What Kind of Assessments Can You Create in Canvas?
Types of Assessments
Types of Assessments in Canvas
Three main types of assessments can be created in Canvas. To appear in the Gradebook, an assessment must be one of the following:
Assignment
Assignments are individual submissions by students that can take various forms.
- Description: Assignments include documents, scans of handwritten work, videos, and other media items submitted directly to Canvas. They can also record non-submitted work, such as participation or attendance grades.
- Features:
- Instructor-only view of student submissions.
- Allows for due dates, points, and detailed instructions.
- Only the instructor sees the submission; classmates do not have access.
- Common Examples: Research papers, video presentations, and scans of homework.
Graded Discussion
Graded discussions are interactive boards where students can engage with each other on a specific topic.
- Description: These allow for threaded conversations between multiple participants, creating opportunities for class-wide or group discussions.
- Features:
- Can be graded to appear in the Gradebook.
- Flexible structure: Discussions can also be ungraded, in which case they will not show in the Gradebook.
- Use Cases: Class debates, reflections on readings, peer feedback on assignments.
Note: Only graded discussions appear in the Gradebook.
Quiz
Quizzes use various question types to assess student knowledge and can include auto-grading features.
- Description: The Quiz tool supports a wide range of question types, including multiple choice, short answer, and file uploads.
- Features:
- Auto-grading options available to save time.
- Can include timed assessments and integrate proctoring tools.
- Designed for flexibility, allowing for a mix of question types in one assessment.
- Common Examples: Weekly quizzes, midterm exams, practice assessments.
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Resources
Canvas Learning Center resources on Assignments, Quizzes, Tests & Grading