in-class anonymous questions options for introverts

[mprobinson]

Hi all!

What I want to do is set up Canvas so that during a lecture, a student can put a question in Canvas that will send me an immediate notification (on my phone or a pop-up on the desktop). I can then switch to Canvas and see the question and answer it.

My idea is that introverts or quiet students or just those too embarrassed to ask could become more engaged. There are some platforms out there that do that. But we use Canvas and I was hoping there was a simple way to handle it. In more detail:

1. A student during class would go to Canvas and in a particular location type a question.

2. I would immediately see that a question has been posted--either because my phone gets an alert or a pop-up happens on screen. (I would have Canvas open but not on-screen, because I am using the screen to lecture.) 

3. Ideally the question appears in the pop-up, but I could just flip over to Canvas and read the question. Then I would be able to answer it at that moment talking to the class.

Thanks!

[mprobinson]

Ideally, the student's name would not appear UNLESS I somehow went into the data and found it. That would only be necessary if the student were posting improper material.

[ColtonSwapp]

Hello @mprobinson 

There isn't anything that would necessarily allow for this in Canvas, however there are a few work around ideas I have seen some instructors use that you might be able to test out here. 

Workaround ideas I thought of you on this. 

• The Canvas inbox. Students at your institution can use the Canvas inbox to send you a message if they have a question or comment. You can setup your notification preferences to notify you immediately when the inbox message comes through. You can then respond privately to them without any of the other students seeing what they had to say.
• HERE is a guide on using the inbox for students.
• HERE are the guides on using the inbox as an instructor.
• HERE is a guide on setting up notification preferences. 

• Discussion posts. You could setup a discussion in the course that would allow the student reply with their question or comment. You can get creative with this if you want and set it up as a group discussion, and add each student to their group. When the student responds to the group discussion, none of the other students will see their reply if they the only one in the group, within the groupset. This one might take a bit of time to set up initially.  
• HERE is a guide on setting up groups in your course. remember to only have 1 user per group when you set this up, if you want them to have privacy. 
• HERE is a guide on setting up a group discussion. For this you would not want to select the option for graded so it does not count towards the final grade.

• School Specific email. Many instructors will encourage students to email them directly using your school's specific email system. unfortunately we don't have any guides on this since your school email is typically handled outside of Canvas. This would obviously be something you can speak with your school's IT.  helpdesk about. 

Someone from the community might be able to make some further suggestions if I have left out any. 

Hopefully this helps! 

-Colton