Canvas Grades and Speedgrader: Best Practices

This article lists the Best Practices for setting up an accurate Canvas Grades. If you ever need assistance or have questions:


I just need a Quick Overview: How do I use the Canvas Gradebook?

Beginning of the Semester

Setting up the Canvas Grade Book in the beginning of the semester helps ensure:

  • Faculty: Easier grading for faculty, if everything is set up in the Grade Book the instructor can simply enter grades throughout the semester and can feel confident that students are seeing the correct scoring and overall grade for the course.

  • Students: Smoother and more transparent experience with the course regarding grading, being alerted to missing assignments, and seeing a correct final grade based off of the work that has been received.

Grading Scheme

Update the Canvas Grading Scheme

*Optional

*Required to use the Canvas Grade Transfer Tool

To tell Canvas what each student’s Total Grade % should equate to in a Letter Grade.

  • For example, an instructor might want to tweak the scheme to allow students who receive an 88% or higher to receive an A.

Default scheme is:

decorative

Gradebook Settings in Canvas

Screenshot of the Grades area with the Settings Sprocket highlighted.  upper righthand corner of screen.

 

 

Automatically apply grade for missing submission

*Recommended

To turn this option on, check the box next to “Automatically apply grade for missing submissions.”

Note: This option does not impact "no submission" or "on paper" assignments. These items will require the instructor to manually assigning the zeroes.

  • It is very important to make sure that Zeros are entered for missed assignments in a timely manner.

  • This step is what informs students they are missing an assignment and their grade has been lowered accordingly.

Automatically apply deduction to late submissions

*Optional

To turn this option on, check the box to “Automatically apply deduction to late submissions.”

The Late Submission policy allows you to automatically deduct points on all late submissions. A submission is labeled late when it has been submitted past the due date. Only assignments with a status of Late will be affected by the Late Submission policy. The late policy will be applied to a submission when it is graded.

Change the default Grade Posting Policy

*Optional

Choose if grades become visible to students automatically, or must be “Posted” by the instructor.

Advanced

*Optional

The Advanced tab allows you to apply a Final Grade Override in your course [1]. If enabled, you can enter an override grade for a student that is different from the grade automatically calculated by Canvas [2].

Other Grades Information

Build the Course Items Associated with Grades.

Pro-Tip: Create shells for all Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, etc. and sort them into their respective Assignment Groups at the beginning of the semester. This allows for the entire course to be “built” as far as the Grade Center goes, and leaves the instructor time to fill in the assignment details at a later time.

Resources:

Create Assignment Groups in Canvas

*Optional

 

 

  • Sort assignments by categories

  • Creates filters for faculty to use to navigate the Grade Center

  • Use to set up Weighted Grades (see below)

  • Use to drop grades with the “lowest score” – When dropping lowest grades remember to designate All Extra Credit Assignments as “exemptions” to the drop rule.

Pro-Tip: If not using Assignment Groups, note that one “group” MUST exist for calculations in the Grade Center to work correctly. A great trick is to update the name of the single Assignment Group to “Subtotal” so that students are not confused by its existence in their Grades area.

Set up Weighted Grading in Canvas

*Optional

Weighted Grades Example:

  • Tests = 50% of total grade

  • Assignments = 20% of total grade

  • Final Project = 30% of total grade

Learn how to Navigate Grades in Canvas

Pro Tip: Organize and rearrange the columns in the gradebook by clicking-and-dragging them into the desired display order.

  • Use “Filters” to order the gradebook via Assignment Groups, Student Groups, Modules, etc. (Must create the item for it to be used to filter).

 

  • Use “Arrange By” to order the Grades area in an automatic way.

 


During the Semester: Grading

Grade Student Submissions Using Speedgrader in Canvas:

SpeedGrader

 

Grading Pro-Tips:

  • Grades can be “Excused” by typing EX into the grade book.

    • Excusing a grade allows an assignment to be ignored while determining the final grade.

  • Don't like working in Canvas? You can complete your edits in Excel!

    • You can export your Canvas gradebook to Excel and make changes to student grades, and then use the Import a CSV file option to upload your grade changes to Canvas. 

      • Note: If you are using complete/incomplete grading, you will need to assign a point value for your Excel sheet to indicate any completion


End of Semester: Canvas to Peoplesoft Grade Transfer Tool

Step 1

  • Review your Grade Center and verify that all columns and students contain grades.

  • Missed assignments should receive either a 0 or “Excused”.

  • The Grade Transfer Tool will not work if this step is not completed.

Step 2

Important: When users report error messages in the Grade Transfer process, this is usually the step that has been missed and/or goofed up

  • Confirm the Grade Schema is “checked” in Canvas.

  • Select Update Course Settings button on the bottom of the page to preserve any changes.

  • The Canvas to Peoplesoft Grade Transfer Tool will not work if this step is not completed.

Step 3


 

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