How do I add or edit details in an assignment?

[#1]

When you create an assignment, you'll add details for the assignment such as the description, file submission types, and point value.

If you create an assignment shell, you must edit the assignment to add the assignment details.

Assignment settings are persistent to always remember and display the settings created or edited in the previous assignment in the course. Please note that this feature only applies to settings; it does not include assignment due dates.

Notes:

• When Multiple Grading Periods are enabled in a course, assignments are also respected against closed grading periods. Some attributes may not be available to editing.
• You may be able to edit due and availability dates for multiple assignments at one time from the Assignments Index page.

Open Assignments

In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.

Open Assignment

To open an existing assignment, click the Assignment name [1].

To create a new assignment, click the Add Assignment button [2].

Edit Assignment

Click the Edit button.

Edit Assignment Details

Type the assignment title in the Assignment Name field [1]. If you created your assignment as an assignment shell, this field will be populated for you, but you can change it if necessary.

Use the Rich Content Editor to add images, text, links, equations, or insert media [2]. Use the Content Selector in the Sidebar to link to or upload course resources, including files and images [3].

Note: The Rich Content Editor includes a word count display below the bottom right corner of the text box.

Enter the points for your assignment in the Points field [1]. Select the Assignment Group for the assignment in the Assignment Group drop-down menu [2].

If you created your assignment as an assignment shell, the points field and Assignment Group will be populated for you. You can edit these if necessary.

Note: Points possible must be set to a number greater than zero for assignments with percentage, points, letter grade, or GPA grading types.

Change Points Possible

If you change the points possible for an existing assignment with graded submissions, you will need to regrade the assignment. This warning message applies to any grading type with assignment submissions, including changing points from or to zero.

Select Grading Type

In the Display Grade as drop-down menu, select the method you want to use for grading. You can grade your assignment by percentage, complete/incomplete, points, letter grade, GPA scale, or set as not graded.

Note: The grading type is how the assignment score will display in the Gradebook. For example, an assignment worth 10 points is set to display as a percentage. A student who receives 8/10 points on the assignment will show as 80 in the Gradebook. If using a letter grade, learn how to create a grading scheme and apply a grading scheme to your assignment.

Select Submission Type

In the Submission Type drop-down menu, select the type of submission you want to accept for the assignment. By default, the submission type will be set to Online.

• No Submission is when you do not want students to submit an assignment in Canvas. This assignment type can be used to create extra columns in the Gradebook, or when you want to create an assignment that involves multiple scores. Submission Type does not apply to Not Graded assignments.
• Online is when you want students to submit their assignments using Canvas.
• On Paper is when you want students to submit an assignment to you but not through Canvas. This assignment type applies to traditional face-to-face courses or hybrid courses when you want the assignment turned in during class, but you still want to create a column in the Canvas Gradebook for grading purposes.
• External Tool is when you want students to submit their assignments using an external app (LTI) enabled for your course. You must enter a URL for the external tool.

Assignment settings are persistent to always remember and display the settings created or edited in the previous assignment in the course. Based on prior assignments, one or more of these options may already be selected for you.

Note: No Submission and On Paper assignments still appear to students on their Assignments page. To avoid confusion, it is best to make a note in the description about the assignment so students will know whether or not a submission is required and if so, how they are supposed to submit it.  

Select Submission Attempts

If you have selected the Online submission type, you can limit submission attempts for the assignment.

Create Group Assignment

As part of an assignment submission, Canvas lets you set up an assignment as a group assignment. You can also choose to grade students individually in group assignments.

Require Peer Reviews

If you want to require students review each other's work, you can create a peer review assignment. When requiring peer reviews, you can select whether to manually assign peer reviews or automatically assign peer reviews.

Allow Anonymous and Moderated Grading

If you want to set up an assignment with additional reviews, you may be able to enable Moderated Grading, Anonymous Grading, or both. Moderated grading allows multiple graders to evaluate a student's work and create provisional grades. Anonymous grading hides student names from graders when they view assignment submissions in SpeedGrader. These options can be used together or independently.

Enable Anonymous Instructor Annotations

If you want to assess submissions with DocViewer and make all instructor annotations and comments in DocViewer-supported submissions anonymous, select the Anonymous Instructor Annotations checkbox.

Edit Due and Availability Dates

By default, Canvas will set your assignment dates for everyone in your course [1]. However, you can assign the assignment to an individual student or course section.

Create a due date for the assignment in the Due Date field [2]. The due date will already be populated for you if you created an assignment shell, but you can change it if necessary. You also have the option to add availability date fields [3].

Save Assignment

If you want to notify users about any future assignment changes, click the Notify users that this content has changed checkbox [1]. Click the Save button [2].

Note: If your assignment has not yet been published, the assignment will show the Save & Publish button. The Save button will create a draft of your assignment so you can publish it later.

[kimm613]

I didn't realize that DocViewer is not available with text entry submissions and would like to use it. Some students have already submitted via text entry. Can I change the assignment details to only allow file uploads so that the rest are submitted that way? Will that delete the text entry submissions? Is there an easy way to switch the text entry submissions to files so I can use the DocViewer on them?

[CanvasDocTeam]

Hi @kimm613,

• Can I change the assignment details to only allow file uploads so that the rest are submitted that way?
  • Yes.
• Will that delete the text entry submissions?
  • No I don't believe it will.
• Is there an easy way to switch the text entry submissions to files so I can use the DocViewer on them?
  • I'm not totally sure. You are try downloading student submissions and re-uploading them as files to see if that will work.