Disable student comments on assignments

[mlehman1]

Hi all, is there a way to disable student comments on assignments? I find that students use the comment option to ask questions that they should be emailing me, and I'd rather them not have the option to comment.

[dhulsey]

Hey,  @mlehman1 ‌! You cannot disable submission comments. You do have two pretty good options for managing this communication piece though: 

1. You can set up your notifications and have them forwarded to your email: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10029-4152719738?sr=search&searchId=02098123-9a6d-41da-a3a6...‌ Note that you can reply to the email you receive to answer the student.

2. You can view and reply to the submission comments from your Canvas inbox: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10007-4152719688?sr=search&searchId=7d57c450-6fc7-4586-9787...‌

I hope that helps! 

[murphyw]

I set the assignment availability date so that students cannot submit work late.  However, they still seem to be able to access and send a submission comment after the due date and several have started turning in late work that way by attaching files (even in file formats I did not allow for the assignment) after the due date, with their apologies for the late submissions and requests that I consider accepting them.  If I can't prevent submission comments, is there a way I can prevent them from attaching anything to a submission comment to avoid receiving late work?  If not, what do you suggest I do about students turning in late work this way?  Thanks. 

[ian_konen]

Any updates on this? This is a fine solution for single instructor courses, but I want to disable comments because they give students the false impression that they will get read. I have a 25 TAs and 800 students in a large lab course, and a grading rotation schedule that ensures students' work gets graded by different TAs over the course of the semester. Students *should* be able to communicate with the TA who graded their work, whether it is to ask for clarification or to appeal a score, and I give them the information needed to look up and email the grader, but they see these comment fields right on the assignment and decide that's easier. It is easer...for them...it's not easier for us. My TAs and I already do too much "human email server" work. I am not going to start monitoring these comments for this large a course in order route them to the correct grader by hand, and I am not going to ask TAs to do that either.

[rosemary_turner]

I want the reply-to-comment feature either removed or the ability for the facilitator to disable this function. I also have large student numbers and don't have the time to pursue the multiple minor comments that students reply to in the graded paper. If students want further feedback they should email me directly.

[ElioArteaga]

I included the following statement in my syllabus:

“Keep in mind that the Canvas LMS doesn’t notify me of your replies to my feedback comments. If you have a question about your grades, please write me through the Canvas LMS’s Inbox tool or email me using your official College email account.

Please do not use the feedback comments to upload assignments after the cut-off deadline. Also, I cannot open certain file formats, like RARs instead of ZIPs. Please don’t defeat the assignment drop box’s format filter by uploading files in non-allowed formats. They won’t be accepted!”

[rosemary_turner]

I don't like these options at all. I want to be able to disable the feature completely. The last thing I need is additional notifications as students have been given significant feedback already. I do not have time to respond to students who make comments next to every piece of feedback given to them.

[wwerner3]

It is really necessary to be able to disable these comments. The solutions offered do not solve the problems, which are as follows:

1. Students submit a comment and attach their homework as an end-run around the due/close date.
2. Students ask questions about assignments after it is too late.
3. When downloading submissions as a zip, the comments aren't seen.

Please DISABLE SUBMISSION COMMENTS!

[jstubbs]

I have the same question.  Students use the comment box on an assignment to ask a question.  The problem is, I have it forwarded it to me as an email, but it does not state the assignment.  I want students to have to email me.  How do you disable the comment box for students?

[Stef_retired]

Joanie, can you clarify this: 

but it does not state the assignment.

I just checked an email notification and the link to the Submission Comments interface appears at the bottom of the notification.

When the instructor clicks on the assignment name in the breadcrumb trail, full assignment details display.

Are you seeing something other than this? 

[jstubbs]

I do not see what your screenshot shows. This is what I see:

Mrs. Joanie Stubbs

Julian Charter School

Social Studies Specialist

English Specialist

Educational Facilitator

jstubbs@juliancharterschool.org <jstubbs@juliancharterschool.org>

951-395-0225 ext: 610021

760-765-5500 ext. 610021

On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 9:47 AM, stefaniesanders <instructure@jiveon.com>

[Stef_retired]

The "Click here to review this submission" link appears at the bottom of your screenshot.

