What is It?
Instructors can apply advanced grading methods to their courses. This allows for the customization of grades according to personal preference.
Table of Contents
- Signing into Canvas
- How to access Canvas courses
- Set a Grading Method for a Category
- Choose an aggregation method to calculate the items in a category.
- Custom Grade Formulas
- Create your own formulas to determine grades that are based on other grade items and numeric calculations
- Extra Credit
- Give bonus points to students.
- Scales
- Apply scales in your rubric.
- Using a Rubric - Defining New Grading Form from Scratch
- Choose the criteria and levels of accomplishment you will be using to grade an assignment
- Using a Rubric - Create New Grading Form from a Template
- Choose a template when creating a rubric which has existing criteria and levels of accomplishment.
- Glossary
- Terms relevant to advanced grading methods on Canvas
Signing into Moodle
Step 1:
In your web browser, navigate to your Canvas using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: Links to help with passwords are on the Web Sign-on page. Those who cannot log into Canvas should contact the IT Help Center.
Step 2:
Enter your username and password and then select "SIGN IN."
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Set a Grading Method for a Category
Step 1:
On your web browser, navigate to your Canvas homepage using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: If you are having any issues accessing Canvas please navigate to the Login section.
Step 2:
Navigate the Grades tab from Courses
Select the gear for settings at the top right of the page
Step 3:
There are 3 categories of settings to edit
1. Being the Late Policies category where we can apply settings like the ones highlighted below
2. Being the Grade Posting Policy category where you may decide your preference on grading
3. Being "View Options" such as arrnagements and color personalization, and organization of preferences
Step 4:
After any edit be sure to Apply Settings or there will be no change, and the process ''completed'' will be reversed
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Custom Grade Formulas
Step 1:
On your web browser, navigate to your Canvas homepage using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: If you are having any issues accessing Canvas please navigate to the Login section.
Step 2:
1. Open Grades from the Courses tab
2. Select settings, open 3. Locate and select Advanced
Step 3:
Enter over ride grade
Step 4:
View the grade
Step 5:
Show or Hide Total and Override Columns (1)
View Options (2)
When the Final Grade Override feature option is enabled, click the Hide Total Column and Override Columns checkbox (3)
Apply settings (4)
Note:
If the Final Grade Override feature option is disabled, the text in the Show section displays Hide Total Column (5)
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Extra credit
Step 1:
On your web browser, navigate to your Canvas homepage using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: If you are having any issues accessing please navigate to the Login section.
Step 2:
Create a +New Assignment By locating Courses tab
>Use 0 Point Value
Assignments set to the No Submission type work well for classroom activities, such as in-class discussions or presentations.
Note:
For a zero-point assignment to factor into a student's grade, you must add a positive point value to at least one additional assignment in any assignment group.
Step 3:
Add extra points to an existing assignment
Add extra points to an Assignment you've already created. Manually enter the extra points in the Gradebook.
Step 4:
Fudge Points
Open Quizzes from course navigation tab. Selecting the quiz you want to edit
Step 5:
Open Speed Grader and in the Student Drop Down, Select Student whos Quiz you want to View
Step 6:
Assign Fudge Points at the bottom of the page. You can also input Negative points.
Step 7:
The Final Score area will show you what the final score would look like based on the number of fudge points.
Step 8:
When you are ready to change the student's quiz score, click the Update Scores button.
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Scales
Step 1:
On your web browser, navigate to your Canvas homepage using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: If you are having any issues accessing please navigate to the Login section.
Step 2:
Locate the Admin navigation and select Outcomes
Step 3:
Open Mastery tab and it will show a Mastery Scale
Step 4:
Your course mastery scale includes five levels
Mastery Near
Mastery
Below Mastery
No Evidence
Step 5:
Edit a Level's Description
Enter text in the Description field (blue).
To edit a Level's Point Value
Enter a new Point Value in the Points Field (pink). Decimal values are accepted. Mastery levels cannot be moved, but will be sorted numerically after your changes are saved.
Designate which Level Represents Mastery
To select the designated mastery level, click the Mastery button next to that level (green). Only one level can be selected as the Mastery level.
Step 6:
To change the level's color, click the Change link. Then click the icon for the color you want to use / enter the color's hex code in the text field.
