Canvas Grades and Speedgrader: Best Practices

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:

Open

Gradebook Settings in Canvas

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:

• How to Create an Assignment in Canvas

• How to Create a Quiz in Canvas

• How to Create a Discussion

• How to Create a Grade Center Column for Manual Grading in Canvas

  • For any graded items for which students will not submit work online, e.g., an in-class exam, create an on-paper assignment. For any graded items for which students do not submit anything tangible, e.g., participation, create a non-submission assignment.

• How to Give Extra Credit in Canvas

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.