Submitting your Assignment on Canvas: Best Practices and Troubleshooting

Introduction

Submitting an assignment on Canvas is pretty straightforward, but there are a few places where pitfalls could occur. The following guide refers to a typical Canvas assignment that requires a file upload. There are other types of assignments that may look different. Learn more about different types of assignments here.

Initial Assignment Screen

When you first open an assignment, you will see the screen below, unless the assignment is not available yet (see "Available" below).


1. "Start Assignment" Button. When you're ready to start, click on this button in the upper right corner. If you assignment allows for multiple submissions, and you have already submitted once, then the button will be labelled "New Attempt."

2. Assignment Parameters (Not every assignment will have every parameter)

  1. Due (Date): The date the assignment is due. If it the due date has already passed, but the assignment is still available (see 2e below), you can still submit the assignment, but it will be marked as late. Your instructor may have a "late policy" that defines the penalty for late submissions.
  2. Points
  3. Submitting: How you will submit your work. Some of the possible options are: File Upload, Text Entry, On Paper, No Submission, Media Recording, and more. The most common in File Upload, as shown in the screenshot here.
  4. File Types: If "Submitting"= "File Upload," then your instructor may have chosen particular file types that they will accept.
  5. Available: Your instructor may have set availability dates. You will not be able to see the details, or submit, to an assignment outside of these dates.

3. Instructions: Your Instructor's written instructions for completing the assignment.

4. Rubric: If the assignment has a rubric associated with it, you will see it here. Use the rubric as a guide to help you complete the assignment such that you recieve full credit. Some rubrics have specific point values associate with each criteria, some do not. (See How do I view the rubric for my assignment? for more information)

Second Screen

After you click the "Start Assignment" Button, you will see a screen like the one shown below. Your view may be slightly different if the "Submitting" type is something other than "File Upload." Learn more about different types of assignments here.


1. File Upload Tab: If "Submitting" = "File Upload," then you will see this tab. Stay on this tab if you intend to upload a file from your computer (not Google Drive or OneDrive). See How do I upload a file as an assignment submission in Canvas? for more infomation.

2. Browse: Click the browse button to navigate to the file on your computer.

3. +Add Another File: After adding your first file, you are welcome to add another file (for example, if your instructor has asked you to submit a Bibliography as a separate file). This is still just one submission, not a new attempt. One submission can include multiple files.

4. Comments: Comments related to the assignment. Keep in mind that you professor may not see these comments right away. They will likely be notified when you have made a submission, but not when you leave comments. DO NOT PUT YOUR ACTUAL SUBMISSION IN THIS BOX. Do not link to a document or attempt to attach a file in the comment box. It does not count as an actual submission.

5. Academic Integrity pledge and EULA Acknowledgement: If your instructor has chosen to have submissions checked for similarity with TurnItIn, students will be required to acknowledge these terms by checking this box.

6. Submit Button: After uploading your file, click Submit to finalize! You'll get confetti!

7. Google Drive and MS OneDrive Submission Tabs: If you'd rather pull a file from your personal Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive (instead of uploading from your computer). You may be asked to authorize those apps and log in with your credentials. Please note that this process will pull the file your drive and attach it as a static file. It does not "share" file with your instructor, so you don't have to worry about setting permissions. However, any changes that you make to the file after submission will not be seen by the instructor.

Relevant Canvas Guides

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