Add Manual Columns to the Canvas Gradebook

Last updated on November 3, 2026

If you are teaching an in-person course, there may be assignments or exams that students complete in person, rather than online through Canvas. If these assignments are graded, you will need to add a column in the Canvas Gradebook for it without creating an online assignment or quiz that students must submit work online for.

While the Canvas Gradebook does not allow you to add a manual column without creating an assignment, you can add these items to the Gradebook by creating a ‘No Submission’ assignment. Students will see the assignment in the gradebook, but they will not be able to submit anything to it. Instead, you can manually enter their grades through SpeedGrader based on their in-person work. View our tutorial, Use SpeedGrader in Canvas, for guidance on how to enter grades.

Directions

[Length 3:53, CC Available]

Show the ‘No Submission’ Assignment only in the Gradebook

To keep the ‘No Submission’ assignment visible to students only in the gradebook, follow these steps:

• Add the ‘No Submission’ assignment through Assignments rather than Modules. Do not add the assignment to a module as it may confuse students into thinking it’s an assignment they need to complete online.
• Keep the Assignments link hidden from students in the left-hand course navigation menu. Hidden links in the navigation menu are marked with a crossed out eye to the right of the link name.
  • The Assignments link is hidden by default. However, if it 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 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.

Create a ‘No Submission’ Assignment

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 drop-down menu next to Submission Type.
   • Note: The drop-down menu will be automatically set to the submission type of the last assignment you created.
9. Select No Submission from the drop-down menu.
   • If the in-class assignment was a group assignment, please view our tutorial, Create a Group Assignment for guidance on setting up your assignment for groups.
   • 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.

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