By default the Grades tool will display all users in the roles Student, Sample Student, Evaluator, and TLC Staff within your Canvas course. This can make grading difficult as the additional roles will mix in alphabetically with your SURF Enrolled students.
For ease of grading, you can filter your gradebook by section to only display SURF enrolled students.
From within Canvas:
Click on Grades
Click the Apply Filters button
Click Sections
Select the section number that ends in -SURF
To display only users in the -OTHER roles
Select the section number that ends in -OTHER to view only non-SURF enrollment types.
To display all users together in the Gradebook
Select the Clear All Filters link on the right side of the Gradebook to view all enrollment types.
Custom Filters in Gradebook
It is possible to build a gradebook filter in Canvas that is just right for your grading needs. These custom gradebook filters can be used once or saved for future use.
Each semester I send out “midsemester grades” to all of my students. Students appreciate the heads up, and it often leads to conversations that benefit the students.
For those interested in sending out a “midterm report” regarding your students’ current grade in the course… consider using the message option in the “New Analytics” feature. With it, you can customize messages to go out to students based on their grade percentage (e.g., between 90% – 100%, 80% – 89%, 70% – 79%, 60% – 69%, etc.). This is an excellent way to let students know how they are currently doing in the course.
First Step: Grading and the Canvas Gradebook
Complete all grading 24 hours before sending out the midterm reports. The ‘New Analytics’ feature does not read directly from the gradebook… it has a lag of 24 hours before it is updated. Once you have finished grading… wait 24 hours before sending out the midterm reports.
As part of the grading, place a zero for any assignments overdue that are not submitted (otherwise, they are not included in the grade calculations)
Second Step: Enable the New Analytics Feature
Click on the ‘Settings’ option in your Canvas Course
Click on the ‘Features Options’ tab along the top
Click the ‘New Course and User Analytics’ option
Third Step: Open the New Analytics Feature
From the Home Page of your Canvas course, select ‘New Analytics’
Fourth Step: Prepare to Send Out Messages
Click on the ‘Envelop’ icon.
Fifth Step: Prepare to Send Out Messages
Provide the lower and upper range for grade percentage.
Type the Subject line and Message. Adjust both to be meaningful and helpful to the students receiving the message. I tend to say ‘Congratulations’ for all passing grades (A, B, and C), and let students with grades not quite passing that making a change now could help them to pass the course. For students significantly below passing, I share that a bigger ‘mid-course’ correction is needed, but that it remains within their options. Share resources, provide advice, and cheer them on.
Click ‘Send’
Repeat this process for each grade range you’ll be using (e.g., 90 – 100, 80 – 89, 70 – 79, 60 – 69, etc.).
The new gradebook is live at MiraCosta College. Check out the How do I use the New Gradebook? Canvas guide for an overview of the features this provides.
Canvas Release: New Gradebook – The new gradebook allows instructors to view an improved version of the gradebook. This feature makes grading more flexible and intuitive and elevates the gradebook user experience.
New Gradebook Users Group – This group contains existing information about the new gradebook including frequently asked questions, product feedback commentary, community discussions, bug reports, and known issues.