If the hex code is not valid, the field displays a warning icon. Any variation of white is not accepted as a color.
Step 7:
Add a new mastery level
Click the Add Mastery Level button. The new level displays at the bottom of the list and cannot be moved. Mastery levels will be sorted numerically after changes are saved
Step 8:
Delete Mastery Level
Click the Delete Icon on the far right of the row
Confirm Deletion
Save Changes
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Using a Rubric - Defining New Grading Form from Scratch
Step 1:
On your web browser, navigate to your Canvas homepage using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: If you are having any issues accessing please navigate to the Login section.
Step 2:
How To Create an Account Level Rubric that can be found for business level
Locate the Admin Navigation tab and select Rubrics. + Rubric in the upper right corner of the page
Step 3:
Add Title of Rubric and add description with the edit icon in the box.
With the description you can add a brief need to know on the subject
Step 4:
For Ratings the Left Column will by Default have The Greatest Value, with Decending Value to the Right.
Step 5:
Open left column (with greater level) using the Editor Icon (mouse is hovering in the image)
NOTE:
Do not confuse Rating Title with a Concept of an Outcome
Outcomes= Mastery
Rating Titles= "What is proficiant here"
i.e. - accurracy, grammar, spelling, organization, research, etc...
Step 6:
Edit Rating - Description of Criterion
And Update Rating to save
Note:
A mark is the level of achievement against specified criteria for an assessment item (e.g. a mark of 30/40 for an assessment).
Step 7:
Half Credit or Mark
To add an additional Rating to the rubric, select the blue + between boxes
apply the Level of Rating and Point Value desired
Update Rating
Step 8:
One row of the rubric
:The First row of the Rubric completed
For e.g. purpose we will leave it as such
To add another row select +Criterion Rating
Step 9:
Find Outcome
If you choose to use the point critera posted you may, or Uncheck the box to keep seperate
Step 10:
Outcome Looks Like
You may Delete the Outcome with the trash Icon in the row
Step 11:
It is recomended you duplicate the criteria if you want a similar format and build of the rubric. Such as amount of ratings (columns) and layout. You CAN change titles and point values or point types
Repeat Process editing what is needed for the different categories of the assignment or quiz
Step 12:
Point Value
Notice once the Point Value at the end was changed, Canvas evenly distributed the points accross the whole row (yellow)
The points displayed on the bottom have not yet been adjusted and stay the same (green)
You can also adjust individual points as desired
Step 13:
Ranging Rubrics
e.g) If you want the range of full credit to be anything from 15 and greater than 10 points (so basically 15 through 11)- Adjust the ranges if you include a 10.
:15 and anything greater than 9.
Step 14:
Once done Create the Rubric
Concludes How To Create an Account Level Rubric that can be found for business level
Step 15:
How to transfer to a course
Locate Assignments from course navigation, and select the assignment you wish to add a rubric to
Step 16:
Apply +Rubric button on the assignment page *(click image to view work steps)*
Select Find a Rubric
Step 17:
This is going to pull up all rubrics from courses, and will also find any account level course rubrics
Locate the rubric desired and scroll to the bottom of it, selecting Use This Rubric
Step 18:
If you want to edit a part of the rubric like the point system, edit and choose from options below *(Click to view work steps)*
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Using a Rubric - Create New Grading Form from a Template
Step 1:
On your web browser, navigate to your Canvas homepage using the following link:
https://mtech.instructure.com
Note: If you are having any issues accessing please navigate to the Login section.
Step 2:
Locate Assignments from Course navigation
Select Speed grader from Assignment you want to create new grading form for
Step 3:
View Rubric button
Step 4:
You Can
Select ratings
View Ratings
Comment
Select Save
Step 5:
From Save - automatic assessment of score to Canvas gradebook *(click to view full)*
Note:
You may adjust the score by clicking on the percent and it automatically adjusts to your final say
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Glossary
A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.
A
Aggregation -
Determines how grades in a category are combined.
