Flexible Assessment app for Canvas
The LFS Learning Centre created the Flexible Assessment app as part of a TLEF project to streamline the process of allowing students to choose how their grades will be weighted within ranges defined by the instructor. This app was based on an approach by LFS instructor, Candice Rideout, that you can read more about here.
What does the app do?
The Flexible Assessment app does the following:
- Allows the instructor to define acceptable weight ranges and recommended weights for their course assessments.
- Allows students to choose weights for assessments within the ranges defined by the instructor.
- Allows the instructor to view, override and export weights chosen by students.
- Allows the instructor to recalculate final grades according to students’ chosen weights.
- Allows the instructor to export the recalculated final grades to a spreadsheet or the Canvas gradebook.
This app is integrated with Canvas, meaning that all of the above is done from a link in Canvas. There is no need to log into external applications or copy/paste from other software.
How do I use the app?
1. The instructor adds the Flexible Assessment link to the navigation bar in their course via the Settings > Navigation tab. This link is available for all LFS courses and can be enabled for courses in other Faculties upon request.
2. The instructor enters all their graded Assessments with a Default % (for students who do not choose) and Minimum % and Maximum % to define how flexible each assessment will be.
All assessments do not have to be flexible as shown by the Final Exam in the image above.
3. The instructor sets Availability dates for students to make changes.
What do my students have to do?
The students can go to the Flexible Assessment link to enter and Submit their chosen weights.
This step is optional as some students do not want to choose their own weights. Final grades for these students will be calculated using the Default % weights.
How do I express this information on my syllabus?
Instructors who use this approach typically use a table similar to the one below:
Assessment Proposed OR Choose from the ranges below. Quizzes 10% 0-20% Midterm 30% 10-30% Presentation 30% 10-30% Final Exam 40% 40%
- To choose your own weights, click on the Flexible Assessment link in Canvas. This choice is optional.
- If you do not select your own weights by the deadline, you will automatically use the Proposed weights above.
What if a student needs to make changes after the deadline?
The instructor can view students’ chosen weights on the Student Choices tab and click a student’s name to override their choices.
How does it recalculate my students’ grades?
The Flexible Assessment app uses the values from the Assignment Groups on the Canvas Assignments page.
1. Go to the Assignments page in Canvas to set up assignment groups for each Assessment you entered in the Flexible Assessment app and make sure the assignments are in the correct groups.
2. Go to the Final Grades tab in the Flexible Assessment app and match your Assessments to your Canvas Assignment Groups.
3. Verify the final grades and Send them to Canvas. Recalculated grades will appear in the Final Grade Override column in the Canvas Grades page.
What if I have more questions about the app?
Contact the LFS Learning Centre here or view our Github page here.