Tips for Using SpeedGrader

The SpeedGrader is a great tool for grading students and giving feedback. There are some adjustable settings to make grading even quicker.

Sort Students

Eliminate the need to scroll through a long list of students. Instead, group students by Needs Grading, Graded, and No Submission to make it easier to manage grading. Learn how to sort the student list in SpeedGrader.

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Reuse Frequent Feedback

The Comment Library allows instructors to save and reuse commonly used text feedback. As an instructor, you can add new comments and delete existing comments in the Comment Library. Comments you have added to the Comment Library are accessible from each course in which you are enrolled as an instructor. Learn how to use the Comment Library in SpeedGrader.

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View Student Feedback Activity

Instructors can check if students have viewed their feedback. When you add annotations to an assignment, SpeedGrader displays the date and time the student opened the file and viewed your annotations.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Quick Navigation

SpeedGrader has several built-in keyboard shortcuts for navigating.  Mousing around a screen takes time, so if you use the SpeedGrader tool a lot, mastering a few simple keyboard shortcuts can make repetitive tasks go faster. Learn more about Canvas Keyboard Shortcuts.

The shortcuts only work if you have the submission information and grading panel “in focus.” If you have clicked on the document and are in the process of making annotations for a student, the shortcuts will not work until you have clicked on the right panel. In addition, if you use the shortcut for either “Leave comment” or “Change grade,” you will need to click outside those text-entry fields before you use another shortcut.