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Assignments
The Assignments tab is arguably the most central to Canvass operation.
It controls the columns in the gradebook and gradebook calculations.
It displays all things gradeable, including assignments, gradable discussions, and quizzes.
Each can be created in Assignments.
Dates used in the syllabus and calendar are rapidly edited in Assignments.
Use assignment groups to achieve:
1. Assignment
categorization
2. Grading rules
a. Drop lowest n
scores
b. Drop highest n
scores
c. Never drop x
assignment
3. Weighting of Grades
Icons to look for:
Drag and drop assignments and assignment groups to desired locations
Edit Assignment or Assignment Group
Delete Assignment or Assignment Group
Remove Assignment Rule
Add Assignment to Assignment Group (or add a new Assignment Group)
Weighting Assignment Groups
1. Check the Weight the Final Grade checkbox
2. Enter the weight for each assignment group in
the form on the right.
3. Weights should typically equal 100, but can
exceed 100 for extra credit.
This method works as long as you dont have extra credit quizzes, which, by design, have a defined
number of points possible. It can also be tricky if you are weighting grades using assignment groups. In
these cases, you may need to use method 2.
Option 2: Use Assignment Group Weighting that totals more than 100%
Organize all of your required assignments into groups and put your extra credit assignments into
additional extra credit assignment groups.
1. Make sure the total weighting of all required assignment groups equals 100%.
A. If all required assignments are in one group, this is easy. Make the whole required
assignments group worth 100% of the grade.
See http://screencast.com/t/HkjyGZa8
B. If you have your required assignments split into multiple groups and you were already
planning to used a weighted grading approach, simply set up the weighting scheme as
planned, making sure it equals 100%.
C. If you have required assignments split into multiple groups and you were not planning
to weight scores, determine how to weight each group by determining how many points
are possible in the group and their percentage of the total points possible:
(Total Group Points Possible / Total Points Possible) * 100
2. Determine how many total extra credit points you wish to provide.
3. Determine how many percentage points above 100 are needed to achieve the desired number of
extra credit points. All steps condensed into one formula would look something like this:
(((Extra Credit Points + Total Required Points) / Total Required Points) * 100) -100
See http://screencast.com/t/WM3sdtYCjdA
4. Weight your extra credit group(s) accordingly.
5. Test your outcomes, if possible. Be wary of unexpected results.
Note: If using Option 2, its safest to put each extra credit assignment in its own assignment group.
Because extra credit is optional, students may complete all extra credit assignments, or they may not. If
you dont provide a grade where extra credit was turned in, they will receive a higher percentage than
they earned. If you do provide a zero where they didnt turn in extra credit, it will appear to bring down
their overall percentage until all grades are finalized. Keeping each extra credit assignment in its own
group prevents both problems as long as you leave unsubmitted extra credit grades blank.