Moving Criterion in a Rubric

[Mich2023]

I have created a rubric for a practical assessment but foolishly missed off a criterion. I need to move it up the rubric, currently, it sits at the end of a 93-point criterion and doesn't follow the required process. Can I move it?

[James · Accepted solution]

@Mich2023 

The ability to reorder criterion is not present within the native Canvas interface.

I did write a script eight years ago that you can run that allows you to drag the criterion to where you want it. As far as I know, it still works. See Sorting Rubrics Made Easy

There is another option with a different script I wrote 6.5 years ago. You can create a rubric in a spreadsheet and then copy/paste it into Canvas and it will create the rubric for you. For major rubrics like yours, that might be a better long-term approach. It does not support the detailed description, though. See Importing Rubrics from a Spreadsheet

Both of those are userscripts and need a userscript manager. I recommend Tampermonkey, but if you have a Mac and have recently upgraded to Sonoma, there's a problem with Safari and Tampermonkey right now outside of my control. I recommend using it with Chrome.

There are other, more technical ways to create rubrics using the back-end of Canvas, but since you have all of the work done, the first one is going to be the quickest way.

[JeffCampbell]

I have not seen a way to move elements of a rubric. Unfortunately, the only solution would be to either edit the existing one, or create a new one.

The ability to edit one by dragging criterion up or down to reorder appears to be a feature that is in-development at the moment: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Ideas/Rubrics-Editing-Capabilities-for-Rubrics/idi-p/36458... Based on the statuses for Ideas, it is possible that we could see an update coming soon, but nothing has been definitively identified for a release date.

There are some references to use browser extensions in order to be able to import a spreadsheet to make a rubric. I have not tried this myself, so cannot say if it still works (the reference is about 5 years old).

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @Mich2023 ...

In addition to the information you've gotten from @James and @JeffCampbell (thanks guys!), I wanted to check to see if your school has purchased DesignPLUS (Design Tools) from Cidi Labs?  I ask because Design Tools has the capability to re-order rubric rows in an existing rubric.  In the current "legacy" (I think that's what they are calling it now) Design Tools, Kenneth (the creator of Design Tools) has a "Hidden Gem" that allows you to move rubric rows.  See the "Sortable Rubrics" accordion item on this page...noting that your school would have to have purchased Design Tools in order for this to work in your Canvas environment:

Hidden Gems: [Legacy] DesignPLUS User Guide (instructure.com)

In the new Design Tools interface, Canvas admins can flip a switch to turn this on (I believe it's built right into the Design Tools toolset).

So yes, there is another way to do this...but with a cost.  I've used the option that James provides many times when I was a Canvas admin at a Technical College in Wisconsin.  At my current job, we have Design Tools, and we could enable this for our faculty.

Hope this helps a bit!