawing tools that actually work. I also got a $62 drawing tablet with pen on Amazon which speeds things up--way easier than using a mouse. But still, with all the uploading and downloading it takes 2x longer than if I were grading actual papers. Can't wait to get back into the classroom. I am thinking about ditching Canvas completely when I do get back.

[jofawna]

Ironically, the annotation draw tool works fine in the Canvas Mobile app--I tested it on my phone. I can use my finger to draw directly on the student submission without the clunky "leave a text comment with your drawing annotation" feature. Why in the browser version of Canvas, does the draw annotation have to automatically include a textbox? 

[MarkDowdy]

About 1/3 of the time when I use Speedgrader's point annotator, it causes the document to automatically scroll up or down, causing me to lose my place.

It is no fun wrestling with jenky technology when you're trying to grade an essay.