[ARCHIVED] Assignment using External Tools and Rubric Access

[jwitulski]

I have rubrics set up.  When I use the external tool like Google Cloud Documents, the rubrics button is not there when I save and publish the assignment. 

I have attached pictures of two different assignments. The first two (8.39.32/8.39.40) are from the same assignment using the external tool (Google Cloud Docs) and the last photo (8.39.59) is an assignment not using the external tool.  As you can see, the last one shows the +Rubric, while the former doesn't. Some assignments I use needs to have a rubric. 

The same thing can be said for an external app like Flipgrid connected into Canvas. I have rubrics set up for the assignments but cannot access them with the external tool in use. The only buttons I see after saving/publicizing the assignment with the external tool is the two buttons: Edit Assignment Settings and Speed Grader. 

I did do a search in Guides, seems as if there's not a specific topic on this.  If there is one, please direct me there. 

TIA

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi  @jwitulski ...

What you'll want to do is create your assignment like normal (without selecting an external tool) so that you can attach the rubric to it via the "+ Rubric" button.  Once your rubric is attached, edit the assignment again, but this time select the external tool that you want to incorporate with the assignment.  Save your changes to the assignment.  Even though it will appear that the rubric has disappeared and un-attached itself from the assignment, it's actually still there (or it should be).  Go to the SpeedGrader for the assignment, and then act like you are going to start grading a student's submission.  You should be able to open the rubric there.  Also, another thing to look at is the assignment from the Student View.  You should be able to carry out these steps: How do I view the rubric for my external tool assignment?

I hope this will be of help to you, Joanna.  Sing out if you have any other questions.  Be well, and stay safe.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hi  @jwitulski ...

What you'll want to do is create your assignment like normal (without selecting an external tool) so that you can attach the rubric to it via the "+ Rubric" button.  Once your rubric is attached, edit the assignment again, but this time select the external tool that you want to incorporate with the assignment.  Save your changes to the assignment.  Even though it will appear that the rubric has disappeared and un-attached itself from the assignment, it's actually still there (or it should be).  Go to the SpeedGrader for the assignment, and then act like you are going to start grading a student's submission.  You should be able to open the rubric there.  Also, another thing to look at is the assignment from the Student View.  You should be able to carry out these steps: How do I view the rubric for my external tool assignment?

I hope this will be of help to you, Joanna.  Sing out if you have any other questions.  Be well, and stay safe.

[jwitulski]

That worked. Thanks for the help. 

[Robert_Shahan]

Thank you for answering. I am having a similar issue and this helps. That being said, it would alleviate a lot of concern and confusion if the rubric was still visible even though the instructor is using an external tool.

Is this not something that can be easily changed?

[Chris_Hofer]

@Robert_Shahan ...

Not really sure how easy (or not easy) this would be to change from a programming/software engineering standpoint.  However, there is a Feature Idea that's available here in the Community which, hopefully, would address your question:

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Idea-Conversations/LTI-External-Tools-Ability-to-Add-Rubric/idi-p...

You might want to take a look at this one, evaluate it, an then add a comment to it letting Instructure engineers know why this would be important to you.

I know this might not be the exact answer you were looking for, but I hope that it helps to answer your question.

Take care, stay safe, and be well.

[NMQ]

Thanks for the information about adding the rubric before adding the external tool - I'll remember to do that next time. However, I have a situation where I already have an assignment with the Google Cloud Assignment external tool and was wondering if there is any way to add a rubric once you've already created the assignment?

Thanks.

NOTE - Added later: I think I've found a way around it. If I copy the URL of the Google Cloud Assignment (which has a special numbered code), I can change it to no submission, add the rubric, and then go back in and paste the URL back in so that the same code is there. [FYI - I didn't do it this way, and found that when you go to add the assignment document again it assigns it with a different numbered code].

However, from a Canvas perspective, is there any way to add a rubric to an assignment once it's already been published to students? Thanks!

[Chris_Hofer]

@NMQ ...

You could certainly test this out in a sandbox course or within your school's Canvas "test" environment.

• What is the Canvas test environment?
• How do I access the Canvas test environment as an instructor?

Since this environment is completely separate from the regular "production" environment that you normally sign into on a daily basis, anything you do in "test" won't affect what you do in "production".  So, in your "tests" environment, you could go into your course, create an assignment with the Google LTI, and publish it.  Then, you could edit the assignment details to instead change the submission type to "online".  Save the assignment details, and then add your rubric.  Then, go back to the assignment editing screen to change it back to the External Tool, and select the Google LTI option.  If this all works the way you want, you can then apply what you did in "test" to your "production" course.

As a side note related to the "test" environment, always be sure to log out of "test" once you are done...so that you don't get mixed up with your normal workflow in "production".

How do I log out of Canvas as an instructor?

Hope this will help a bit!  Good luck!

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

@jwitulski , @Robert_Shahan , and @NMQ ...

I think I have some good news for all of you!  I was just taking a look at the June 21, 2023 Deploy Notes, and I noticed a section on Assignments: External Tools Add Rubric Button.  Check this out at:

Canvas Deploy Notes (2023-06-21) - Instructure Community (canvaslms.com)