Using Canvas Studio for Video Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes

Assignments

When students turn in a video or audio file through Canvas Studio, you can still leave overall feedback in SpeedGrader. You can also pause the video and add a comment at a specific point, so your feedback lines up with the exact moment you're talking about.

To set up a Canvas Studio video assignment:

1. In your Canvas course, select Assignments in the course navigation menu.
2. Select the + Assignment button in the upper right corner.
3. Enter the assignment details:
   • Name
   • Description/Instructions: tell students they need to upload their video to Canvas Studio
   • Points Possible
4. Under Submission Type, choose Online from the drop-down menu.
5. Check the box for Text Entry.

   Note: Do not select the Media Recordings option.

6. Set the due date.
7. Select Save and Publish.

This setup works with Canvas Groups. You can also use the Assign To options to give it to specific students or sections with different due and availability dates.

Why use Text Entry?

With Text Entry, students get the standard Rich Content Editor. The toolbar has a Canvas Studio icon that lets them embed a Studio video or other media right in their submission. They can also add written context, a description of the video, or images. You can then use SpeedGrader's annotation tools to leave inline comments on any text they submit.

Alt text: The Canvas Rich Content Editor toolbar with the Canvas Studio icon highlighted.
Caption: Students insert Canvas Studio media using the Studio icon in the Rich Content Editor.

Discussions

Graded and ungraded discussions both use the same Rich Content Editor. Students embed Studio media the same way they do in a Text Entry assignment.

If you want students to watch and respond to each other's videos, use a discussion instead of an assignment. Each student posts their video as a reply, and classmates can view it and comment.

Quizzes

Essay questions in Canvas quizzes use the same editor, so students can embed Canvas Studio media in their answers there too.

Grading

You can play and grade video and audio submissions in SpeedGrader, with or without a rubric, the same way you grade any other Canvas assignment. 

Need help? Contact the UT Martin ITC at 731-881-7877 or itc@utm.edu.