This lesson applies to users at institutions that have enabled the Canvas for Elementary user interface.
You can view most assignment comments in the assignment submission sidebar. However, your instructor may choose to include comments directly in an assignment submission using inline comments, or annotations. If an assignment's submission details page includes a View Feedback button, you can view these annotated comments through a preview tool called Canvas DocViewer. You can also use Canvas DocViewer to reply to any comments or make your own annotations.
Some browsers may not initially render comments correctly when viewing feedback. If your browser includes a built-in PDF viewer, select the option to view the PDF in the system viewer. You can also download PDF files with comments to view on your computer. The settings required to view or print the annotations in the PDF vary based on the software installed on your computer.
Notes:
- If the assignment attachment displays a Preview button instead of the View Feedback button, your file is not DocViewer compatible and will not include any annotated comments.
- If you submitted a group assignment but are not a member of a group, instructor comments may not display in the Submission Details page. You can view comments from your Grades page or the Submission Comments folder of the Inbox.
Open Subject Grades
From the Homeroom, click the Grades tab [1].
To view grade details for a subject, click the subject name [2].
Open Submission Feedback
If your instructor has added feedback to your submission, you can view their feedback by clicking the View Feedback link.
Note: The View Feedback link only displays if your instructor has left feedback on your submission.
View Submission Feedback
Any instructor comments added to your submission, as well as any comments added by you, appear in the Comments portion of the sidebar [1].
If your assignment includes a rubric, your instructor may also leave comments in the rubric [2].
If you submitted the assignment with a file upload, your instructor may have included annotated feedback in your assignment. If your instructor included annotated feedback, you can view it by clicking the View Feedback link [3].
Note: If the assignment attachment displays a Preview button, your file is not DocViewer compatible.
View Annotated Feedback
View the annotated comments from your instructor [1].
To reply to a comment, click on the comment and click the Reply button [2].
When an annotated comment includes multiple content lines, the content box displays an ellipses link [3]. To expand a comment, click the ellipses link.
To view stacked replies, click the comment to expand all replies [4]. You can also use DocViewer to make your own annotations on your assignment.
To download a PDF of the submission and annotations, click the Download icon [5].
Add Comments
To add a comment to your assignment submission, type your comment in the sidebar's Add a Comment field [1]. All comments left on a group assignment submission are sent to the instructor and the whole group [2].
To attach a file, click the Attach File link [3].
To add a media comment, click the Media Comment link [4]. You can record a video or record an audio comment to send to your instructor.
To submit your comment, click the Save button [5].
