How to use the Gradebook?

Overview


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, percentage, complete or incomplete, GPA scale, or letter grade.

Only graded assignments, graded discussions, graded quizzes, and graded surveys that have been published display in the Gradebook. Not Graded assignments are not included.



Gradebook


The default view in the Gradebook is to view all students at a time, but you can also view students individually in the Gradebook Individual View. However, Individual View currently does not support all settings and options from the Gradebook.

Note: If your course includes multiple graders, please note that once you open the Gradebook, all existing Gradebook data is stored in the browser until the page is refreshed. Grades are not dynamically updated with any changes made by other graders in the Gradebook or in SpeedGrader.

  • In Course Navigation, click the Grades link.

  • The top of the Gradebook includes global sorting options and settings you can use to organize your gradebook [1], which will populate the selected student data [2] and assignment data [3]. The Gradebook supports keyboard shortcuts. To view the Keyboard Shortcuts menu, click on the Keyboard icon [4] or press the Shift+Question Mark keys simultaneously. (image below)

  • The main Gradebook allows you to see all students, assignments, and grades. In the Gradebook menu, you also switch between several options as available: Learning Mastery [1] displays the Learning Mastery Gradebook, which assesses outcome standards being used in Canvas courses. This gradebook is a course-level feature preview. Individual View [2] allows you to assess one student and one assignment at a time and is fully accessible for screen readers. Individual View currently does not support settings and options from the Gradebook. Gradebook History [3] displays the Gradebook History page, which logs recent grade changes in the course according to student, grader, assignment, and date. (image below)

    You can switch between gradebooks at any time.

  • The View menu allows you to filter and sort the Gradebook according to several viewing options: Arrange By [1]: arrange columns by default, assignment name, due date, points, or module. Filters [2]: filter columns by type (assignment group, section, modules, student groups, and grading period, if applicable). Statuses [3]: view and change the color for a grading status (late, missing, resubmitted, dropped, and excused). View Ungraded as Zero [4]: temporarily change the Gradebook view so that grades display as if all ungraded assignments were given a score of zero. This setting is a visual change only and does not affect grades for students or other users of the Gradebook. Columns [5]: show or hide the notes column and the unpublished assignments column. (image below)

Note: If the View Ungraded as 0 option does not display in your Gradebook, this option has not been enabled by your institution.

  • The Actions menu allows you to sync grades to your institution's student information system (SIS), if applicable [1]. To bulk manage student grades in the Gradebook, you can also import grades [2] and export grades [3]. (image below)

Note: Currently the Gradebook Export CSV file data includes all Gradebook data regardless of filtered or sorting options.

  • The Gradebook Settings allow you to apply Late Policies or a Final Grade Override in your course.

  • The Late Policies tab allows you to apply late policies in your course.

  • The Grade Posting Policy tab allows you to change grade posting policies for your course.

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

  • The Student Name column displays each student's name and may also include a student's secondary ID, if enabled. You can hover over the column header and view the Student Name menu, which allows the following options: Sort and display student data & Show inactive and concluded enrollments. To view a student's Grades page, click the student's name.

  • View Assignment Column. Each column in the Gradebook represents a published assignment in the Assignments page. Each column displays the assignment title, total points, and each student's grade. To view the assignment, click the name of the assignment. For each assignment, you can hover over the column header and view the Assignment menu, which allows the following options: Sort assignments by grade or status (missing or late). Message students who fit within specific assignment criteria. Curve gradesSet default gradeHide or post grades for the assignment. Enter grades as a specific value: point, percentage, or grading scheme (this option is only for grading convenience and does not affect the actual grade; not available for complete/incomplete assignment types). Download submissions and re-upload submissions (supported in file uploads only)

Icons and colors represent assignments and submission statuses within Canvas, including differentiated assignments, grading periods, and MasteryPaths.

Add Columns

Assignment columns are automatically added every time you create and publish assignments, graded discussions, and graded quizzes and surveys. A column is also automatically added for the Attendance tool.

You can manually add a column as part of importing grades to the Gradebook. However, assignments imported in the CSV file are automatically published.

You can also create non-submission or on-paper assignments to add to the Gradebook for manual grading.

  • When entering grades, the Gradebook displays crosshairs and highlighting across the row and column for improved orientation. To enter grades, type the grade as supported by assignment type directly in the Gradebook cell [1]. You can also enter grades and change the submission status by clicking the Grade Detail Tray icon [2] (image below)

  • The Grade Detail Tray allows you to enter or edit grades [1], change the status of a submission [2], and leave comments for the student [3] (image below)

  • The assignment groups shown in the Gradebook match the assignment groups created in the Assignments page [1]. If your assignment groups are weighted, the weighted grade displays below the group title [2]. Assignment group weights are reflected in the total grade. The assignment grade earned by the students is multiplied by the assignment group weight. Grade totals from assignment groups are calculated in the Total column of the Gradebook [3]. You can hover over the column header to view the Total column menu [4], which allows you to sort by grade and move the total column to the front of the Gradebook. Additionally, if your assignment groups are not weighted, you can view the totals as a point value instead of a percentage. (image below)


Additional Resources