Assesment in Canvas LMS at BYU

Assessments and Canvas 

When using native Canvas tools to deliver assessments, it is helpful to keep in mind that Canvas intentionally sets limited expectations for its platform: Canvas instructors often note how Canvas’ assessment tools are named: “Quizzes” and “New Quizzes.”  The terms “test” and “exam” are not found in the Canvas interface, and this is by design: Canvas is not intended to deliver precision, high-stakes, high-accuracy assessments- particularly in remote learning situations. Rather, the Canvas assessment tools are designed to function best in low-stakes, formative assessment situations – where teachers and students are provided with simple snapshot evaluations of student understanding and achievement. 

Nonetheless, many teachers at BYU and other institutions do use Quizzes and New Quizzes to administer formal class testing, including mid-term and final exams, while ensuring reasonably accurate results and academic integrity. Familiarity with the mechanics of the Canvas quiz tools and provisions for adequate proctoring (not provided by Canvas) will provide teachers and students with reliable, consistent and fair testing experiences. 

Exam Options in Canvas 

Teachers who use Canvas LMS have a few options for administering tests for their classes: 

• In-class, in-Canvas assessment (proctored by teachers and TAs) 

• Remote, in-Canvas assessment, with remote proctoring (Proctorio for on-campus classes, Examity for BYU Online classes) 

• BYU Testing Center assessment, with responses collected outside of Canvas and imported into Canvas 

• External assessment tools, integrated with Canvas LMS 

No particular option is recommended. The option a teacher uses should be based on specific needs regarding the assessment at hand, and limitations presented by the instructional environment. The following topics address one or more considerations related to the above options. 

Quizzes and New Quizzes 

Canvas has two assessment tools built into its core framework: Quizzes (sometimes referred to as ‘Classic Quizzes’ or ‘Old Quizzes’), and New Quizzes. Both tools are available to all BYU teachers, though New Quizzes must be enabled in course settings. 

Quizzes has been in place since the early days of Canvas LMS, and provides basic assessment functions including standard quizzes, practice quizzes, and graded or ungraded surveys.  

BYU Testing Center Exams 

The BYU Testing Center, in the Heber J. Grant Building (HGB), provides a location where students can take proctored (supervised) tests on a flexible schedule. Test delivery at the testing center is with the following methods: 

• Paper:  Students complete written test on paper; test is monitored by testing center proctors; tests are delivered to teacher for grading 

• Paper, pencil and bubble sheet: Students take the exam, which is machine-graded at the testing center. Teachers collect scores remotely / digitally 

Teachers who wish to use Testing Center services for Canvas-managed classes should refer to the Testing Center Website at testing.byu.edu Links to an external site. for a full description of services and instructions for arranging for tests at BYU. 

Transferring Testing Center Test Scores to Canvas 

The recommended method of transferring test scores from Testing Center reports into Canvas involves the following steps: 

1. Canvas assignment setup: In your Canvas course, create a new assignment to hold the scores from your testing center test. For submission type, specify "No submission" or "On paper." Either will allow you to enter scores, but "On paper" will communicate to your students that some type of submission is expected, while "No submission" will not. In the assignment instructions, make it clear that the assignment is a Testing Center exam, and provide any related information your students will need.
2. Hide assignment scores: In the assignment header, click on the three-dot icon and select the option to hide your scores. This will keep the assignment's imported scores hidden from students until you have reviewed them. (This option may already be selected.)
3. Canvas Gradebook export: After creating your test assignment in Canvas, export your Gradebook (Grades -> Export -> Export Entire Gradebook) and save on your device where you can open it. Open it in Excel or other spreadsheet application.
4. Testing Center score collection:
   • Log into the Testing Center website (testing.byu.edu)
   • Download a CSV “test export” file for the desired exam. (There is also a “response export” file you can download, but this does not work as well for bringing scores into Canvas.)
   • Open the CSV file you have downloaded in the same spreadsheet application, where your Canvas Gradebook export is open.
5. Verify the order of your students: Check both open spreadsheets, and sort student names so they are in the same sequence on both spreadsheets. (You may need to sort by first name, last name, or ID).
6. Copy and paste test scores: Without changing the order of the data coming from your export file, copy the raw test score data from the test score column (it will have a name and points possible included in the column header), and paste the data into the appropriate assignment column of your Canvas import template. Be sure to leave the header for the assignment intact.
7. Export your updated Gradebook spreadsheet as a .csv file, making sure to use the UTF-8 character specification.
8. Import your updated csv file into Canvas: In Canvas, navigate to your course Gradebook and select “Import.” Select the csv file you just exported from your spreadsheet application
9. When prompted, select the option to update score data on an existing assignment. You will be prompted by Canvas on whether you want to create a new assignment, or upload your scores to populate or update score data on an existing assignment. Choose ‘new’ from the top of the drop-down list, or select the title of an assignment you have already created in your course.
10. Follow Canvas’ prompts and instructions, and allow Canvas to process your file.
11. Review the results and post scores to students: You will be directed immediately to your course Gradebook. Take a moment to review the results of the import and verify that the scores have arrived as intended. If you have hidden scores for the assignment, post them when you are ready.

Tips and recommendations 

• For the most control, we recommend you create a blank assignment in Canvas before you conduct an import. This allows you to specify the name of the assignment, configure points possible, and select other configuration options in advance. 

• When creating an assignment in advance, hide your scores before import. This will allow you to review the results of the import and make any needed corrections before releasing scores for student review, saving you from potentially awkward or confusing situations. 

• The template file has a column for identifying students by name. We do not recommend using this to identify students in an import, as student names as provided by the testing center may not match student names in Canvas exactly. You can leave any unused ID columns blank – just be sure you include one. 
• The “section” column in the template file is required for upload, but does not need to contain data: Canvas will be able to attribute each score to the appropriate student, regardless of which section they are in.