Calculator available for quiz questions

[thornton_d]

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas

I would like an option to add a simple calculator to questions on Canvas quizzes. Ideally one that would work with lock down browsers.

Currently I am working on offering a calculations quiz for one of my Nursing classes. I am attempting to embed a basic calculator or add one via iframe on each question and am having little luck. This has proven to be a bit of a daunting task and I have spent several hours trying to learn and understand basic HTML coding and find a length of code or iframe tag from a site offering https. Several of the other nursing professors are interested in this option as well but have found it too complicated to set up. If their was a simple HTML based calculator saved to a trusted page on canvas's site it could be offered as an option in the question tool bar. This could automatically provide a link or iframe to the calculator and embed it in the question as a widget, allowing the student to access it while working on a quiz question. 

This would provide several benefits first it would be one less thing for students to carry or buy, instructors would also not have to worry about a student bringing a calculator, or the testing center having enough calculators for a large group of students. Additionally, this eliminates the need for instructors to check to see if each student is using a scientific calculator which could be used to cheat on some equation. By using HTML coding it would be compatible with most browsers and it would avoid problems with flash based widgets. If this works well a future offering of a scientific calculator option could also be nice for more advanced math classes.

That said, I really feel this is a great product and I appreciate all the hard work the canvas team has put in to it.

Thank you for your consideration,

David Thornton

Comments from Instructure

For more information, please read through the https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-16300-canvas-release-notes-2019-03-09 & https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-16688-canvas-release-notes-2019-06-01?sr=search&searchId=9d...‌

[kmeeusen]

Hi  @thornton_d , and thanks for submitting this great idea!

First, I did find an HTML calculator widget that works in a Canvas quiz item. Here is the code snippet: <iframe width="219" height="302" src="http://www.calculator-1.com/outdoor/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>. Please note that it is an "http" location that does not work when changed to https, so student will need to provide a security exception for this in their browsers. But it does work just fine - I tested. I found that it looks best at 320X400.

I found it at http://calculator-1.com/widgets/  and they offer:

1. Calculator with special design for your website.

    2. Calculator with special functionality for your website.

    3. Development of individual calculator specifically for your website.

So they may be able to help with the secure URL issue, and may even offer a scientific calculator.

Otherwise, I think a calculator would we a great option in the TinyMCE RCE that Canvas uses. I could not find a similar request to yours, but for the next couple months new feature ideas are on hold while Instructure redesigns the feature idea process. Hopefully, folks will still want to add their opinions in the meantime.

I hope this helps,

KLM

[Renee_Carney]

Kelley, This is awesome!!!

 @thornton_d ​, did you get a chance to try out this awesome find?

[Stef_retired]

 @thornton_d ‌, since we haven't heard from you, we're hopeful that  @kmeeusen ‌'s ingenious suggestion did the trick. Since embedding a calculator widget is already possible in Canvas, we'll archive this idea. Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the Canvas Community.

[Renee_Carney]

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas 

For more information, please read through the Canvas Release Notes (2019-03-09) .

[Renee_Carney]

 @thornton_d  Thank You  for submitting this idea, as well as,  @kmeeusen  Thank You  for your contributions. Your investment in this idea helped refine a feature which is now part of Canvas!

[Renee_Carney]

Quizzes.Next update in Canvas Release Notes (2019-06-01)