Google Doc Submission with pictures that shows up Blank

[rstoudt]

I am an instructor and I have used both Google Docs Cloud assignment and Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) and have this same problem with both types of external tools and I am frustrated and so are my students.

Here is the problem:

I create a Google Doc where I want students to take pictures of their written work and insert the pictures into the Google Doc that way there are no missing papers problem and students can submit even outside of class.  However frequently when a student submits the assignment there are no pictures at all and the student shows me on their iPad (we are 1:1 iPads) that the pictures are in fact on the Google Doc.  If the student waits a while....sometimes several hours and resubmits (does nothing different in the Google Doc or on Canvas) the pictures suddenly show up.

I do not want to have students do individual file uploads of these pictures because it would be several files that I need to click through rather than just scrolling through the pictures in one Google Doc.

Please help, this has been driving me nuts!

I've attached an example from today, first is when a student submitted at 2:08 pm when it was blank and the second is when the same student submitted at 6:12 pm and the pictures are there.

[paul_fynn · Accepted solution]

Yes, we've noted this behaviour as well and currently our QA team are generally content to give students the benefit of the doubt and not penalise them for a later correct submission.

The only solution I can offer is that the student prints, exports or saves google docs files to their local drive then uploads from there. To check whether Google Docs submissions have been successful the would need to check their submission via the submission link or profile from an alternate device, IMHO.

[paul_fynn · Accepted solution]

Yes, we've noted this behaviour as well and currently our QA team are generally content to give students the benefit of the doubt and not penalise them for a later correct submission.

The only solution I can offer is that the student prints, exports or saves google docs files to their local drive then uploads from there. To check whether Google Docs submissions have been successful the would need to check their submission via the submission link or profile from an alternate device, IMHO.

[rstoudt]

I'm sorry but this is the best that you can offer....this has been a problem for YEARS and it has not gotten any better (I even asked a Canvas tech representative at a conference booth).  My students and I are frustrated because it may take several times for the upload to show pictures which is time consuming for the student and for me.  I'm disappointed in Canvas.

If you have a better suggestion on how to get multiple pictures submitted to a Canvas assignment where I don't need to load each individual picture I am all for it.  Now I need to figure this out on my own.

[chriscas]

Hi @rstoudt,

In my opinion, this seems like more of a Google issue than a Canvas one if students see something different on the Google Doc than you do on your end.  Instead of using Google Docs, perhaps you could have students insert their pictures into a word (or Pages since you mentioned iPads) document and have your Canvas assignments be s file submission type.  This puts more of the onus for correct submissions on students, but if you provide some directions to them on creating the document with multiple pictures attached, I'm fairly confident the students will be able to do it.  Aside from that, I'm afraid I don't have much advice, as getting support from Google can be pretty difficult in general (at least in my own experience).

-Chris

[paul_fynn · Accepted solution]

Hi @rstoudt I feel your pain, as does everyone else on this volunteer run global community of interest who gives up their time to help their peers get through initial, and not so initial, teething issues on Canvas.

Before your next post and reply, may I recommend that you take a look at this useful guide

Good luck with your search for a solution.