Four tips for leveraging Canvas grading tools

Looking for fresh ideas or time-saving techniques for grading in Canvas? In this Substack we share four ways you can take advantage of Canvas grading features. We’ve provided “how to” links below, or you can schedule a 1-on-1 instructional design coaching meeting:

1. Grade with checkmarks in Canvas for low stakes assignments. Create a new grading scheme option with √+, √, and √- for scoring. Read how to create a checkmark grading scheme in our FAQs.

2. Excuse a student from a particular assignment. The Excused status indicates that a student will not be penalized for a missing assignment. Excused assignments are not calculated in the student’s total grade. You can excuse a student from a specific assignment by typing EX in the gradebook assignment cell or by choosing the Excused button in the grade detail, as pictured below:

3. Add a Notes column in the Canvas gradebook. Use the notes area to keep track of extra student information (e.g., an accommodation or name preference). This information is not visible to students. Read how to add a notes column to your Canvas gradebook in this Instructure guide.

4. Use keyboard shortcuts in SpeedGrader. Move from student to student or get direct access to grading panel features such as the rubric or assignment comments field:
   j – Next Student

   k – Previous Student

   c – Leave Comment

   g – Change Grade

   r – Use Rubric

You can find the above list of shortcuts in the cogwheel menu in SpeedGrader:

Have a great Canvas tip you think other faculty would like to know about? Let us know!