Deciding on the TYPE of Activity

DISCUSSIONS are similar to discussion forums or message boards in other systems. Conversations can be threaded or unthreaded. Instructors have the ability to pin (feature) or close discussion topics from the Discussions index page. Discussions can be graded or ungraded.

View the Discussions Video Tutorial, and consult the Canvas Guides for step-by-step instructions on how to do a variety of things with Discussions.

QUIZZES is used as the "catch-all" term to mean assessments, evaluations, surveys, quizzes, tests, exams, etc. Canvas labels all assessments as quizzes.

On the Quizzes index page, you will see:

All unpublished quizzes
All graded or ungraded (practice) quizzes
All graded or ungraded surveys

View the Quizzes Video Tutorial, and consult the Canvas Guides for step-by-step instructions on how to do a variety of things with Quizzes.

ASSIGNMENTS are any free-form assignments that do not function as a discussion or quiz. Also, any GRADED discussion or quiz is also considered an assignment. When you create an assignment in Canvas you choose whether it will just be a place holder for work students do in class, turn in on paper, or whether students will electronically turn in work to the Canvas assignment.

On the Assignments index page, you will see:

All graded and ungraded free-style assignments
Any graded discussions
Any graded quizzes

View the Assignments Video Tutorial, and consult the Canvas Guides for step-by-step instructions on how to do a variety of things with Assignments.

To Grade or Not To Grade...

Any graded assignment, discussion, or quiz will automatically have a gradebook column created, whereas ungraded items will not have a dedicated gradebook column.

When you create a GRADED activity, you will have the following assignment details to determine and options to choose from:

Point value
Due date and availability window*
How the grade will display: points, letter grade, complete/incomplete, etc.
Submission Type: No submission, Online, On Paper, etc.
Group Assignment options
Peer Review options

*NOTE: You can set deadlines by section if you have combined multiple sections in your course.

Pro Tip: Extra Credit points can be added to course assignments in several different ways. Consult the Canvas Guides to learn more!