Asynchronous Assessments: Creating Course Assignments
Overview
You can use Assignments to create a variety of assignments. You can embed videos, URL links, math/chemistry formulas, twitter feeds, record a desktop webcam message, and more. Canvas also uses Turnitin, a plagiarism checking tool. There are different submission types as well, so if you had your students create a website, you can have them just submit the URL.
Video Overview
This video provides an overview of the assignment tool.
Creating an Assignment
Image of assignment page in Canvas
- Click on Assignments from the course navigation.
- Click +Assignment at the top right corner.
- Complete the Assignment by entering the Name, Description, and completing the assignment settings.
- Visit the Turnitin page to learn more about using the plagiarism checker tool.
- Visit the EquatIO page to learn more about adding math and chemistry formulas quickly into course content.
Best Practices
- Use the plagiarism checker when students turn in a written paper assignment
- Use rubrics for projects, presentations, papers, etc so students understand how they are being evaluated and help ensure grading consistency.
- Use assignment groups to organize assignments or when you are using weighted grading system.
- Use peer reviews to give students the opportunity to critique their peers' work.
- Give students rubrics to use to peer review and allow them to provide their own insights and questions not just those addressed in the rubric.
- Provide guidance and resources about APA rules (international students may not be too familiar with APA).
- Ensure your activities are accessible ( Making your Online Course Accessible )
- Try to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of ways (writing papers, creating a poster, or video).
- Allow GA's or TA's the opportunity to grade assignments to allow for not only your but other feedback as well (you have the final say in the grade).
- Create or upload a video as an assignment and have students reflect and connect the video to their readings, discussions, or other content. Essentially providing multiple modes of representing knowledge.
- Use modules if you want students to proceed through course content in a sequential way.
Additional Resources
- Canvas Guide - Building Assignments Links to an external site.
- TLOS Self-Paced online - Building Assignments
- TLOS Accessibility: EquatIO Digital Math Editor