Instructors are currently able to manually enter grades in the SpeedGrader grade field, even when a letter grade scale is selected for the assignment. This causes two significant issues: 1. Lack of visibility of the grading scale in SpeedGrader: At our university, we use both two-step and three-step grading scales. In large courses with multiple instructors, misunderstandings occur when instructors assume the wrong scale is being used. For example, an instructor may believe an assignment uses a two-step scale (e.g., Pass/Fail), when it actually uses a three-step scale (e.g., Fail/Pass/Pass with Distinction). Since SpeedGrader does not display the grading scale in the grading view, instructors have no way of verifying which scale applies, leading to incorrect grading. 2. Ambiguity between numeric and letter grade input: In Sweden, we often use the "engineering scale" (U, 3, 4, 5). When instructors enter a numeric value (e.g., "4") intending it to represent a failing score (4 out of 100), SpeedGrader may interpret it as the letter grade "4" and automatically convert it to a high percentage score (e.g., 79%). This automatic conversion between points and letter grades creates serious grading errors, especially when numeric values overlap with letter grade symbols. Use Case Example: An instructor enters "4" intending to give a student 4 out of 100 points (a failing grade). SpeedGrader interprets this as the letter grade "4" and assigns the student 79 points, resulting in a passing grade. This misinterpretation directly affects the accuracy of student assessments.
To prevent these issues, we propose the following solution: 1. Restrict manual point entry when a letter grade scale is selected. Instead of allowing free text input, SpeedGrader should display a dropdown menu listing the available letter grades from the selected grading scale. This approach is already implemented in the Gradebook and should be extended to SpeedGrader for consistency and accuracy. 2. Display the grading scale in SpeedGrader’s grading view. With a dropdown menu, listing the available letter grades from the selected grading scale, Instructurs should be able to see which grading scale is applied to the assignment directly within SpeedGrader. This would reduce confusion and ensure correct grading, especially in courses with multiple instructors. Why this solution matters: Grading student performance is a form of public authority in Sweden, and technical shortcomings must not lead to incorrect assessments. Implementing this solution would: - Ensure consistent grading behavior across Canvas tools (Gradebook and SpeedGrader). - Prevent misinterpretation of grades due to ambiguous input. - Support instructors in making accurate, informed grading decisions. - Reduce the risk of administrative errors in student records. This is a minimal but critical change that would significantly improve grading reliability and user experience for instructors working with letter grade scales.
