Why can I not download student audio responses to assignments?

[NHendleyGCS]

I want to start using more student audio/video responses (mostly to combat AI) but also so students can interact more with me.

However, I CANNOT download their responses! And I'd like to be able to do that.

I can sometimes do the old F12 inspect and find the file and open it but if the response is longer, it will not allow me.

Please advise!

[dbrace]

Hi @NHendleyGCS,

I believe this is because of adjustments that were made to the media player built into Canvas, according to Canvas Release Notes (2025-04-19) - Instructure Community - 637511  (which was delayed to until 2025-04-24).

I think this is the case because Canvas developers/engineers made adjustments to how the playback process works because of privacy and security reasons because Canvas users were downloading videos/audio that they were not supposed to be able to.

@AkosFarago, can you address this for us?

-Doug

[NHendleyGCS]

Thank you for the response. I can certainly understand wanting to protect bad actors and such but some of these responses, I'd like to download and save for my own nostalgia.

[DrTerriC]

Could you make it an assignment and have them upload a file created elsewhere..(ie.. Zoom party of one or voice memo).. It would then create a file which you could download like you for papers etc.. 

It would be an extra step for students though. 

[NHendleyGCS]

That is a great idea and I really like it, but I still want to be able to pull the audio from the existing assignment which has already been uploaded. I'm almost at the point of just booting up OBS and screen-recording the screen as the audio plays but that's a bit more involved than I'd like.

Thank you for the suggestion though!