[New Quizzes] Toggle Timer Visibility

Problem statement:

Canvas currently displays a countdown timer during timed quizzes and exams, which remains visible throughout the assessment. While this feature helps students manage their time, it can also exacerbate anxiety for students who struggle with time pressure. The constant visibility of the timer may become a distraction, negatively impacting their ability to focus and perform well. Use Case Example: Consider a student with test anxiety who finds it challenging to concentrate on questions when a countdown timer is present. The visible timer increases stress, making the student feel rushed and reducing their capacity to think clearly. If this student had the option to hide the timer, they could take the quiz without the constant reminder of remaining time, potentially leading to a calmer, more focused experience.

Proposed solution:

Introduce a "Hide/Show Timer" Toggle Option within the Canvas quiz interface. This feature would allow students to choose whether to display or hide the timer at any point during their quiz or exam. This solution provides students with a degree of control over their test environment, catering to diverse learning and emotional needs. By enabling students to hide the timer, Canvas could significantly improve the testing experience for those who feel heightened anxiety due to time pressure. It supports a more inclusive approach to testing by aligning with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, which emphasize flexibility and accommodation for all learners.

User role(s):

instructor,student

2 Comments
KristinL
Community Team
Community Team
Status changed to: Will Not Consider

Hi @LanceChaulk -

Thank you for sharing this idea! I have good news for you --

With New Quizzes, students have the ability to hide/show the timer while they complete an assessment. If your school hasn't adopted New Quizzes yet, please talk with your Canvas Administrator. They may be able to enable the feature for your course and share more information about your institution's roll-out plan.

LanceChaulk
Community Explorer
Author

@KristinL 

Thank you for that! I definitely missed that in my search, and when I spoke with Canvas support, they mentioned that there was no option for this and recommended submitting a Feature Request. I really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction! I’ll follow up with our Canvas Administrator to check on New Quizzes and see if it’s possible to enable this feature for our courses. Thanks again for your help!