There are 9 different aggregation methods:
- Mean of grades
- Weighted mean of grades
- Simple Weighted mean of grades
- Mean of grades (with extra credits)
- Median of grades
- Lowest grade
- Highest grade
- Mode of grades
- Natural
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C
Creating a Custom Formula -
1. In the Calculation box, start by entering an equals sign (=).
2. Enter the calculation function you wish to use. (For a list of functions navigate to "Functions" in the glossary.
Example: =sum
3. Enter an open parenthesis.
Example: =sum(
4. Enter your ID numbers being sure to include the double square brackets.
Example: =sum([[quiz1]]
5. Separate additional ID numbers with a comma.
Example: =sum([[quiz1]],[[quiz2]],[[quiz3]]
6. Enter a close parenthesis.
Example: =sum([[quiz1]],[[quiz2]],[[quiz3]])
7. Click Save Changes (below the Calculation box).
Examples:
1. =average([[Quiz.1]], [[Quiz.4]], [[Assignment.1]])
2. =average(max([[Quiz.1]], [[Quiz.4]], [[Assignment.1]]), min([[Quiz.1]], [[Quiz.4]], [[Assignment.1]]))
3. Weighted grade calculations where item 1 is weighted 30%, item 2 is weighted at 60% and item 3 is weighted at 200%: =sum([[1]]*0.3,[[2]]*0.6,[[3]]*2)
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Custom Weights -
This aggregation method allows you to set weights for categories (and / or categories) independent from the maximum grades for those items. The item's weight will be multiplied by the grade scored by the student. The weight you set for a grade item does not dictate the maximum grade you assign to that item.
Note: When using this method to compute course total, we suggest that weights add up to 100.
Example:
Weights: A1 ➔ 20 - max grade: 40. A2 ➔ 40, max grade: 20, A3 ➔ 10, max grade: 20, A4 ➔ 20, max grade: 10, A5 ➔10, max grade: 10, category max: 100
Student Receives: A1 ➔ 35/40. A2 ➔ 20/20, A3 ➔ 15/20, A4 ➔ 5/10, A5 ➔ 10/10, ➔ ((((35/40) x 20) + ((20/20) x 40) + ((15/20) x 10) + ((5/10) x 20) + ((10/10) x 10)) / (100)) x 100 = 85
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E
Extra Credit -
An instructor can add or indicate a grade item to be "extra credit."
- Extra credit items are only possible in a points-based aggregation. The aggregation for the whole course or the category to which you are adding extra credit must be either "Custom Weights", "Natural", "Mean of grades (with extra credits)", or "Weighted mean of grades."
- You cannot have a category that contains only extra credit. Canvas will ignore the category and not count the extra credit at all. If you have an item that will be graded but has not yet been graded, this still means there are not graded items in the category.
- Canvas and OrediggerWeb do not support grades over 100%, so any current or final grades over 100% will be capped at 100%.
Example:
Item 1 is graded 0-100 and its "Extra credit" value is set to 2
Item 2 is graded 0-100 and its "Extra credit" value is left at 0
Item 3 is graded 0-100 and its "Extra credit" value is left at 0
➔ All three items belong to category 1. Category 1 has "Means of grades (with extra credits)" as its aggregation strategy.
➔ A student gets graded : 20 on item 1, 40 on item 2, 70 on item 3
➔ The students total: (20 x 2) + ((40 + 70) / (2)) = 95/100
Back to Extra Credit
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F
Functions -
• average([[item1]], [[item2]]...): Returns the average of a sample
• max([[item1]], [[item2]]...): Returns the maximum value in a list of arguments
• min([[item1]], [[item2]]...): Returns the minimum value in a list of arguments
• mod(dividend, divisor): Calculates the remainder of a division
• pi(): Returns the value of the number Pi
• power(base, power): Raises a number to the power of another
• round(number, count): Rounds a number to a predefined accuracy
• floor(number): Maps a real number to the largest previous integer
• ceil(number): Maps a real number to the smallest following integer
• sum([[item1]], [[item2]]...): Returns the sum of all arguments
• an asterisk (*) gives the product of two items: [[item1]]*[[item2]]
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H
Highest Grade -
The result is the highest grade after normalization.
Example:
A1 - 70/100, A2 - 20/80 A3 - 10/10, category max 100:
max (0.7, 0.25, 1.0) ➔ 1.0 ➔ 100/100
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I
ID Number -
To use existing grade items in a custom formula, you must first assign ID Numbers (short text labels), which are used as variables in the text of the formula. Columns are referenced in a formula by placing double square brackets ( [[...]] ) around the ID Number.