[jstubbs]

I do understand that. However, I don't want students to be able to leave a

comment in the assignment. I want them to have to email me. Is there a

way to disable the comment section for students, but not for me?

Mrs. Joanie Stubbs

Julian Charter School

Social Studies Specialist

English Specialist

Educational Facilitator

jstubbs@juliancharterschool.org <jstubbs@juliancharterschool.org>

951-395-0225 ext: 610021

760-765-5500 ext. 610021

On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 11:17 AM, stefaniesanders <instructure@jiveon.com>

[Stef_retired]

Ah, I see,  @jstubbs ‌; thanks for clarifying. The answer marked "Correct" in this thread is still correct; I just wanted to make sure you knew that the submission comment in the email notification provides a pathway to the assignment itself.

[CaptainYardsale]

The point is not whether the answer is "correct". The point is you are getting valid user feedback and replying with factual responses rather than acknowledging the issue. So, it's not only a failure mode in your product but also your product support model.

[amy_cully]

Since this feature is unable to be disabled, then at least can the notification of the comment be improved? Currently students can leave comments on assignments, and, as I understand it, the only notification an instructor gets of this is via an email (or text if that is an option to them).  I shouldn't have to log in to my email to know what messages/comments I'm receiving in Canvas.  I should be able to log in to Canvas for those notifications.  I can see the comment in speedgrader you say?  There is nothing speedy about going through 500+ grade entries to find a comment that may or may not be there.  Same thing goes for any "flagging" that happens in the gradebook.  That is just not realistic.   Students are leaving these comments with the expectation they will get information back, but if the only notification to an instructor is an email where they could have the notification setting to monthly or never, then the expectation of the student will never be met.  

So, if disabling is not an option, then better notification of the existence of comments needs to happen please. 

[Stef_retired]

 @amy_cully ‌, in Canvas itself, without having to scroll through the SpeedGrader, you can view students' comments on submissions in the Canvas Inbox (filter by course, and toggle the Inbox view to Submission Comments): How do I filter conversations as an instructor? 

[amy_cully]

Thank you for this.  That is actually the most helpful answer I've got so far regarding this topic.  Is there a way to get those submissions to show up as an unread item in the inbox?  This method you mention still requires to regularly go looking for submitted comments.  Thanks!

[Stef_retired]

Not at the moment,  @amy_cully ; that's the subject of a feature idea: https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/3082-submission-comments-appear-in-inbox-indicator 

[erc2]

Stefanie--why is disabling student comments not an option? Certainly, I am not suggesting removing this functionality but rather enhancing it by allowing those of us who REALLY need students NOT to put anything in that comment box and expect it to receive a response to simply prevent them from being able to do so in the first place. I manage two courses with a total of 1,500-2,000 students each semester, and there is no need for them to comment when they upload an assignment. We communicate that to them as clearly as we are able in as many places as we are able, as well as communicating to them that any comments left or assignments uploaded in a comment (AFTER the deadline, which we also cannot prevent!) will not be read, yet because we are forced by Instructure to allow them to comment, they do, and then we spend an unnecessary amount of time and lose goodwill dealing with those students after the fact (insisting that they DID upload the assignment, etc.). An option to simply toggle to "off" that comment feature would solve all of the above, most importantly providing much better quality service to students. Thank you!

[Stef_retired]

While we're not in a position to answer the "why" question, we thank you for adding your comment to the feature idea,  @erc2 ‌; you will receive notifications as updates become available.

[Trinity99]

Good Afternoon Community Team,

Is it still the policy that students comments cannot be disabled for assignments/exams? I appreciate the clarification.

Best regards,

Trinity

[Bob_Loy]

I'd still like a solution to this as well.   I'd like to just disable comments, I'd rather help a kid in person when they need help than miss an actual question.   The comments I usually get aren't relevant to the work being submitted.

[ungoddess]

I would love the option to toggle student comments to "off" since many of them use this feature as a way to argue about their grade rather than come to office hours, send an email, or calendar an appointment with me. There is zero pedagogical benefit to students' being able to leave comments. 

