City University of Hong Kong

Digital Learning Support

City University of Hong Kong

Digital Learning Support

Before conducting online examinations with Canvas quizzes and assignments, it is important to prepare a contingency plan to address potential system failures in Canvas or other unexpected technical issues (e.g., unstable Internet connections).

If any of the technical issues occur during or near the examination period, Course Leaders and Chief Invigilators must decide whether to proceed with the examinations as scheduled, extend them, or reschedule them. This decision should be based on the flexibility of the examination timing, the class size, and the availability of sufficient printed question papers. Printed Question Papers are the preferred alternative method if technical issues prevent online examinations.


Examination Preparation As a contingency, please prepare a digital copy of the examination question paper in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

  • You are advised to follow the sample format below and download it.
  • You may adopt one of the following approaches.
    • Print copies of the question paper when an unexpected technical issue happens before the examination starts
      This is the preferred contingency if there is sufficient flexibility to delay or extend the examination time, and sufficient printing resources to print papers on short notice; or
    • Print sufficient copies of the question paper before the examination day
      If it is not feasible to produce enough copies of the question paper once technical issues arise, you can consider preparing copies beforehand, allowing for an extra 10% of copies beyond the total number of course students and keep them in a safe or in a locked metal cabinet within the academic unit.
Examination Day

If Canvas experiences degraded performance

Based on the flexibility of the examination time, the class size, and sufficient question papers, the Course Leader and Chief Invigilator should decide whether

  • The examination can proceed as scheduled/extended; or
  • The quiz or assignment can be rescheduled in the Canvas course.


If the examination can proceed as scheduled/extended,

Writing Document Files in Teaching Studios Handwriting

You can follow our suggested steps below.
(Recommendation: Bring enough USB flash drives to the venue)

  1. Block the internet in the venue.
    (CSC Teaching Studio Internet Blocking User Guide)
  2. Distribute a printed question paper to each desk.
  3. Prepare the instructions that students should
    • Open Microsoft Word to answer questions.
    • Save their Word files frequently, and ensure the file names include their Student IDs or CityUHK EIDs.
  4. Allow students to enter the venue.
  5. After the examination ends, transfer the student document files from the computers to USB flash drives.
  6. Before students leave the venue, please verify the total number of collected document files.
  1. Distribute a printed question paper, an answer book and stationery to each desk.
  2. Allow students to enter the venue.



More Information