Canvas’s SpeedGrader feature is an integrated tool that bridges Assignments and the Gradebook. For most kinds of online assignment submissions, you can use SpeedGrader to view, annotate, comment, fill out the rubric (if you use one), and assign a grade that will appear in the Gradebook. SpeedGrader saves you paper if you usually print work or collect it in hard copy to comment on it, and possible technical mishaps if you usually grade using Word or Google Docs. It also ensures grades feed into the Gradebook so students can track their progress.
Guidance and Tutorials
Recorded Training Webinar
On September 16, 2020, Ursula Jones (IS/CLT affiliate) offered a demonstration workshop on using SpeedGrader, Rubrics, and the TurnItIn integration:
Tutorial Video
California-based theater professor Ashlee Espinosa explains using Gradebook, SpeedGrader, and Rubrics in this quick video:
Canvas User Guides
Canvas provides an overview video that explains accessing SpeedGrader and its options and functions. Like most official Canvas tutorials, the video is comprehensive, but may not immediately answer your questions about the basics of using the tool. You may prefer to peruse the written guides linked below the video.
We recommend the following written tutorials:
- Accessing SpeedGrader from an Assignment, Discussion, or Quiz
- Navigating SpeedGrader and managing grading settings (for example, anonymized grading)
- Annotating student submissions (note: this is for written submissions and only works for uploaded submissions in certain formats, like Word documents and PDFs — so have your students submit in an allowed format!)
- Leaving comments for an assignment (that is, comments on the whole assignment, as opposed to annotations)
- Grading Canvas Quizzes with SpeedGrader
- An index of all of Canvas’s SpeedGrader articles is available (useful if you prefer to leave audio comments, are grading media submissions, or other specialized users of SpeedGrader)
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