Use SpeedGrader in Canvas

Last updated on May 28, 2024

SpeedGrader is a built-in Canvas tool that allows you to easily view and grade individual and group work. This feature can help you save time, stay organized, and quickly provide feedback to your students. Although you can access SpeedGrader by clicking on individual quizzes, assignments, and graded discussions, this tutorial describes how to use SpeedGrader from within the gradebook.

Note: Our most up-to-date version of this tutorial, provided below, was featured in our Canvas Spotlight series! 

Directions

Access SpeedGrader from the Gradebook 

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

Use a Rubric with SpeedGrader

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Canvas in the Teaching & Learning section.
3. Log in to your Canvas Account.
4. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
5. Click Grades on the course navigation menu.
6. Hover your cursor over the Name of the item you want to grade.
7. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears
8. View the Student’s Work. 
9. Click the View Rubric Button to view the rubric while in SpeedGrader.
10. Click the appropriate Rating Box for each criterion.
    • Note: Click on the Comment Icon within the points box 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.
11. Click Save.
12. Type General Feedback in the Assignment Comments box, as desired.
13. Click Submit.

Annotate Student Work

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Canvas in the Teaching & Learning section.
3. Log in to your Canvas Account.
4. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
5. Click Grades on the course navigation menu.
6. Hover your cursor over the Name of the item you want to grade.
7. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) that appears
8. View the Student’s Work.
   • Note: Only certain types of assignment submissions, including DOC, PDF, PPT, and text files, can be annotated.
9. 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.
10. To add a Point annotation:
    1. Click the Point Annotation Icon.
    2. Select the Color you wish to use.
    3. Click Where you would like to add an annotation to the document.
11. Type a Comment in the “Leave a Comment” box.