Allow for upload of large files over assignment deadlines

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Status: Open Submitted by on ‎02-25-2021 06:33 AM

We've got some students who are submitting rather large files for assignments (over 1GB). The problem is that some of them have slow network connections which mean that it's taking them a long time to upload the files. Would it be possible to do one (or both) of the following:

1) Have the ability to extend the deadline for the assignment (potentially only by a couple of hours) without announcing that the deadline has changed so that we can cater for people who have slow network connections.

2) Provide a mechanism (option when setting up an assignment) that allows files that have started to upload before the deadline to continue uploading.

cheers,

Steve..

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4 Comments
Stef_retired
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni
‎02-25-2021 06:41 AM
Status changed to: Open
 
Stef_retired
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni
‎02-25-2021 06:46 AM

@nasm3 

Thanks for sharing this idea. As it moves forward for broader discussion, I'll share the tactic I employed successfully when I was teaching students who often struggled with slow internet speeds and also waited until the very last moment to start uploading their files: I set an available until time for all assignments requiring file uploads that was 10 minutes after the due date time. Students always focused on the due date, but didn't run into an obstacle when their files took longer to finish uploading than they had anticipated. While 10 minutes worked well for my course activities, you might consider giving them a bigger cushion when the files are likely to be as large as 1GB.

nasm3
Community Member
‎02-25-2021 06:53 AM

Thanks Stefanie,

If I understand correctly does that mean that if I've set the available until to 23:59 (deadline 16:30) then they'll have till 23:59 to upload the file?

cheers,

steve..

Stef_retired
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni
‎02-25-2021 06:59 AM

@nasm3 That is correct, Steve. I picked up on this after my first semester teaching in Canvas, and it reduced the number of messages I received from students about being hung up at the deadline from a plethora to zero. 🙂 The assignments will still be marked as "late," but I don't see that as a bad thing; it will give you a way to identify those students who are having to deal with slow internet.