In Canvas, any activity with an associated point value is considered an Assignment and will appear on the Assignments page, as well as in the gradebook. Assignment formats include quizzes, discussions, online document submission, and no submission, and external tool assignments. You can give an assignment to everyone in the course or target it to a specific section or user. Types of Graded Activities in Canvas
The following table lists the types of graded activities in Canvas and their strengths and weaknesses.
| Type | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | Multiple submission types, alignment with rubrics and outcomes, no paper waste, easier to control content, easier to randomize, faster grading, student submission directly to instructor and TAs | Potential technical problems such as network problems or internet connectivity loss, possible file size limitations, less personal feedback, learning curve for teachers or students not familiar with Canvas or technology in general |
| Quizzes | Automatic grading and regrading, multiple attempts, instant feedback | No regrading if you pulled questions from a question bank, cannot add points automatically, limited regrading options |
| Surveys | Instant feedback, faster grading, no paper waste, faster than passing out paper surveys to hundreds of students Points awarded based on survey submission | Potential technical problems Not available in New Quizzes format |
| Discussions | Discussions not limited to a single class period. Students have more time to formulate responses, keeps a record of comments for grading purposes, shy students more likely to participate. All students in the class can see the submission so students can get ideas from each other. | Potentially time-consuming to read comments from large groups of students, potential technical problems, students may not do their own work after seeing work of others (can be circumvented using the requirement to post before seeing other student replies) |