Linking assignments and grades with Canvas (instructions for teachers)

 Permission

Teachers can complete the following steps after an administrator has completed the initial setup. 

 Note

This article applies to Dragonfly, StudySync, Traverse, and Twig Science.

After the Canvas administrator for your district sets up the LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) integration, you can link assignments* and enable grade passback between Canvas and the Imagine Learning program(s). This eliminates the need for you to enter students' grades manually in Canvas—instead, you can grade assignments in the Imagine Learning program(s) and then send the grades electronically to Canvas. Students will also be able to view their grades from inside Canvas**. 

*The assignment linking feature is not yet available for Twig Science. Teachers using Twig Science must first navigate to the assignment before they can grade it.

**Dragonfly assignments that are only reviewed for completion but do not have a percentage grade will not be captured in the Canvas gradebook.

Open a section below to view the applicable instructions.

Adding the LTI module to your course in Canvas

 Note

Complete these steps only if your Canvas administrator has not already done so for you. This part of the initial setup can be done by Canvas administrators as well as individual teachers.

To add the LTI module to your Canvas course:

  1. Sign in to Canvas.
  2. Go to Modules from the left navigation bar, then click the + Module button to make the app visible within the course.
    module_add module _canvas.jpg
  3. Name your module and then click Add Module. 
    add module 2_canvas.jpg
    You'll receive a confirmation at the top of the page.
  4. Once you've created your module, click the + button on the far right side.
    click + button by module.jpg
  5. In the window that opens, select External Tool from the Add drop-down menu. 
    Then, select your app from the list. In the bottom of the window, add /ags to the end of the URL (for assignment and grading services) and click Add Item. 
    add ags on module.png
Turning on assignment linking/grade passback 

To turn on assignment linking and grade passback in your classes:

  1. Sign in to Canvas.
  2. Click into a published course (or create and publish a new course).
    canvas_published course.jpg
  3. The module and app will display for that course. Click on the name of the module.
    canvas_click on tools.jpg
  4. If prompted, pair your course with a class/group by selecting the class/group to pair with the course and then clicking Continue. A course can only be linked to 1 class/group.
    pair class_course canvas.jpg

     

  5.  All assignments from all classes/groups in your purview will appear in a list, or you can add a new assignment if you prefer. 

    If an assignment is not already synced, click the Sync button next to it. (Alternately, you can click Bulk Sync Assignments to select all or multiple assignments.) 

     Note

    If you create a new assignment, be sure the Target is a group that is connected to the LTI already. The new assignment will then appear in your list of assignments, although you may have to click refresh in order to view it. 

    canvas_click Sync on an assignment.jpg

    The assignment is now ready for students to complete. 

Sending grades to Canvas

To grade assignments and send/view grades in your classes:

  1. After students have submitted the assignment, return to the course in Canvas.
  2. In the left navigation sidebar, select Assignments, then click on the name of the assignment you want to grade. 
    canvas_grade assignment 1.jpg
  3. If you are using Dragonfly, StudySync, or Traverse, the assignment page opens directly in Canvas. If you are using Twig Science, the Product Portal loads inside Canvas; from there, select the Twig Science Elementary or Twig Science Middle School tile and then navigate to the assignment.
  4. Grade the assignment. 
  5. Send the grades to Canvas (or re-send them if you have updated them). 
    Click on the applicable tab to see instructions for each program:

    Dragonfly StudySync Traverse Twig Science
    Click Send Scores to LMS.
    dragonfly send scores to LMS.png
  6. Go to Courses > Grades and you'll see a row for each student with their grades.
    courses_grades Traverse.png