Add Manual Columns to the Canvas Gradebook

Last updated on September 21, 2026

Assignments, discussions, quizzes and a few other activities can be set to automatically populate the Canvas gradebook; however, you will need to add graded in-class work to the gradebook.

You can add these items to the gradebook by creating additional columns. The only way to manually create a column in the Canvas gradebook is to create a “No Submission” assignment.

If you would like to prevent students from seeing the “No Submission” assignment other than in the gradebook to prevent any assignment confusion, you can take the following steps:

Do not enable the Assignments menu for student view
Do not add a due date to the no-submission assignment
Do not add the no-submission assignment to a module.

Directions

[Length 2:21, CC Available]

1. Log in to your Canvas Account.
2. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
3. Click Assignments in the left-hand course navigation menu.
4. Click + Assignment in the top right-hand corner of the page.
5. Enter a Name for the assignment.
6. Enter a Description of the assignment in the large text box below the name.
   • Since this assignment is only being created to add a column in the gradebook, it is recommended you simply add a sentence explaining what in-class activity or assignment it corresponds to; e.g. “This no-submission assignment is for the in-class quiz on [date]”.
7. Enter the Point Value for the assignment.
   1. Optionally, select an Assignment Group from the Assignment Group drop-down menu, and/or select a different Grade Display Option from the Display Grade as drop-down menu.
8. Click the Submission Type drop-down menu.
9. Select No Submission from the drop-down menu.
   • Note: It is not recommended to change or enter any additional assignment settings or details for no-submission assignments.
10. Click Save and Publish in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
    • The assignment will now appear in the gradebook and you can enter grades.

Prevent Students from Viewing Assignment

To prevent students from viewing an in-class assignment in Canvas anywhere except the Gradebook, follow these guidelines:

• Do not enable the Assignments menu for student view.
  • This is disabled by default (disabled menu links have a crossed out eye icon next to them). If your Assignments menu is enabled for students to view, follow the steps in our tutorial, Enable and Disable Items in the Course Navigation Menu, to disable it.
• Do not add the no-submission assignment to a module.
• Do not add a Due Date to the no-submission assignment.
  • Adding a Due Date will add the assignment to students’ To-Do List, which could confuse them for in-class assignments.

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