Allowing Assignment Resubmissions in Canvas

Question

How can I allow a student to resubmit an assignment?

Environment

• Canvas

Information

In Blackboard, instructors could delete (clear) a previous student attempt. In Canvas, previous assignment submissions cannot be deleted, but instructors can allow resubmissions or reassign the assignment.

Answer

Option 1: Reassign the Assignment

This option is only available for File Upload or Text Entry assignments. Additionally, the assignment must still be open, and the due date must not have passed.

1. Navigate to the course.
2. Click Assignments, then select the assignment.
3. Click SpeedGrader.
4. Locate the student by clicking the student name dropdown in the upper-right corner.
5. Click Reassign Assignment.
   • Note: You must first provide feedback in the assignment comments before the Reassign Assignment button becomes active.

The student will be notified that the assignment has been reassigned and can submit again. The original submission remains viewable in SpeedGrader via the "Submission Attempts" dropdown.

Option 2: Use "Assign To" (For specific students or passed due dates)

If the due date has passed or you need to provide a unique window for one student, you can assign the assignment directly to them.

1. Open the assignment and click Edit.
2. Scroll down to the Assign To section.
3. Click + Add to create a new assignment block.
4. In the Assign to field, type and select the student’s name.
5. Set a new Due date (and update the Until date if necessary so the assignment is accessible).
6. Scroll to Submission Attempts:
   • If the assignment is set to 1 attempt and the student has already submitted, increase the number of attempts (e.g., to 2 or Unlimited) so they can submit again.
7. Click Save.
8. Confirm that only that student is listed in the separate block; everyone else will remain under the Everyone else block with the original dates.

Option 3: Let Them Submit Again (If Multiple Attempts Allowed)

1. Navigate to the assignment.
2. Confirm the settings allow multiple submissions.
3. As long as the assignment is still open (the current date is before the Until date), the student can click New Attempt to submit again without instructor intervention.