Canvas Rubrics
- Christine Sandella
Rubrics are essential assessment tools used to communicate expectations of quality and performance to students. A rubric consists of rows and columns, where:
Rows define the various criteria for assessing an assignment.
Columns outline performance levels for each criterion.
Rubrics in Canvas can be applied to assignments, quizzes, and graded discussions. You can also create non-scoring rubrics for assessment and outcome-based grading without assigning points.
Important Notes:
Editing Limitations: Once a rubric is applied to multiple assignments, it cannot be edited.
Deletion Impacts: Deleting a rubric removes it from all associated assignments and erases related scores and assessments.
Why Use Canvas Rubrics?
Clarify Expectations: Clearly communicate assessment criteria to students.
Align with Learning Outcomes: Integrate predefined outcomes with course assessments.
Streamline Grading: Use rubrics in SpeedGrader for efficient and consistent assessment.
How to Use Canvas Rubrics
Create a Rubric in Canvas
In Course Navigation, open Rubrics.
Click the +Add Rubric button.
In the Title section, add a title for the rubric. This will identify the rubric so it can be easily associated with an assignment, graded discussion, or quiz.
Edit the Criterion Description. Default criterion entries can be edited by clicking the Edit icon.
Criteria cannot be reordered after being added to a rubric, so be sure to create them in the desired order from the start.
Provide a description for the criterion [1].
To offer more detail, enter an extended description [2], which gives students additional clarity about the criterion.
Click the Update Criterion button [3] to save your changes.
Enable Ranges (Optional)
By default, rubric ratings use single point values. To enable a point range, check the Range box [1]. This allows you to assign ratings using a range of point values instead of a fixed value.
When ranges are enabled, the first rating (full marks) will display as a range [2]. Each rating includes a maximum and minimum point value, with the maximum value used as the assigned point value.
Aside from displaying as ranges, point ranges work the same as individual point ratings. For example, a range of 3-5 points will assign the full 5 points for top performance.
Adjust Total Points
By default, rubric ratings are set to 5 points, with 5 points awarded for full marks and 0 points for no marks. To adjust the total point value for a criterion:Enter the desired value in the Points field [1].
The first rating (full marks) will automatically update to reflect the new total, and any intermediate ratings will adjust accordingly [2].
Add Ratings for the criterion by clicking the Add icon.
Modify the rating details in the Edit Rating window.
Rating Score: The Rating Score field displays the default point value between the two existing ranges [1].
To change this value, enter a new point value. You can use whole numbers (e.g., 1, 5, 10) or decimals (e.g., 0.3, 0.5, 2.75). Note: If using a point range, ensure the point values are whole numbers.
Rating Title: Enter a descriptive title for the rating in the Rating Title field [2].
Rating Description: Provide additional details in the Rating Description field [3] to clarify the performance level.
Save Changes: Click the Update Rating button [4] to apply your changes.
Modify or remove criteria and ratings.
Edit Rating: To modify a rating, click the Edit icon [1]. Adjusting a specific rating's point value will automatically update the total point value for the entire criterion.
Delete Rating: To remove a rating, click the Delete icon [2]. Note: The first and last ratings within a criterion cannot be deleted.
Delete Criterion: To delete the entire criterion, click the Delete icon for the criterion [3]. This will remove all associated ratings for that criterion.
Add or duplicate criterion.
Add Criterion: To add another criterion, click the Add Criterion link [1].
New Criterion: To create a new criterion, click the New Criterion option [2].
Duplicate Criterion: To duplicate an existing criterion, click the name of the criterion you want to duplicate [3].
Find Outcome: To find an outcome to align with the rubric, click the Find Outcome link [4]. Please note, outcomes cannot be edited directly in a rubric.
Once your criterion and ratings are set, click the Create Rubric button.
To modify the rubric once created, click the Edit icon [1].
To remove the rubric, click the Delete icon [2]. Deleting a rubric will permanently remove it from the list of available rubrics in all your courses. This action cannot be undone.
Add Rubrics to Assessments
Add a Rubric to an Assignment
In Course Navigation, open Assignments.
Open the assignment by on clicking its name.
Click the Add Rubric button.
To find an existing rubric, click the Find a Rubric link.
Select the course or account in the first column, then select the name of the rubric you want to add in the second column, then click the Use This Rubric button to add it to your assignment.
Add a Rubric to a Graded Discussion
In Course Navigation, open Discussions.
Open the graded discussion by clicking on its name.
Add the rubric by clicking Options, then Add Rubric.
The Assignment Rubric Details window will pop up, click Add Rubric.
To find an existing rubric, click the Find a Rubric link.
Select the course or account in the first column, then select the name of the rubric you want to add in the second column, then click the Use This Rubric button to add it to your graded discussion.
Add a Rubric to a Quiz
In Course Navigation, open Quizzes.
Open the quiz by clicking on its name.
Click the Options icon then click the Show Rubric link.
Click the Add Rubric button.
To find an existing rubric, click the Find a Rubric link.
Select the course or account in the first column, then select the name of the rubric you want to add in the second column, then click the Use This Rubric button to add it to your quiz.
Additional Resources: