Speedgrader Annotation on iPad; Android Tablet; Windows 10 Touchscreen

[mari_brunson]

We urgently need answers to the below questions in order to make some decisions and prepare for Summer quarter and beyond.

We need an instructor-friendly, practical capability to use DocViewer to access and Annotate student assignments within Speedgrader. (The workaround (download, annotate, and upload) is not an option as it is too clumsy and time-consuming.) From reading Canvas community posts, it appears the “gold standard” for this capability is the iPad Pro with 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Due to the high cost of these devices, it is not practical for us to outfit our instructors with them. Therefore we are considering alternatives, and need answers to the following questions.

1. Does the ANNOTATION function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER work exactly the same across the following current iPad models? If not, what is the difference in user experience?
   1. iPad (7th gen) with 1st generation Apple Pencil.
   2. iPad Pro (4th gen) with 2nd generation Apple Pencil.
2. Does the ANNOTATION function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER work exactly the same on an Android tablet as one or both of the iPad models above? If not, exactly how is it different?
3. What current model Android tablets does Canvas suggest for using the ANNOTATION function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER?
4. For the ANNOTATE function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER, does Canvas plan to implement passive stylus support on Windows 10 touchscreen?

[KristinL]

As far as I am aware, as long as the iOS is up to date and so is the Canvas Teacher app, the interface and user experience is the same across iOS devices using the Apple Pencil. The 2nd Gen Apple Pencil may have more precision, but nothing too notable with the app interface. Otherwise, it would be the differences of the devices (speed and size)

The iOS and Android versions are similar. While the features are very close, they look a little different. You can compare the two versions of the Canvas Teacher App here:

How do I add DocViewer annotations in the Teacher app on my iOS device?‌

How do I add DocViewer annotations in the Teacher app on my Android device?‌

The annotations should work with a Windows touchscreen, though the individual results vary depending on the screen and stylus.

https://community.canvaslms.com/ideas/14045-improving-stylus-functionality-in-docviewer 

Thoughts on Stylus Support in SpeedGrader 

[rseilham]

I may repeat some of  @KristinL ‌'s post, but here is my information: 

1. Does the ANNOTATION function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER work exactly the same across the following current iPad models? If not, what is the difference in user experience? There really isn't any difference in the Apple Pencil gen 1 or 2 when it comes to using SpeedGrader. Also, you can use SpeedGrader with any stylus (or even your finger), the Apple Pencil is just a better experience. Logitech also makes a stylus called the Crayon the work well. 
   1. iPad (7th gen) with 1st generation Apple Pencil. -Yes and it works really well
   2. iPad Pro (4th gen) with 2nd generation Apple Pencil. - Yes, any iPad Pro with a compatible pencil works great too. 
2. Does the ANNOTATION function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER work exactly the same on an Android tablet as one or both of the iPad models above? If not, exactly how is it different? It works the same. Any tablet or smartphone will work and you can use any stylus, your finger, etc. 
3. What current model Android tablets does Canvas suggest for using the ANNOTATION function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER? Any tablet that supports Android 6 (Marshmallow) or higher. 
4. For the ANNOTATE function in Canvas SPEEDGRADER, does Canvas plan to implement passive stylus support on Windows 10 touchscreen? There is support, but you are using the web DocViewer interface, which might as stylus/touch friendly as a tablet. Stylus use in Speedgrader? 

I hope this helps! 

[mari_brunson]

Dear Kristin and Ryan:

Thank you so much for your quick replies.

Based on your input and additional research, we have decided to request our Division to purchase the iPad with 1^st generation Apple Pencil. However, I would like to add two lingering thoughts.

1.  I am still a little concerned about the Apple Pencil’s drawing functionality (responsiveness, precision and consistency) because we teach Japanese language and our annotation involves drawing complex characters. I am currently using Surface Pro 4, and am quite frustrated with its drawing functionality when annotating students assignments in Speedgrader. All assignments are uploaded in PDF, but I have noticed some inconsistency in DocViewer accessibility and Annotation functionality. For example: 

• Some assignments open instantaneously while others take 1-2 minutes to open
• The view size of some assignments can be changed while others cannot
• On many assignments I can barely write anything meaningful because of the accept/delete popup box that gets in the way of my writing (Same comment from Greg Baxley on Apr 18, 2019 to Improving Stylus Functionality in DocViewer
• On many assignments, my writing is hardly legible (See Gideon Williams post on Mar 12, 2020 in his response to Thoughts on Stylus Support in SpeedGrader)

My hope is that iPAD and 1^st generation Apple Pencil will not bring these problems.

2. I recently purchased a touch monitor, which I use with my non-touch Windows 10 PC. With my PASSIVE stylus, Canvas Annotation is not accessible. This issue was explained well by Matt Hanes on May14 2019 in his response to Thoughts on Stylus Support in SpeedGrader

[hauges]

I've had similar problems and one more in the web DocViewer interface, when trying to use it with a Huion 1060Plus graphics drawing tablet and active stylus connected to my Windows laptop:

- the same problem with the accept/delete popup box getting in the way of writing with the pencil annotation tool;

- low quality / illegibility of writing with the pencil annotation tool (which does not occur when using the same graphics tablet with other apps);

- visual misalignment of the pencil annotation tool icon with the markings it makes (which appear quite a ways above the tip of the pencil icon -- though when using the mouse, they're properly aligned, I can't control the mouse well enough for writing -- again something that doesn't happen when using the graphics tablet with other apps).

In my case I need pencil annotation for mathematical economics assignment grading. I've worked around this for now by using the Canvas Teacher app on an Android Samsung tablet successfully with PDF documents, but that has its own problems. (That interface can't be used to mark up JPEG files, which students were submitting work that way until I realized I had to have them combine the JPEG photos of their work into PDFs.)

I've submitted a tech support ticket for the misalignment problem.

Thanks.