[Gregory_Putman]

I could have sworn that I'd posted on this thread - I think there are multiple threads/versions of this conversation going on.  This is a very important issue for me, too.  As others mentioned above... this is used A LOT by students to submit work in file types that I don't want them to use and/or to submit work after deadlines have passed. 

If I had the option to simply disable comments on assignments/quizzes altogether then we'd avoid so much trouble for me and my students (not to mention my TAs/graders).  If students can just attach anything they want to attach, in any format they wish, in a comment at any time they feel like it then there is no reason whatsoever to be able to restrict file types for assignments or to even have a deadline at all.  If they can, then they do, and since they were able to then I "MUST accept the work...", "is part of the social contract" according to student conversations I've overheard in the hallway recently.

If a student is having trouble with preparing work in the file types that I have the system set to accept then they need to contact me or a TA to discuss and get help learning how to prepare their work - not just avoid by submitting whatever via a comment attachment. 

If a student is in a situation in which they are going to miss a deadline for a legitimate reason then they need to discuss that with me, not just sneak it in later in a comment.  I typically even go along with a bad reason for missing a deadline the first time it comes up...  I've had a few in emergency rooms and hospital rooms unnecessarily stressing out about trying to finish up and submit as soon as possible after a deadline via the comments when I'd have been happy to allow more time after they left the hospital.  If they had simply been unable to submit late and knew they were unable to submit late then I'm sure they would have contacted me to discuss - I was often contacted in situations like this when my institution used Blackboard because there was not really a good way to sneak in late work like this.

I am also really feeling like there are too many different avenues for conversation that I don't have control over so students and I are actually overwhelmed.  I need to be able to streamline conversation options in order to reduce confusion.  Graders leave feedback in grading rubrics.  That is really all I want going on in assignment submissions.  It is too easy to miss a notification setting (I manage nearly 800 students, 30 TAs, in multiple courses with multiple sections each semester) and not get notifications about different comments, etc.  I need students to ask questions to TAs during class, email after class. 

I am able to disable student comments on announcements (which may have a place but seems very unusual to me in the first place) so I'm not sure why not be able to disable student comments on other things such as assignments/quizzes... 

[ElioArteaga]

I also have this same question. Students use assignment comments to upload assignments in file formats I do not want. For example, RAR files instead of ZIP files. I only allow ZIPs because I can easily expand them, but to expand an RAR, I have to upload it to a web site that converts it to ZIP, and then I must download it again. Imagine if everyone did that!!! No, but they get around the disallowed file type by uploading it as a comment.

Also, they post work past the deadline as comments. One semester I had three or four students that neglected their work all semester long, and then on the last week of class uploaded a full semester’s worth of work as assignment comments, and then they emailed me to request that I accept it. Some even had the gall to say they knew what is the deadline for professors to post grades at the end of the semester and to incorrectly assume that I would wait until the last minute to accept late work. A couple of others even turned in their work AFTER THE END of the semester and asked me to do a Grade Change for them. No!!! This feature must be turned off!!! 😡 😡 😡

[Godzilla]

Agreed.  Students abuse this feature to defeat our intentions in setting up assignment deadlines and acceptable file formats.  We should be able to, at least, disable comment attachments and disable comments after the "available until" date.

[Gregory_Putman]

New bad experience with comments on assignments:  I'm having TAs arguing with each other about grading in assignment comment sections (in front of students for all intents and purposes) because they were replying to notifications they were receiving through email that link up to assignment comments - didn't realize their statements were showing up in the comment section for students to see. 

In addition to all the above commenters variations to submitting files in types I can't open without paying for converters, avoiding deadlines (intentionally and unintentionally)...  There is a setting in the overall class settings page to disallow comments being made on Announcements so it seems like Canvas web developers should, in principle, know how to make disallowing comments and/or attachments to comments on assignments and quizzes also be options for instructors to have. 

