A Quick Start Guide to Setting Up Canvas Assignments for Rutgers Faculty

Creating assignments in Canvas is a key part of teaching at Rutgers–Newark. Assignments help you engage students, provide timely feedback, and track their progress throughout the semester. Whether you want to collect essays, run peer reviews, or set up participation tasks, Canvas assignments connect directly to the Gradebook and support many teaching styles.

This guide walks you through the essential steps to create and manage assignments in Canvas quickly and effectively. It is designed to help Rutgers faculty get started with confidence and make the most of Canvas’s features.

How to Create a New Assignment in Canvas

Starting an assignment in Canvas is straightforward. Follow these steps to set up your first task:

1. Open Your Course

   Log in to Canvas and select the course where you want to add the assignment.

   
   

2. Go to Assignments

   Click on the "Assignments" link in the course navigation menu.

   
   

3. Add Assignment

   Click the "+ Assignment" button to create a new assignment.

   
   

4. Enter Assignment Details

   • Name: Give your assignment a clear, descriptive title.

   • Description: Use this space to explain the task, provide instructions, or add links and resources.

   • Points: Set the total points possible. This will affect the Gradebook.

   • Submission Type: Choose how students will submit work. Options include file uploads, text entry, online quizzes, or no submission for participation tasks.

   
   

5. Set Due Dates and Availability

   Specify when the assignment is due and when it becomes available to students. You can also set an availability end date to close submissions.

   
   

6. Assign to Specific Students or Groups (Optional)

   If you want to assign work to certain students or groups, use the "Assign to" field.

   
   

7. Save or Save & Publish

   Save your assignment as a draft or publish it immediately so students can see it.

   
   

How to Customize Assignment Settings for Different Needs

Canvas assignments can be tailored to fit many teaching goals. Here are some common settings to consider:

• Grading Type

Choose between points, pass/fail, or no grading. For example, participation activities might use pass/fail.

• Submission Types

- File Upload: Students upload documents, images, or other files.

- Text Entry: Students type directly into Canvas.

- Online Quiz: Use for timed or auto-graded assessments.

- No Submission: For assignments like attendance or in-class activities.

• Group Assignments

Enable group submissions if students work in teams. Canvas will grade the group as a whole.

• Peer Review

Turn on peer review to have students evaluate each other’s work. This encourages engagement and critical thinking.

• Plagiarism Checking

Rutgers supports integration with plagiarism detection tools. Enable this feature if you want to check originality.

How to Manage and Grade Assignments

Once assignments are set up, managing submissions and grading is the next step:

• View Submissions

Go to the assignment page and click "View Submissions" to see all student work.

• Grade and Provide Feedback

Use the SpeedGrader tool to enter grades, leave comments, and annotate files directly.

• Return Work to Students

After grading, publish grades so students can see their results and feedback.

• Handle Late or Missing Work

Canvas flags late submissions. You can adjust grades or allow resubmissions as needed.

• Use Rubrics

Attach rubrics to assignments for clear grading criteria. Rubrics help maintain consistency and transparency.

Tips for Effective Assignment Design in Canvas

To make assignments more effective and easier to manage, consider these tips:

• Be Clear and Specific

Write detailed instructions and include examples if possible. Clear expectations reduce confusion.

• Use Modules to Organize

Group assignments by week or topic using Modules. This helps students find work easily.

• Set Realistic Deadlines

Give students enough time to complete assignments, especially for major projects.

• Incorporate Low-Stakes Assignments

Use small, frequent tasks to encourage participation and keep students engaged.

• Leverage Peer Review

Peer feedback can deepen learning and reduce grading load.

• Communicate Changes Promptly

If you update an assignment, notify students through announcements or messages.

How Canvas Assignments Connect to the Gradebook

One of the strengths of Canvas assignments is their integration with the Gradebook:

• Automatic Grade Sync

When you enter grades in SpeedGrader, they update the Gradebook instantly.

• Grade Calculations

Canvas calculates totals and weighted grades based on your settings.

• Grade Visibility

You control when students see their grades and feedback.

• Export Options

You can export grades for offline use or reporting.

How to Support Students with Canvas Assignments

Supporting students through assignments improves learning outcomes:

• Provide Clear Rubrics

Rubrics help students understand how they will be graded.

• Offer Multiple Submission Formats

Allow students to submit work in different ways if possible.

• Use Comments and Annotations

Give detailed feedback to guide improvement.

• Encourage Questions

Use Canvas messaging or discussion boards for assignment-related questions.

• Monitor Progress

Check submission status regularly and reach out to students who fall behind.