Students can't see assignment descriptions when locked

[PhillipLuck]

Is there a way for students to see assignments in Canvas when they are locked?  I have locked assignments to prevent students from submitting before the week they are due, but students are now not able to see the assignment description in Cnavas until I unlock the assignments.  Is there a way for me to allow students to see the assignment in Canvas when the assignment is locked for submissions?

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

Hi @PhillipLuck ,

Thank you for posting on the Instructure Community!

When the assignment is locked, you are prohibiting students from viewing the full assignment, which includes but is not necessarily limited to, the descriptions, submit button, etc. That being said, in most instances, students will not be able to access any information for that assignment unless it is unlocked. However, you mentioned that your students are wanting to see the information before submitting. Something you can do is change the Submission type to 'No Submission' in your assignment's settings, and then when you are ready to have them start submitting you can change the submission type back to what you wish for it to be. This will allow students to see the information but will not have any option to submit the assignment yet.

I hope this helps!

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

@paul_fynn I just did some testing because I was curious about this, and it appears that within our instance students are not able to see the content within the assignment except the title of it until the unlock date. It presents students with a message that says "This assignment is locked until: (date/time)". After the assignment is locked, the same message appears, however it says "This assignment was locked on: (date/time)", and students are only able to see their assignment submissions and comments, however they are unable to view the content themselves.

This could vary based off of institution to institution, based off of how things are set-up, however this is what our school has it set up as. We are primarily using the browser, at least during the school day. Students generally use the app for when they're not in school, and they're checking announcements or grades, or the like. Students for the most part will not use their mobile devices during the school day to complete assignments.

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

Hi @PhillipLuck ,

Thank you for posting on the Instructure Community!

When the assignment is locked, you are prohibiting students from viewing the full assignment, which includes but is not necessarily limited to, the descriptions, submit button, etc. That being said, in most instances, students will not be able to access any information for that assignment unless it is unlocked. However, you mentioned that your students are wanting to see the information before submitting. Something you can do is change the Submission type to 'No Submission' in your assignment's settings, and then when you are ready to have them start submitting you can change the submission type back to what you wish for it to be. This will allow students to see the information but will not have any option to submit the assignment yet.

I hope this helps!

[paul_fynn]

I'm not sure that is our experience @NoahBoswell .

I believe(d) that where the from and / or to dates were set that students could read the assignment instructions outside of those dates but could not submit until / except between the two dates.

@PhillipLuck do you have a screenshot of your 'locking' please ?

The exception to this is Canvas New Quizzes, where a student (currently) cannot see the quiz instructions without starting the quiz. by which time the clock is ticking. In consequence to that our E2E assessment solution populates a normal assignment as a briefing placeholder as well as the quiz. with a link between the two.

Recent 'Assign To' changes may have impact on this.

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

@paul_fynn I just did some testing because I was curious about this, and it appears that within our instance students are not able to see the content within the assignment except the title of it until the unlock date. It presents students with a message that says "This assignment is locked until: (date/time)". After the assignment is locked, the same message appears, however it says "This assignment was locked on: (date/time)", and students are only able to see their assignment submissions and comments, however they are unable to view the content themselves.

This could vary based off of institution to institution, based off of how things are set-up, however this is what our school has it set up as. We are primarily using the browser, at least during the school day. Students generally use the app for when they're not in school, and they're checking announcements or grades, or the like. Students for the most part will not use their mobile devices during the school day to complete assignments.

[KristinL]

Hello! I'm going to add a couple of questions to this thread too. @PhillipLuck, are your students accessing the assignments/activities with a browser or the Canvas Student App? Also, does your institution use Assignment Enhancements?

[PhillipLuck]

Thanks all! I should have mentioned that I am using the "free" version of Canvas, so that may have something to do with it as well. Students are accessing Canvas through a web browser. 

[NoahBoswell · Accepted solution]

@PhillipLuck Absolutely, and with the free for teacher edition of canvas, generally it will act the same way as I described. While my school district does pay for Canvas, I'm also a user of free for teacher as well, and that's generally how it behaves when I lock assignments, too.