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This article lists the Best Practices for setting up an accurate Canvas GradebookGrades. If you ever need assistance or have questions, please visit the LTS Training Calendar for upcoming :

  • For immediate assistance, contact the Boise State Help Desk.

  • For a consultation opportunity, join us for a daily Canvas Q&A

Sessions
  • Session (

available daily

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Beginning of the Semester

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  • 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.

  • Student: 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.

Grade Center Tools:

Understanding the Tools:

Update the Canvas Grading Scheme

*Optional: There is a default standard schema already set up in Canvas.

*Required for 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.

Set up the Missing Submission Policy

*Recommended

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

Set up the Missing Submission Policy to automatically apply Zeros for missed assignments that use Due Dates.

  • 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.

Change the default Grade Posting Policy

*Optional

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

Work Ahead 😃

Pro Tip Drag and drop columns to rearrange themImage Added

Create Assignment Groups in Canvas

*Optional: If you prefer not to use this feature it is ok not to.

**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.

  • Sort assignments by categories

  • Creates filters for faculty to use when navigating the Grade Center

  • Can be used to set up Weighted Grades (see below)

  • Can be used to drop grades with the “lowest score”

  • Important: When dropping lowest grades remember to designate All Extra Credit Assignments as “exemptions” to the drop rule.

Set up Weighted Grading in Canvas

*Optional: If you prefer not to use this feature it is ok. Grades are default calculated as raw scores.

Weighted Grades Example:

  • Tests = 50% of total grade

  • Assignments = 20% of total grade

  • Final Project = 30% of total grade

Assignment Group

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Assignment Group Pro-Tip: Don’t accidentally drop the Extra Credit as the lowest Grade!

You can designate individual assignments as exceptions to the drop rule if needed.

How to Drop the Lowest Grade and Use Exceptions

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Assignment Group

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Tip

Pro Tip: These Assignments can be "assignment shells" right now, meaning that they simply state the assignment title, due date, and how many points they are worth. You can come back and edit each assignment at any time to include more detailed information.

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How to Create an Assignment in Canvas

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How to Create a Quiz in Canvas

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How to Create a Discussion

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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.

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Tip

Pro Tip! You can organize and rearrange the columns in your gradebook by clicking-and-dragging them into your desired display order.

During the Semester: Grading

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