Option to Use Stylus with Speedgrader on Ipad

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas

Hey All,

As of now, Canvas Speedgrader allows the use of a stylus/pen via the mouse on a standard computer monitor. However, when logged in on an Ipad, the option to use a stylus/pen to grade in Speedgrader disappears. I would like the feature added for use on Ipads so that we may use a Stylus to grade assignments on the Ipad instead of having to print assignments, grade, and scan back in.

Thank you!

 

Comments from Instructure

For more information, please read through the Canvas Teacher Release Notes (iOS, Android 1.0).

99 Comments
sadenniston
Community Contributor

I feel that perhaps a simpler workaround that wouldn't require third-party integration is enabling Open In functionality for SpeedGrader, so that documents submitted by students can be opened by the teacher in another app, like Notability or other annotation app, annotated, then from the annotation app, using Open In to send the annotated document back to SpeedGrader app.

rseilham
Community Champion

 @sadenniston ​

Even though this seems like to best solution, I think they would like to cross-platform compatibility. This means that any annotations made on the web or mobile will be viewable and editable on either platform. If a 3rd party mobile app is used, then this wouldn't be possible. Yet again, there are some really great mobile apps that can annotate much better than the current tools on the web, so I can see why an instructor would prefer to use these.

sadenniston
Community Contributor

Good point - although for all PDF annotation apps I've used on the iPad, Open In allows the document to be opened in another app as a PDF, not just the file format native to the app. Looking forward to the Canvas solution!

lpfister
Community Member

Is this still in the works?  The ability to annotate with a stylus directly onto an assignment from the iPad would make the Speedgrader app much more useful!

bdoriot
Community Participant

Hi, Lauren. This is in beta testing right now. Was notified a week or two ago. Looking forward to feedback from teachers.

Bobby Doriot

Director of eLearning

Scott County School District 2

812-752-8927 ext. 6012

lpfister
Community Member

Great!  Thank you!  Can I access the beta environment?  I know how to do that from my computer but not for the app. 

bdoriot
Community Participant

Not sure about that. We were asked to be in the beta group and it was turned on for us.

Bobby Doriot

Director of eLearning

Scott County School District 2

812-752-8927 ext. 6012

dar119
Community Participant

How do I get in on the beta test group for using a stylus to mark up PDF files in speedgrsader?  This feature would be a deal-maker/breaker for me!  I just asked my department to buy me an iPad so that I can grade homework (submitted as PDF files) without having to download each and every submitted file, print them off on paper, grade them, scan them, and upload them back to Canvas.  The desktop version of SpeedGrader allows for writing with a pen tool -- but I don't have a pen device to write on my desktop computer.  I am borrowing a Wacom Bamboo tablet/pen device to try to annotate PDF files on my desktop computer, but I really don't like the way it feels or works.  I was really disappointed today when I got my iPad, installed the Canvas SpeedGrader app and went to start catching up on my grading . . . only to discover that the mobile version of SpeedGrader does not (yet) allow stylus input for comments.   Arrrgghh!!!  This feature cannot arrive fast enough for me!

Dan Russell

Director of Acoustics Distance Education

Graduate Program in Acoustics at Penn State

bdoriot
Community Participant

Not sure. Our implementation specialist contacted us about it and turned on the feature for use to try. It is a great feature to have and I’m excited that Canvas made this a priority.

Bobby Doriot

Director of eLearning

Scott County School District 2

812-752-8927 ext. 6012

dar119
Community Participant

I cannot wait . . . in fact I need this feature soon (i.e. within weeks) so that I can manage my grading workload this semester.  I think I'll contact our implementation people to see if we can get this beta going for us also.