Three functions for examination in Canvas

Canvas has three functions for examination: Assignments, Discussions and Quizzes. These three functions are the basis for many different types of assignments or exams, whether they be formative or summative. Links and materials that are found in the course Assignments and Grades which is available to everyone in Canvas.

Assignments

In Canvas, you can use the Assignments function to create an exam. You can ask the student to submit many different types of documents: texts, videos, pictures, scanned documents, etc. If you use a word of pdf format for the submission type, you can add comments directly into the submitted exam while grading. You can also leave timed comments in audio and video submissions. In both tests and exams, you can enable peer reviewing to create opportunities for students to learn through providing feedback to each other and give students the opportunity to learn and understand the assessment process.

How to create assignments in Canvas

How to create peer review tasks

Quizzes

Your quizzes can vary in many ways: they can have different forms, they can be automatically graded or require assessment by a teacher, the quiz content may be the same for everybody or be randomised by taking questions from a larger question bank.

Quizzes in Canvas

Discussions

A graded discussion which is used for an exam is similar to a seminar exam but is done in writing.

How to create a graded discussion

How do I assign a graded discussion to an individual student

Feedback in Canvas

There are some important settings to check before your students begin taking the exam, and especially before you start correcting and giving feedback. A setting that is fundamental to have is that every student will receive their feedback at the same time (and not as you are correcting).

Here is how you make sure everyone gets feedback at the same time.

In the grades book, all the students are listed, as well as their current status for the courses assignments. This is also where you find all the submissions and can give your feedback to the students.

The grade book – your overview of feedback

In SpeedGrader you can read the participant’s answers to the exam, give an assessment/grade and leave comments. As soon as a user has submitted an assignment it will become available. Read more about SpeedGrader:

Give feedback on exams via SpeedGrader

Anonymous grading in Canvas

It is not a technical concern to have an anonymous exam in Canvas. However, it can be a problem if there is any monitoring via Zoom during the exam. It is also difficult to guarantee a legally secure exam if you do not use Canvas to both create the assignment and provide feedback via SpeedGrader. The function for anonymity is based on the whole feedback cycle being performed in Canvas, and does not suit exams that have been printed, for example.

Anonymous Grading