How should instructors interpret the "stopped viewing the quiz page" event in Canvas?

This article explains why the "stopped viewing the quiz page" event in Canvas should not be used as sole evidence of academic dishonesty and provides guidance on interpreting these events properly.

When students take a quiz or exam in Canvas, the system automatically logs events, including when a student opens other browser tabs, windows, or software during the assessment. One specific log entry, "Stopped viewing the Canvas quiz-taking page," may raise concerns about academic dishonesty. However, this message can appear for many legitimate reasons unrelated to cheating. Understanding the context behind these log entries can help instructors avoid misinterpretations.

The "stopped viewing the Canvas quiz-taking page" event in Canvas should never be taken as definitive evidence of academic dishonesty on its own. This event can occur for several legitimate reasons. For example:

1. Operating System Notifications: Students may receive notifications from their operating system, such as software update alerts.
2. Volume Adjustments: Adjusting the volume or changing tracks on a music player could trigger this event.
3. Auto-Logout Prompts: If a student is logged into another system, like Student Center, their bank, or various other websites, they might receive an auto-logout prompt that momentarily takes focus away from the quiz.
4. Assistive Technology: Students using speech-to-text, screen readers, or other assistive software may see pop-up windows during use.
5. Technical Issues: The student may experience a technical glitch or freeze in the quiz interface, requiring them to refresh the page or troubleshoot the issue by checking settings or other tabs.
6. Erroneous Clicks: A student might accidentally click outside the quiz window or press a shortcut key that causes the window to lose focus (such as Alt, the windows key, or certain function keys on some keyboards).
7. Battery Warnings: Low battery warnings or power settings on a laptop might cause a notification to pop up or even automatically open a power management window.

To avoid wrongful accusations, ensure that you have substantial additional evidence before concluding that academic dishonesty has occurred.

Still need help? If you run into problems or still need help, reach out to the Technology & Learning Program.