Example:
A grade item has the ID Number "Quiz3." You will refer to this item as "[[Quiz3]]" in the formula.
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L
Lowest Grade -
The result is the smallest grade after normalization. It is usually combined with Aggregate only non-empty grades.
Example:
A1 - 70/100, A2 - 20/80 A3 - 10/10, category max 100:
min (0.7, 0.25, 1.0) ➔ 0.25 ➔ 25/100
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M
Maximum Grade- Sets the maximum possible points that can be awarded in a catagory (the points required to receive 100%.)
Mean of Grades -
The sum of all grades divided by the total number of grades. This method allows for dropping the lowest grade in a category.
Example:
A category includes three graded items: A1, A2, A3 (with maximum scores equal to 100, 80, and 10, respectively.) If a student scores A1 = 70, A2 = 20, and A3 = 10, then we have the following grade calculation for category A: A1 = 70/100 = 0.7 | A2 = 20/80 = 0.25 | A3 = 10/10 = 1
Category A: (0.7 + 0.25 +1.0) / 3 = 0.65 ➔ 0.65 x 100 ➔ 65 (maximum grade for category A is 100)
Mean of Grades (with extra credit) -
A value greater than 0 treats a grade item's grades as extra credit during aggregation. The number is a factor by which the grade value will be multiplied before it is added to the sum of all grades, but the item itself will not be counted in the division.
Example:
Item 1 is graded 0-100 and its "Extra credit" value is set to 2
Item 2 is graded 0-100 and its "Extra credit" value is left at 0
Item 3 is graded 0-100 and its "Extra credit" value is left at 0
➔ All three items belong to category 1. Category 1 has "Means of grades (with extra credits)" as its aggregation strategy.
➔ A student gets graded : 20 on item 1, 40 on item 2, 70 on item 3
➔ The students total: (20 x 2) + ((40 + 70) / (2)) = 95/100
Median of Grades -
The middle value when percentages are arranged in order of value. An advantage to using this method is that the grade is not affected by outliers.
Example:
A1 - 70/100. A2 - 20/80, A3 - 10/10. category max: 100
Category A: Median (0.7, 0.25, 1.0) ➔ (0.25, 0.7. 1.0) ➔ 0.70 ➔ 70/100
Mode of Grades -
The normalized grade that occurs the most frequently. It is often used for non-numerical grades. The advantage of using this method is that the grade is not affected by the outliers. However, it loses its meaning when there is more than one "most frequently" occurring grade because only one is kept.
Example:
A1 - 70/100. A2 - 35/35, A3 - 20/80, A4 - 10/10. A5 - 7/10, category max: 100
Category A: Mode (0.7, 0.7, 0.25, 1.0, 0.7) ➔ 0.70 ➔ 70/100
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N
Natural Aggregation -
The sum of all grade values, scaled by relative weights.
When this strategy is used, a grade item can act as Extra credit for the category. This means that the grade item's maximum grade will not be added to the category total's maximum grade, but the items grade will.
Example:
Both items belong to Category 1:
A1 - graded 0-100 and has the "Act as extra credit" check box ticked ➔ Student receives a 20/100
A2 - graded 0-75 and does not have the "Act as extra credit" check box ticked ➔ Student receives a 70/75
Category 1 aggregation strategy: "Natural"
Category 1 total ➔ 20 + 70 = 90 ➔ item 1 only acts as extra credit so it brings the total to its maximum (out of 75) ➔ 75/75
Note: Natural aggregation functions as a sum of grades when the weight boxes are left alone. In this situation the numbers in the weight boxes are informational and represent the effective weights in the sum. Natural aggregation can also function as a mean of grades when the weight boxes are checked and then adjusted so that the weights are equal to a set of items in a category. Items can still be marked as "Extra credit" while using the weights to calculate a mean and contribute to the total for the category.
Normalization -
The process of standardizing or adjusting grades within the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) to account for variations in assessment difficulty or student performance. The purpose of normalization in Moodle is to establish a consistent grading scale or benchmark that allows for meaningful comparisons of student performance.
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R
Rubrics -
Rubrics are an advanced grading method used for criteria-based assessment. Rubrics consist of a set of criteria plotted against levels of achievement. A numeric grade is assigned to each level. For each criterion, the assessor chooses the level they judge the work to have reached. The raw rubric score is calculated as a sum of all criteria grades. The final grade is calculated by comparing the actual score with the worst/best possible score that could be received.
