Use SpeedGrader in Canvas

Last updated on October 31, 2025

Tools: SpeedGrader and the Gradebook

SpeedGrader is a built-in Canvas tool that makes grading more efficient and organized. Instructors can use SpeedGrader to view student work, assign grades with or without a rubric, provide feedback, and quickly progress to the next student in the course. SpeedGrader can be used to grade all types of assignments, including quizzes, group work, and discussion contributions. All grades assigned in SpeedGrader automatically populate in the Canvas gradebook, saving the instructor time and reducing grading errors.

Best practices

• Consider using rubrics to make grading even quicker and more objective.
• Provide feedback to students by adding comments and/or directly annotating student document submissions.

Let’s walk through it together

Access SpeedGrader from the Gradebook 

1. Log in to your Canvas Account.
2. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
3. Click Grades on the course navigation menu.
4. Hover your cursor over the Name of the item you want to grade.
5. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears next to the name.
6. Select SpeedGrader.
7. View the Student’s Work. The student’s name is listed in the top right corner of the page.
8. Enter the student’s Grade in the Assessment Grade box.
9. Type Comments in the Assessment Comments box if desired.
10. Click Submit to add comments to grade.

Use a Rubric with SpeedGrader

1. Click Grades on the course navigation menu.
2. Hover your cursor over the Name of the item you want to grade.
3. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears
4. Select SpeedGrader.
5. View the Student’s Work. The student’s name is listed in the top right corner of the page.
6. Click the View Rubric Button under the Grade box to view the rubric while in SpeedGrader.
7. Click the appropriate Rating Box for each criterion.
   • Note: Click on the Comment Icon within the points box to the right of the criterion to provide criterion-specific feedback.
   • Note: Total points will auto-calculate. You can override this by typing a different value in the points box next to the criterion.
8. Click Save.
9. Type General Feedback in the Assignment Comments box, as desired.
10. Click Submit.

Annotate Student Work

1. Click Grades on the course navigation menu.
   • Note: Only certain types of assignment submissions, including DOC, PDF, PPT, and text files, can be annotated.
2. Hover your cursor over the Name of the item you want to grade.
3. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears.
4. Select SpeedGrader.
5. View the Student’s Work.
6. Select the Type of annotation you would like to add from the menu bar at the top of the page. The different types of annotations are:
   • Point – drop a “pin” in the text and leave a comment to the side (described below).
   • Highlight – highlight a portion of the assignment, click the button that appears to the right to also leave a comment.
   • Freetext – write text annotations directly on the assignment.
   • Strikeout – strikeout text in the assignment, click the button that appears to the right to also leave a comment.
   • Free Draw – draw a shape/circle around a piece of the assignment, click the button that appears to the right to also leave a comment.
   • Area (Rectangular Box) – draw a rectangular box around a portion of the assignment, click the button that appears to the right to also leave a comment.
     • Note: you can select the color for these annotation options in the upper left after choosing the annotation type.