Understanding time zones in FeedbackFruits
Understanding how time zones work in FeedbackFruits is important when setting deadlines, reviewing submissions, and interpreting activity timestamps. This article explains which time zone is used, how it’s applied, and what instructors and students should expect.
Which time zone does FeedbackFruits use?
On-screen times and deadlines in the UI are shown in the user’s local device time zone.
Analytics and CSV export timestamps are in UTC.
Where does the time zone come from?
UI display: Taken from the time zone set on the user’s device at the time of viewing.
Exports: Fixed to UTC for consistency and auditing.
There is no separate time zone setting inside FeedbackFruits, and times do not automatically inherit the course time zone from the LMS.
What instructors should know
The deadline you configure is shown to each person in their local device time in the UI.
If learners are in different regions, clearly state a reference time zone in instructions (for example: “All times are in CET”).
Analytics and CSV exports will show UTC times; convert to your preferred time zone in your spreadsheet if you need to compare to local displays.
What students should know
The deadline time you see in FeedbackFruits matches your device’s time zone settings.
If your device time zone is set incorrectly, the on-screen times may appear wrong for your location.
“Late” is evaluated consistently by comparing the actual submission instant to the configured deadline; exports show UTC for verification.
Common questions
Why does a submission look “late” even though it seemed on time locally?
Differences between device time zone, stated course time zone, or UTC in exports can create apparent mismatches. The system compares exact instants; exports in UTC are the source of truth for auditing.
Can I change the time zone inside FeedbackFruits?
No. There’s no in-app time zone setting. The UI follows your device time zone, and exports use UTC.
Best practices
State a canonical time zone in assignment instructions to reduce confusion.
Confirm your device time zone before setting or checking deadlines.
When reconciling with exports, convert UTC to your desired time zone in your spreadsheet.