Customize the language that goes along with a file attachment

[slavrenz]

I rely heavily on Canvas quizzes, but for some of the more intensive computational questions, I've found that it's easier to simply have students send me a photo of their work within a few minutes of submitting their quiz answers.

When I get these photos, scans, etc., I attach them to the quiz so that they don't get lost. However, when I upload the file and hit submit, the comment section auto-populates with "Please see attached files."

Students get super-confused by this, because the attachment is what they sent to me already, and they're thinking that I'm asking them to look at something (I am not...I just want to keep the image of their work together with their virtual quiz).

Is there a way for me to customize or remove this "Please see attached files." language?

[mzimmerman · Accepted solution]

Hi @slavrenz 

You cannot change the wording associated with attachments in the comments section.  Rather than having the students just send you the photos, why not simply create another assignment for them to use to submit them, which is due within a few minutes after they complete the quiz?  Then the submissions would be saved under the students' names, along with the time they submitted, etc.

[slavrenz]

@mzimmerman for a number of reasons:

1. I would have to create two separate items for each quiz
2. I only give students a 10-minute window following their completion of the quiz to send in their written work
3. Students may struggle to submit handwritten notes using a formal Canvas assignment within 10 minutes. I just require a quick photo, sent to my email, Teams, or Canvas. As long as it's in a bucket that only I can access within that 10-minute window, they're good.

[mzimmerman]

Hi @slavrenz 

I understand, but using a separate assignment does help keep track of their submission and exactly when it was uploaded.

Perhaps another option would be to add a "file upload" question at the end of the quiz that they would use to submit the image of their work.