Beware the Pending Quiz Problem!
Problem:
Why can't I access email, discussions, documents, and other features!
Resolution:
Many people are unaware of this, but when a student starts a quiz their account enters a sort of anticheating mode. This mode prevents the user's account from accessing course mail, discussion posts, uploaded documents, such as MS Word or PowerPoint, and other features. This affects all of the student's courses and will not return to normal until the quiz is submitted.
If a student leaves a quiz, either by changing websites, exiting the browser, or shutting down their computer, the quiz stays open as a pending quiz. As long as the quiz remains pending, the student's account will remain in this anticheating mode. To solve the issue, either the student must access the quiz again and submit it, or the instructor of the course must access the quiz and submit it for the student.
If a student receives a 'not authorized' error when accessing e-mail or is prevented from downloading documents provided by the instructor, the student should check recent quizzes and make sure they have been properly submitted.