Grading Transparency, Rubrics, & SpeedGrader
Grading is an important aspect of course facilitation; consequently, it is important that a transparent method of how a student will be assessed is provided. With automatically graded quizzes, an LMS can provide an automatic grade for students. However, other types of assessments will need to have grading criteria that are provided by the instructor.
Points vs. Percentages
Do you use points or percentages to assess your students' activities and final grades? When developing your course this will be defined in your syllabus. Points are the default setting on the Assignment page. There are tools in Canvas that can assist you or even promote you selecting one method over the other. Take some time to review resources to assist in your decision:
Grading Rubrics
Rubrics are perhaps the most common method used by instructors. Rubrics provide criteria by which assessments can be assessed and are typically associated with a point or rating scale. Glasgow, 2002, provides several advantages for the use of rubrics including that it clearly communicates to the student how their work will be evaluated and what is expected and help students evaluate the quality of their own work. In Canvas, Rubrics Links to an external site. can also be used as a quick way to grade student assignments and provide feedback.
Below is a sample of the variety of rubrics available to adopt and adapt from the UCF Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository (TOPR):
- Discussion rubrics
- Peer assessment rubrics
- Rubrics to encourage reflective practice
- Group evaluation rubric
You have likely created at least one assignment in your course using the Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes tools. Since grading is a part of the course communication process, we would like to show you how to grade these assignments. There are two ways to grade assignments in Canvas: in the Gradebook and the SpeedGrader tool.
The Canvas Gradebook
The Gradebook houses all the grades for any graded assignment, discussion, or quiz you create in Canvas. While all grades can be entered from the Gradebook, it is best to use it for quick grading, grade changes, or for assignments that have no submission (e.g., attendance or participation grades).
Gradebook Resources:
- Gradebook Overview Video Links to an external site.
- Canvas Instructor Guides on Grades and the Gradebook Links to an external site.
Using SpeedGrader
The SpeedGrader tool is another option for grading assignments in Canvas. SpeedGrader can be accessed via the Gradebook or from the assignment. There is a SpeedGrader overview video Links to an external site. for getting started.
SpeedGrader Resources: