Technology

Canvas Gradebook

Last modified 8/4/2023

Grades serve as a communication tool between students and instructors and allow instructors to track the progress of students. The Gradebook stores all information about student progress in the course, measuring both letter grades and course outcomes. 

Gradebook

  • Gradebook Options

The Gradebook helps instructors easily view and enter grades for students. Depending on the Grade display type, grades for each assignment can be viewed as points, percentages, complete or incomplete, GPA scale, or Letter Grade.

You can view more information on Canvas Instructure's website here: Gradebook Options

  • Enter and Edit Grades

You can manually enter and edit grades in the Gradebook. Assignments in the Gradebook are always shown with the assignment's point value. To manually enter grades: 

  1. Select Grades from the left navigation menu
  2. Locate the Student Name and Assignment you want to grade
  3. Enter Grade
    1. Enter points grade: enter the number of points in the cell and press Enter on your keyboard
    2. Enter Complete or Incomplete Grade: select the drop-down menu in the cell and select the desired icon: ✓ for complete, ✕ for incomplete, Ungraded, or Excused
    3. Enter Letter Grade: select the drop-down menu and select a letter grade from the menu; you may also manually type the letter grade and press Enter on your keyboard when done.
      1. If you enter a grade not supported by the graded scheme, the cell will display an invalid grade warning icon
    4. Enter Percentage Grade: enter the percent in the cell and press Enter on your keyboard
    5. Enter GPA Grade: select the drop-down menu and select the desired grade from the menu; you may also manually type the GPA grade and press Enter on your Keyboard when done
      1. If you enter a grade not supported by the graded scheme, the cell will display an invalid grade warning icon
    6. Edit Grade: to edit a grade, select the cell for the grade and enter the new grade by drop-down or manually, depending on your grading scheme then press enter on your keyboard.
    7. Delete Grade: to delete a grade, select the cell for the grade and press the Delete key on your keyboard

For more information on manually entering grades in the gradebook, you can view Instructure's website here: Enter and Edit Grades . Alternatively, you can enter grades using the SpeedGrader. See the SpeedGrader section below for more information on the SpeedGrader. 

  • Add Comments

If you want to leave simple feedback for your students, you can leave text comments directly from the Gradebook

  1. Select Grades from the left navigation menu
  2. Locate the Student Name and Assignment you want to leave comments on
  3. Select the Grade book cell and click the Grade Detail Tray icon 
  4. Type your comments in the Comments field
  5. Select the Submit button when done
  6. View Comment: Comments are listed in chronological order with the oldest at the top.
  7. Delete Comment: Select the Delete (trash) icon to delete a comment
  8. Edit Comment: Select the Edit (pencil) icon and make edits in the comment box. When finished select the Submit button
    1. The time stamp of the comment will show that the comment has been edited. 

For more information on commenting in the gradebook view Instructure's website here:  Add Comments .

  • Student View

As an instructor, you can access the Grades page for a student in your course. This Grades page shows you how a student views their grades in the course and allows you to add individual comments to assignments.

  1. Select Grades from the left navigation menu
  2. Select the student's name to view the student's context card
  3. Select the Grades button

For more information on Gradebook student view, view Instructure's website here: Student View Grades Page

  • Import Grades

You can use a CSV file to upload information for existing assignments, or you can use a CSV file to create new assignments in the Gradebook

  1. Select Grades from the left navigation menu
  2. Select the Actions menu from the top menu in the gradebook
  3. Select Import
  4. Select the Choose File link
  5. Locate the file and select Open
  6. Select Upload Data

Note: Canvas will notice if there is a new information in your CSV file and will ask you if it belongs to a current assignment, or a new assignment.

Please view Instructure's website for more information on Uploading grades from a CSV file: Import Grades from CSV

  • Gradebook Posting Policy

The Canvas Gradebook is set to publish grades automatically, which means students will seee them as soon as they are posted. You can read more information on the Gradebook Posting Policy on the Center for Integrated Professional Development's website here: Gradebook Posting Policy.

  • SpeedGrader

SpeedGrader makes it easy to evaluate individual student assignments and group assignments quickly. You can access SpeedGrader through: Assignments, Quizzes, Graded Discussions, and the Gradebook

View more information on SpeedGrader on Instructure's website here: Using SpeedGrader

  • Roll Call Attendance

The Attendance (Roll Call) tool is used for taking attendance in Canvas courses. It can be used for online or face-to-face courses. 

Note: After the first time instructors take attendance using the Roll Call tool, Canvas automatically creates a "Roll Call Attendance" assignment. Instructors will see this assignment in the Assignments tool and as a column in the gradebook. To avoid attendance calculations errors, instructors should not delete, rename, or unpublish the assignment. If the assignment is deleted, the Roll Call tool will not be able to take attendance. By default, the "Roll Call Attendance" assignment is worth 100 points and factors into student's final grades.  If you do not want attendance to automatically be calculated this way, you will need to go into Roll Call settings and check the box that says "Do not count attendance toward final grade." 

For more information on using the Roll Call tool view Instructure's website here: Roll Call Attendance Tool


Rubrics

  • Add a Rubric in a Course

If you cannot find a rubric you want to use in your course, you can create a new rubric. You can add the rubric to an assignment and use the rubric for grading and adding comments. You can manage created rubrics in the Manage Rubrics Page. To add a rubric to your course: 

  1. Select Rubrics from the left navigation menu
  2. Select the +Add Rubric button
  3. Add a title to your rubric in the Title: field. 
  4. There is one criterion entry by default, edit this by selecthing the pencil icon next to it under the Critera colum
  5. After editing a criterion select the Update Criterion button
  6. Select the +Criterion button to add more criterion
    1. Note: Criterion can not be reordered after it has been added to the rubric
  7. After creating a new criterion select the Create Criterion button 
  8. Check the box next to Range under each criterion if you want to give a range of marks
  9. Select the pencil next to the points to give points for the range under the Ratings column
  10. Select the + button between your points and no marks to add an extra point value option 
  11. Once you are completed with your rubric select Create Rubric
    1. If you have been editing your rubric select Update Rubric
  12. Select the trash icon next to any section to delete that. 
  13. Select the Find Outcome button to test your rubric. 
  14. Your rubric will now be available to use in your course.

For more information on using Rubrics in your course view Instructure's website here: Rubric in a Course

  • Add a Rubric to an Assignment

You can add a rubric to an assignment to help students understand expectations for the assignment and you you intend to score their submissions. In addition to assignments, rubrics can also be added to graded discussions and quizzes. To add a rubric to assignments, quizzes, or graded discussions: 

  1. Select Assignments, Discussions or Quizzes from the left navigation menu
  2. Open what you wnat to add the assignment to
    1. ex: the individual assignment, quiz or dicussion
  3. Select either the +Rubric button, or if that is not there select the three more dots and Add Rubric
  4. Select the Find a Rubric button to find an existing rubric
  5. Select the rubric you want to use, then select Use This Rubric
  6. Edit the rubric by using the pencil icon if you need to
    1. alternatively you can create a new rubric. 
  7. Select your rubric settings if you need to
  8. Select the Update Rubric button 

For more information on adding rubrics to individual assignments, quizzes and disucssions view Instructure's website here: Adding Rubrics to an Assignment

How to Get Help


For technical assistance, Submit a Help Ticket or contact the Technology Support Center at (309) 438-4357, by email at SupportCenter@IllinoisState.edu, or by Live Chat at Help.IllinoisState.edu
.

For instructional assistance, you may contact the Center for Integrated Professional Development by phone (309) 438-2542, or email at ProDev@ilstu.edu.