Gradebook

The Canvas Gradebook can be one of the more useful and time-saving tools you can use. The Gradebook can help you input and distribute grades, give valuable feedback and keep everything in one place.


The Gradebook helps instructors easily input and distribute grades for students. Grades for each assignment can be calculated as points, percentages, complete or incomplete, pass or fail, GPA scale, and letter grades, and assignments can be organized into groups for weighting as well.


As an instructor, SpeedGrader allows you to view and grade student assignment submissions in one place using a simple point scale or complex rubric.

Canvas accepts a variety of document formats and even URLs as assignment submissions. Some document assignments can be marked up for feedback directly within the submission. You can also provide feedback to your students with text or media comments.


Setting up a Gradebook

Gradebook setup comes down to one decision. → Are you a total points person or a weighted grades person?

Total Points: This means that you have designed your class out of 100 points or 1000 points. A nice even number.

    • For example, you have three discussions worth 10 points each (30 points), two tests worth 20 points each (40 points), and a final paper worth 30 points = 100 points (100%)

Weighted Total: This means that you have designed your class so that certain types of assignments and assessments are weighted as part of a percentage out of 100%.

    • For example, you have discussions worth 20% of the grade, quizzes worth 30%, assignments worth 20% and the final project worth 30% = 100% of the final grade.
    • It doesn’t matter how many of those assessments you do they are weighted according to the percentage you set.

How do you accomplish this in Canvas?

Total Points:

Weighted Total: