Overview
Setting up discussion checkpoints in Canvas is a great way to structure student participation and encourage more thoughtful engagement. This feature allows you to create clear deadlines for both initial posts and replies, helping to reduce procrastination and promote a more interactive learning environment. By following a few simple steps, you can easily add this functionality to your graded discussions, making the process more transparent and manageable for both you and your students.
Create Student Groups (NOT REQUIRED to create discussion checkpoints)
Set Up Checkpoints in Discussions
Set Up Checkpoints with Groups
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Create Student Groups
Note: If you already have student groups, you can ignore this step. This is NOT REQUIRED to create discussion checkpoints.
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Create a Group:
Go to your Canvas course.
Click Discussions on the left-hand menu.
In the top-right corner, select + Group Set.
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Configure group set:
- Enter a Group Set Name.
- Select the applicable student options.
- Allow students to self-sign up.
- Require group members to be in the same section.
- Choose the desired Group Structure.
- Create as many groups as needed within the group set.
Set up Checkpoints in Discussions
- Create or Edit a Discussions:
Go to your Canvas course.
Click People on the left-hand menu.
Click+ Discussion or edit an existing one.
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Enable Grading:
Scroll down and check the box for Graded.
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Enable Checkpoints:
- After enabling grading, check the box for Assign graded checkpoints.
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Leave Group Discussion Unchecked:
- Do not check the Group Discussion box.
- This ensures all students participate in a single shared thread.
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Configure Checkpoint Settings:
- Reply to Topic (Initial Post):Enter point value (e.g., 10 points).
- Number of Additional Replies Required:Enter how many replies students must make (e.g.,
- Points Possible for Additional Replies:Enter total points for replies (e.g., 10 points).
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Set Due Dates:
- Initial Post Due Date: Set the deadline for the first post (e.g., Wednesday of Week 1).
- Required Replies Due Date: Set the deadline for peer replies (e.g., Sunday of Week 2).
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Save and Publish:
Click Save to keep it as a draft or Save & Publish to make it visible to students immediately.
After publishing, consider sending a Canvas Announcement to notify students of the discussion and its two-phase structure.
Set Up Checkpoints with Groups
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Create or Edit a Discussion:
Go to your Canvas course.
Click Discussions on the left-hand menu.
Click the + Discussions button on the top right corner to create a new discussion board or edit an existing discussion board.
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Enable Grading:
Scroll down to Options and check the box for Graded.
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Enable Checkpoints:
After enabling grading, check the box for Assign graded checkpoints.
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Configure Checkpoint Settings:
- Reply to Topic (Initial Post):Enter point value (e.g., 10 points).
- Number of Additional Replies Required:Enter how many replies students must make (e.g., 2).
- Points Possible for Additional Replies:Enter total points for replies (e.g., 10 points).
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Set Due Dates:
- Initial Post Due Date:Set the deadline for the first post (e.g., Wednesday of Week 1).
- Required Replies Due Date:Set the deadline for peer replies (e.g., Sunday of Week 2).
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Assign to Groups:
Scroll to Group Discussion and check the box.
- Select the appropriate Group Set(e.g., “Discussion Groups”).
- This ensures students only see and respond within their assigned group.
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Save and Publish:
Click Save to keep it as a draft or Save & Publish to make it visible to students immediately.
After publishing, consider sending a Canvas Announcement to notify students of the discussion and its two-phase structure.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Issue: Students can't see due dates for checkpoints.
Solution:
- Confirm that both the initial post and reply phases have due dates set.
- Remind students to use the desktop version of Canvas, as the mobile app may not display checkpoint due dates correctly.
Issue: Students are posting in the wrong group or thread.
Solution:
- Double-check that the correct Group Set is selected in the discussion settings. Visit the Canvas Instructor Guide: How to Create a Group Set for step-by-step instructions.
- Go toPeople>Group Setsto verify group membership.
Resources
For more, review these additional resources:
Support
For support, email [email protected] call 210-458-4520 or book a consultation with our TLDT experts.
