[ARCHIVED] Exceptions to Module Prerequisites

[harris60]

I use modules and students must complete a module before going to the next module.

However, in one case I have a student who was not able to complete module "a" before the due date. This means that the student can not take module "B". I would like to create an exception to open module b for this student. Is there anyway to create exceptions in module prerequisites for just one student?

[snugent]

Hi Michael

When you say before the due date do you mean an assignment with a due date and availability period set that has a module requirement?

If so you can use differentiated assignments, to allow the student to complete the assignment which would fulfill the module requirement.

How do I assign an Assignment to an individual student or course section?

You may find this page helpful as well.

Accommodating Students in Canvas

If that is not what you mean, can you explain in more detail how you have the module setup.

[harris60]

I use modules to create a structure for students. The modules presents the proper flow: read this book chapter, take this mini-test, listen to this lecture, take the exam.

If students can get to the exam without going through the module they are likely to take the exam without listening to the lecture -- believing the textbook is sufficient. To reinforce my learning flow, I give them a modules menu and turn off all other options (such as Quizzes menu, Syllabus-has calendar at bottom, Assignments, etc.). So the only way to get to an activity is through the modules menu.

Each module has the previous module as a pre-requisite. So you can't complete a module without finishing the previous module. A student missed a module and wants to continue with the course. They missed it because the exam in the module is past due. This means there is no way to go on to the next module.

I could reopen the test for the earlier module so that they can complete it. However, I would prefer to offer the option to skip the early module and to continue with the other parts of the course.

Thanks,

Michael

[snugent]

Hi Michael

That makes sense. I did find two feature ideas similar to what you stated. Unfortunately they are both archived.

Would the ability to excuse an assignment help?

How do I excuse an assignment for a student in the Gradebook?

[kona]

Susan is correct that if you put the EX in the gradebook for the missing assignments, the student won't need to submit them to move through the Module to the next Module(s).

[harris60 · Accepted solution]

First, snugent​, thank you so much for your suggestion. I wasn't aware of the EX capability and that was useful to know about.

Unfortunately, it will not work in my case. I want to give the student no credit (a zero) for the assignment, but allow them to continue with the course. However, experimenting with EX gave me an idea which did work. If I directly enter a score of zero in the gradebook for the missed assignment then the student will be able to go on to the next module.

So that this is documented if someone else finds this through a search:

Entering a EX as a student's grade will excuse an assignment. For that student only, it will act as if the assignment/grade did not exist. For example let's say that there are four tests marked as follows:

   Test1: 100 Test2: 100 Test3: 0 Test4: 100 ==> Student's Test Score would be: 75

With an EX, this would become:

   Test1: 100 Test2: 100 Test3: EX Test4: 100 ==> Student's Test Score would be: 100

In my case I have a rule to drop the lowest test score. The EX is completely ignored so that the lowest other test score is dropped like this:

   Test1: 100 Test2: 100 Test3: EX Test4: 34 =(Drop lowest)=> Student's Score: 75

Finally, what worked for me was just manually entering a zero in the gradebook:

   Test1: 100 Test2: 100 Test3: 0 Test4: 100 =(Drop lowest)=> Student's Test Score would be: 100

In my case I entered a 0 for Test3 and left Test4 blank. This allowed the student to skip module three (with a grade of zero) and to continue on with the module 4.

[kona]

harris60, I know it's a bit after the fact, but there is a work around for allowing just one student to bypass specific requirements/prerequisites and give the student a zero on the assignment - Bypassing Requirements/Prerequisitse

[sphinney]

This was an interesting discussion and one that I hoped would resolve my issue. Unfortunately, my requirement is to contribute to a discussion. I did give the person a 0, but that apparently is not the equivalent to contributing (that does make sense to me), so it did not open up the next module. I'm assuming that putting EX on the assignment would also not open the next module, although I admit that I did not try it because I did not want to excuse that assignment for the student. I do hope that Canvas will try to work it out so we can manually excuse requirements on module prerequisites.