Note:
-
Unless there is a good reason otherwise, enable Allow users to preview rubric so that they know in advance the standards by which they will be judged. Enabling Remarks allows assessors to make constructive suggestions for each criterion.
-
Numeric points are required, but if you want to use your rubric to give feedback without a numeric grade it is possible to hide these from students, and hide the final calculated grade from students.
-
You can enter negative points, for example a late submission penalty.
-
You can modify the weight of any criterion by setting the value of the points assigned to its levels. If there is one criterion with levels 0, 1, 2, 3 and the second one with levels 0, 2, 4, 6 then the latter's impact on the final grade is twice as much as the former's.
-
You can use the Tab key to jump to the next level/criteria and even to add new criteria.
Example:
An example of a Rubric with some criterion entered:
Back to Using a Rubric - Defining New Grading Form from Scratch
Back to Using a Rubric - Create New Grading Form from a Template
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S
Scales
Scales are a way of assessing the performance of students. Administrators have the ability to establish standardized scales that can be utilized throughout the platform and teachers have the flexibility to create personalized scales specific to their courses. Alternatively, grade points or no grades can be employed if desired. Scales may be used in various areas such as forums, glossaries, and assignments, for rating and/or grading students' activities.
Examples of Scales:
- General Introductions (The Affirmative Scale) - Welcome!, Glad to have you here!, Great post!
- (Valued as 0/2pts, 1/2pt, and 2/2pts respectively in any normalized aggregation method)
- (Valued as 1, 2, and 3 respectively in the sum aggregation method)
- If you would like two options in your scale (incomplete and complete) type "incomplete, complete" in the scale box.
- (Valued as 0/1pts and 1/1pt respectively in any normalized aggregation method like weighted mean, mean, simple weighted mean, etc.)
- (Valued as 1 and 2 respectively in the sum aggregation method)
- Generic Social Forum (This scale only worked prior to the averaging function) - Please clarify., I don’t understand., Hmmm. Tell me more., Interesting, Very cool., Awesome
- (Valued as 0/6pts, 1/6pt, 2/6pts, 3/6pts, 4/6pts, 5/6pts, and 6/6pts respectively in any normalized aggregation method)
- (Valued as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 respectively in the sum aggregation method)
- "Refer", pass, merit, distinction
- (Valued as 0/2pts, 1/2pt, and 2/2pts respectively in any normalized aggregation method)
- (Valued as 1, 2, and 3 respectively in the sum aggregation method)
- "Hesitant" Fail, Acceptable, Average, Excellent
- (Valued as 0/3pts, 1/3pt, 2/3pts, and 3/3pts respectively in any normalized aggregation method)
- (Valued as 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively in the sum aggregation method)
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Simple Weighted Mean -
The difference from the weighted mean is that the weight of each item is its maximum grade. When the simple weight mean aggregation is used, a grade item can act as extra credit for the category. This means that the grade item's maximum grade will not be added to the category total's maximum grade, but the item's grade will.
Example:
A3 is marked as extra credit in the category.
A1 ➔ 70/100 = 0.70, A2 ➔ 20/80 = 0.25, A3 (extra credit) ➔ 10/10 = 1.00, category max 100, Category A: ((0.7 x 100) + (0.25 x 80) + (1.0 x 10)) / (100 + 80) = 55.6 / 100 ➔ 55.6 (out of 100)
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W
Weighted Mean -
Each grade item can be given a weight to change its significance in the overall mean. The category total will equal the sum of all scores in each grade item - each multiplied grade by its grade weight - and the sum is finally divided by the sum of all weights.
Example:
A1 ➔ 70 out of 100 weight 10, A2 ➔ 20 out of 80 weight 5, A3 ➔ 10 out of 10 weight 3, Category A: maximum grade 100
A1 ➔ 70/100 = 0.7, A2 ➔ 200/80 = 0.25, A3 ➔10/10 = 1.00, Category A: ((0.7 x 100) + (0.25 x 5) + (1.0 x 3)) / (10 + 5 + 3) = 0.625 ➔ 62.5 / 100 ➔ 62.5 (out of 100)
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