Using Rubrics with External Tools

[Gerritsen]

Canvas does not allow a rubric to be attached to an external tool for some unknown reason, so as I researched 52 youtube videos later, it seemed that I could create the assignment with another label like "online". After I made the assignment with the fake category and attached the rubric, then I could go back in and change the submission to external tool. This is a solid hassle and seems ridiculous, but desperate times and all that. Now it seems that even that doesn't work. Is there a way for Canvas to just make it so a rubric an be added to any assignment period? That would be great. Thanks.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

@Gerritsen ...

Hi there!  You are partially correct in your analysis of LTI external tools, assignments, and rubrics.  If your assignment is going to use a LTI external tool but also needs to include a Canvas rubric, you first need to attach the rubric to the assignment like normal.  After you've saved the assignment and ensured that the rubric is attached, go back to edit the assignment, and change it to the "External Tool" that you want to use (for example: Turnitin).  Once you save the assignment again, the rubric will not be displayed under the assignment like you'd normally expect.  However, the rubric *is still attached to the assignment*.  You can still go to the SpeedGrader for the assignment and access the rubric to use it for grading.  How do I use a rubric to grade submissions in SpeedGrader?   And, students can still access the rubric, too...just via a different screen.  Check out this Guide: How do I view the rubric for my external tool assignment?.

I hope this information will be of help to you.  Sing out if you have any other questions about this...thanks!  Take care, stay safe, and be well.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

@Gerritsen ...

Hi there!  You are partially correct in your analysis of LTI external tools, assignments, and rubrics.  If your assignment is going to use a LTI external tool but also needs to include a Canvas rubric, you first need to attach the rubric to the assignment like normal.  After you've saved the assignment and ensured that the rubric is attached, go back to edit the assignment, and change it to the "External Tool" that you want to use (for example: Turnitin).  Once you save the assignment again, the rubric will not be displayed under the assignment like you'd normally expect.  However, the rubric *is still attached to the assignment*.  You can still go to the SpeedGrader for the assignment and access the rubric to use it for grading.  How do I use a rubric to grade submissions in SpeedGrader?   And, students can still access the rubric, too...just via a different screen.  Check out this Guide: How do I view the rubric for my external tool assignment?.

I hope this information will be of help to you.  Sing out if you have any other questions about this...thanks!  Take care, stay safe, and be well.

[Gerritsen]

You are partly correct in your response. Thanks for the information - but the rubric will only show up with the assignment if you have the students make a copy of the Google item themselves. Then they go into submit and choose it from Google. If you force copy the Google item where it makes a copy for the student, the rubric will show up on Speed Grader, but the assignment will not. When you access the assignment, the rubric goes away. If you know of a way to make the rubric show up with the force copy, that would be great. Thanks.

[VeronicaStein]

Excellent! This works ... at first I was worried because I could not see the rubric attached to the assignment or in student view.  

[Neurofish]

What if I didn't realize this and the due date is past and students have submissions? Why are you not just able to add a rubric to any assignment?

[mbmacdonald]

I found an idea conversation related to this: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Idea-Conversations/Ability-to-Add-a-Rubric-to-an-External-Assignm...

Please go and vote and comment

A commenter there suggests that it is possible to edit the assignment, change submission type, add a rubric, go back and change the submission type back to external tool, and then re-link the tool - even after student submissions have happened. I just tried it with a VoiceThread assignment and was not successful on my first try which means this is NOT a workable solution, but I suspect it varies based on the external tool.

However, even if these workarounds worked, this is not a viable solution when trying to get individual instructors to use rubrics for the purpose of program/institution assessment. the process needs to be as easy for them as possible. Some instructors have dozens of external tool assignments that are just auto-loaded through publisher tools and/or course copied.

[Chris_Hofer · Accepted solution]

Hey there, @Gerritsen , @VeronicaStein , @Neurofish , and @mbmacdonald ...

I think I have some awesome news for all of you.  I was just browsing the Canvas Release Notes and Deploy Notes, and I saw some exciting news in the June 21, 2023 Deploy Notes:

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

Check out the section on Assignments: External Tools Add Rubric Button.  😊