[Permissions] Conversations - send messages to Observer

[ptart]

Problem statement:

The Observer/Student communication is restricted to one way communication.

• observers can message their students
• students cannot message their observer

Reason for the Problem:

As a K-12 district, we chose to disable both Conversation permissions for the student role. There were to many instances of non instructional conversations containing verbal abuse and extreme profanity.

• Conversations - send messages to entire class
• Conversations - send messages to individual course members

Benefits of this Decision

When disabling "send messages to individual course members", students can can still send individual messages to course teachers, course TAs, and students that belong to the same account-level groups.

Downside of this Decision

Students are no longer able to send individual messages to the Observers they are connected with.

Proposed solution:

Add a Conversation permission to target messages between students and their observer(s).

• Permission Title: Conversations - send messages to Observer
• What it Does: Allows students to send a message to observers they are associated with (course observer or parent observer).

Use Case:

Our Pre-K through 5th grade students do not have email; they get email access in 6th grade. We have a large group of 5th grade students taking 6th grade curriculum. Before turning off these permissions for students, they could communicate back to their observer (e.g. AIG teacher, counselor...). Now that is no longer an option.

Benefit:

Regardless of the previous two permissions, districts can control if students can message their observer(s) in Canvas.

Thank you for considering,

Patrick Tart

User role(s):

student