UT San Antonio Academic Innovation

Canvas Gradebook FAQs

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Overview

Canvas Gradebook helps instructors easily view and enter grades for students. All published and graded assignments, quizzes, discussions and surveys will display in the Gradebook.

Set up and Organization

How can I view student names separated by first and last name?

Below is an example of splitting student's first and last names from one column to two columns. You can makes these changes by following the Canvas guide How do I view the Split Student Names?

Canvas table comparison showing "Student Name" before and after splitting into "Student Last Name" and "Student First Name."

How to organize Gradebook items?

In this guide, discover practical tips and step-by-step instructions on how to effectively organize Gradebook items in your course, ensuring a streamlined and intuitive approach to tracking and evaluating student progress.

To learn how, go to Canvas's guide on: How do I arrange columns in the Gradebook?

How do I set up weighted grades?

Incorporating assignment groups offers a structured approach to calculating final grades based on weighted criteria. By assigning weights to each assignment group rather than individual assignments, this method ensures a balanced and accurate representation of student performance.

To learn how to set up weighted grades follow this Canvas guide: How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?

How do I change grades from points to percentage?

In Canvas, grades are automatically set to points. To view totals and assignment groups as percentages you will need to change your grades to be based on weight. To learn how to set up weighted grades, read How do I set up weighted grades below.

Grading and Feedback Management

What do the Canvas Gradebook icons and colors mean?

The Gradebook includes several icons and colors that may display in the assignment columns, assignment groups, and Total column to give statuses, warnings and used to quickly see differences.

Check out Canvas's How do I use the icon and color in Gradebook? for more information.

How to create an assignment with no grade?

  1. To add a not graded assignment, go to assignments and select the blue + Assignment button.
Screenshot of an interface with a red circle highlighting the "+Assignment" button next to "+Group" and a search bar.
  1. After you give your assignment a name and description, scroll down to change the points to zero (0) and display grade as Not Graded. Then, Save the assignment.
User interface showing assignment parameters with the "Assignment Group" field highlighted.

You can check that you have completed this correctly by looking at your grade book. You should not see your assignment in the grade book.

Can I upload grades to Canvas?

You can use a CSV file to upload changes to the Gradebook. You can upload information for existing assignments, or you can also use a CSV file to create new assignments in the Gradebook. Keep in mind, new assignments will automatically be published in your course.

For step by step instructions, please read the Canvas guide: How do I import grades in the Gradebook?

Transferring mid-term and final grades from Canvas

To incorporate faculty feedback, our grade transfer steps are updated each semester. To stay up-to date please see our step by step guide and common issues on our Grade Transfer page.

Troubleshooting

Why can't my students see their grades?

If you have an eyeball on an assignment column that means that the assignment's grades have not been posted yet and students are not able to see the grades.

Cavnvas gradebook column. The heading of the column shows the hidden icon.

This eyeball icon is known as the Visibility icon in Canvas.

To remove

(1) Click the 3 dots at the top of the assignment name and (2) Click Post grades.

Student will then be able to see the grades.

Canvas gradebook column with the dot menu selected to reveal submenu options including 'Post grades'

How do I see students that are no longer in my course?

When a student leaves your course they may be labeled as inactive in your course and Canvas will remove the students from your gradebook view. To see these students in gradebook, follow the steps below.

  1. Navigate to Grades in your Canvas course. In the Student Name column click the three vertical dots menu and then select Inactive enrollments.
student column with inactive enrollments selected
  1. You will now be able to see inactive students in the rest of your course roster. Inactive students will have a grey label next to their name as shown below.
inactive grey icon next to the student's name
  1. To hide inactive students, repeat the same steps and deselect Inactive enrollments.

Can I use the Override Column in Canvas instead of the Total Column for Grade Transfers?

At this time, only the grade entered in the Total column will be prepopulated in the grade transfer form. However, the prepopulated grades can be overwritten in the grade transfer section before they are submitted. 

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.

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