Please, please, please help us.  This is just one of so many basic functionality issues with Canvas that would make such a huge improvement for instructors and students.  Please make this happen.  I've had so much trouble and so much more of my time taken up by Canvas than previously was needed by Blackboard.  I really want to like using Canvas (and we spend a lot of student tuition money for the honor).  This has been a topic since 2017 and I'm sure I voted on this as feature idea in the past so more than just this one conversation thread.

[Gregory_Putman · Accepted solution]

On any Canvas course, click on the "settings" link from the course menu, then on the "Course Details" tab, at very bottom of the page click "more options" and the the last checkbox allows us to "Disable comments on announcements." 

PLEASE ALSO DO THAT FOR COMMENTS ON ASSIGNMENTS. 

Or... even better would be to have an option to disable comments all together and to have the option to only disable the ability to attach files to comments...  It can be done for announcements, please extend that to assignments. 

I'm half way through summer classes, one session just finished and the next one has just begun.  I'm very tired and am growing disheartened by the lack of ability to control when, where, how, and in what format that students "submit" work.  Students see multiple options to put files into Canvas so they think they are justified to use what ever they prefer.  Many students tell me that they feel like I'm just being heavy-handed in trying to make them needlessly jump through hoops. 

I'm responsible for all the general intro lab courses in our department - up to 28 sections total of multiple courses with a staff of up to 30 grad TAs.  I want the TAs to use grading rubrics and leave feedback.  I want the TAs to use the file viewer mark-up tools to show students problems with submitted work, leave suggestions for what to do differently next time, etc.  That is not possible if they attach files to comment sections. 

Other courses may benefit from comments on assignments and being able to attach files to comments but this is a major problem for my courses.  Please help.  I'd go back to Blackboard just to avoid this one particular problem if I was able.  Canvas does other things so well...  Please take our pleas for help to improve this important, basic functionality.

[ElioArteaga]

I would very much like to know why Instructure has taken no action on this issue, except to tell us where we can go and find the submission comments (in the Canvas Inbox tool under “Submission Comments”); SPOILER ALERT—all of my comments TO the students are there too, so it makes no sense for me to scroll through all of my comments to see if there are any messages from students to me! This is the most ridiculous feature of Canvas. Why won’t they take it off?!?

[sheba_lo]

I have never seen anything like this before, but students are now submitting late assignments to comments quite often. There needs to be a way to disable it. 

[CaptainYardsale]

Holy crap, Canvas. Just fix the **bleep** issue!

[Gregory_Putman]

Dear Canvas,

Copied this comment that a student left for me yesterday.

"I was previously unaware that I was still able to attach files on Canvas after the deadline had ended, I initially sent an email with the lab report included after 5pm on the 8th. My apologies for the very late submission."

Doesn't matter how many times we tell them, where in the syllabus and even on the Canvas page we post instructions for how to submit, that we don't accept email or files attached to comments for grading... the ability to do it translates into assumed permission and appears as if I've done something to allow this - so apparently I've changed my expectations for the class and just haven't revised my syllabus policies, announcements to the class, face-to-face reminders from TAs to students, etc...

Please, PLEASE, PLEASE take some sort of action on this.

[DavidRainboltAd]

We also have faculty that would like to be able to disable student comments. Their issues are the same echoed here, that students use it as an end run around the due dates. It would be nice for those faculty who wish to totally disable students' comments, or to disallow student comments after the until or due date.

[jfountain]

We need the option to (1) disable all student comments on assignments through SpeedGrader and (2) more importantly disable file attachments in SpeedGrader comments for assignments.  We're higher ed and they still try to resubmit this way when they should be resubmitting through the assignment itself.

[Gregory_Putman]

This particular thread goes back to at least 2017 and I've been involved in this thread since 2022... I'm sure there were other threads about the same feature that go back at least that far, probably even farther.  I appreciate all the time and effort that goes in to web design, figuring out different ways to sort and organize comments into themes, host online events, etc., (honestly appreciate the time and effort that goes into this) but can't a little more time be diverted to addressing our issues with basic functionality of Canvas itself - especially ones like this one that will enhance our student engagement and reduce behind the scenes administration time, effort, and frustration?