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CGHS Instructor Resources (Canvas)

Assignments Explained

We generally think of Assignments as papers that students write. However, this type of assessment in Canvas is used for any type of file that a student would upload, including spreadsheets, presentation files, images. etc.  Assignments can be submitted by individuals or from a group of students, and multiple attempts are allowed. 

Journals Explained

Journals allow students to store information and documents in an organized system. Some uses for a journal within a course include:

  • a reflection on readings or course content,
  • reporting on progress of a project or other assignment,
  • documenting clinical experiences,
  • a research organizer, and
  • a place to compile an annotated bibliography

Journals use the Assignments tool in Canvas, but only allow students to type in their submission.

Peer Reviews Explained

Some courses use peer reviews as an assessment technique. Peer reviews are an opportunity for students to review each other’s work using specific criteria. Students submit their work for peer review by Sunday, 11:59 pm (AZ time). Peer reviews are automatically distributed Monday, 11:59 pm (AZ time). This allows for students to submit a bit late if there are technical difficulties. After peer reviews are distributed, students cannot submit to the peer review, which then prohibits them from participating in the entire peer review process.

Grading peer reviews

Peer reviews have multiple columns in the Grades. The column with the / in the title (e.g., M2/M3 Literature Review Peer Review) is where students submit work and where the peer reviews are completed. The instructor is not required to provide feedback here. This Grades column is on the right side of the Grades page, and is not included in the final grade calculation.

There will also be two columns for instructor grading (e.g., M2 Literature Review Submission for Peer Review, M3 Grading of Literature Submission Peer Review).  The first is a grade of the initial student submission, the second is an evaluation of how well the student completed the peer reviews. These two columns must be completed as they do count toward the final grade.

Grading peer reviews generally requires that you open two windows and display them side-by-side.

  • To grade the students’ submissions (the Mx assignment)
    • Open the submission in one window:
      Home > Mx/My Assignment > click on the title > Speed Grader - DO NOT USE THE RUBRIC HERE!
    • Open the rubric to grade the student’s submission in a separate window:
      Home > Grades > Mx Assignment > click on the title > Speed Grader
      The left panel will say “This student does not have a submission for this assignment”; expand the right panel and click the View Rubric button to see the whole rubric.
    • Grade the submission using the rubric; be sure to click the Save button!
  • To grade the students’ peer review process (the My assignment)
    • View the assigned peer reviews:
      Home > Mx/My Assignment > click on the title > Peer Reviews
      On this page, you will see each student along with the peers they were assigned to review. For example, under John Doe’s name you will see he was assigned to peer review Jane Smith and Jim Thomas. If the peer review was completed, a check mark will precede those names; if the peer review was not completed, an exclamation point in a circle will be displayed.
      To see John Doe’s peer review of Jane Smith, click on Jane’s name. Here you will see Jane’s submission, along with overall feedback comments from John. To see how John completed the rubric, click on Show Rubric near the top right of the page.
    • Open the rubric to grade John Doe’s peer review process in a separate window:
      Home > Grades > My Assignment > click on the title > Speed Grader

View the recording of peer-review training for faculty [This 40-minute informal session covered how to view and grade peer reviews.]

 

Helpful student information

Here's a sample announcement you could share with your students to help explain the peer review process to them. You will need to change the highlighted areas for your specific modules/assignment.

Peer review can be a valuable assessment tool. Not only does it help peers improve their writing or assignments, it also helps the reviewer solidify their ideas about an assignment or about the topic.
Peer reviews are a little different from “regular” assignments, but with a little preparation you can avoid any issues and make sure the process runs smoothly.

  • Module [X] – Submit your paper for [ASSIGNMENT NAME] by the due date. This is the paper your peers will read and review in Module [Y]. Only submit your paper once – DO NOT re-submit or upload any additional files. If you do, your original work will be overwritten and any reviews your peers have already submitted on your work will be lost. This work cannot be retrieved.

    Late submissions for [ASSIGNMENT NAME] cannot be accepted. Peer reviews will be automatically distributed by Canvas only to the students who submit work, so anyone submitting late will be excluded from the peer review process and will lose points for completion of peer reviews. Submit your work early, rather than waiting until the last minute, to ensure there are no technical difficulties.
     
  • Module [Y] – Peer Review of [ASSIGNMENT NAME] – Peer reviews will be automatically assigned to you at 11:59 pm Monday. You will be able to view them and start peer reviewing Tuesday.

    To see the documents you are to peer review, browse to the assignment and click on the “Anonymous User” links on the right side of the page. Complete the peer review rubric for each peer review assigned in Canvas and add constructive feedback in each rubric comment section. You can open the rubric by clicking the words “Show Rubric” in the upper-right corner of the window in Canvas.
    You do not need to download your peers’ papers or re-upload them. If you download a submission to provide more substantive feedback, attach it to the Add a Comment section of the rubric. DO NOT re-submit the paper.

For additional guidance on completing peer reviews, see the following resources: