Is there a way to help students in real time?

[emily_boulton]

          I am coming from Google Classroom, and so far there is one feature I haven't figured out how to replicate in Canvas. Sometimes when a student was stuck on an assignment, I could click on their version of the assignment and help them using chat comments as I watched them work. Because Canvas doesn't give teachers access to the students Google assignments, I can't do this. Anyone have a work around for this? P.S. I teach 11 year olds so simple is better. 

[KristinL · Accepted solution]

Hi Emily -

You can definitely still use Google Docs! I think the difference will be the timing of which your students submit their work. If they submit the URL to the shared Google Doc into the Assignment, you can use SpeedGrader to access their document. You can annotate and use all of the Google tools. The difference will be is that the Canvas grading side-bar (comments, points, rubric) will be on the right of your screen.

[reid_mclain]

For feedback before submission, I think you can also use the Collaboration tool in Canvas with Google Docs to have them add you to their document before they submit the assignment. They start the document with the Collaboration and then add you to it.