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Creating Graded Canvas Discussions

This article provides the steps to create a graded discussion in Canvas. By making a discussion graded, it gives you the ability to utilize the Canvas SpeedGrader to quickly track the number of posts or contributions a student has made to a specific discussion forum in your Canvas course site.

Step 1: Creating the Discussion in Canvas

  • In your course, click the "Discussions" link in the course navigation on the left side of the page.
  • Click the "+ Add Discussion" button in the top right corner.
  • Screenshot of the + add discussion button on a canvas course with a red outline around the button
  • Enter a name for the discussion you are creating.
  • Screenshot of discussion editing page with red box around the area where you name a discussion in the HTML editor in Canvas

Step 2: Enabling the Graded Option for a Discussion

  • Scroll down and enable the "Graded' checkbox in the options section.
  • Screenshot of options for discussions in Canvas with red box outlining the graded checkbox option
  • Enter a point value for how much the discussion is worth.
  • Screenshot of points possible box with red outline around the box in canvas
  • Save the discussion at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Accessing the Canvas SpeedGrader for the Discussion

  • Once your students have contributed to a graded discussion, their posts and replies will be accumulated in the SpeedGrader.
  • Click on the discussion you would like to grade and launch the SpeedGrader
  • Screenshot of launching the Speedgrader for a discussion in Canvas. Red text is provided that says: first, click the 3 dots icon with a red arrow and red box around the elipses and then a second red text entry that says: Then select the Speedgrader button with a red arrow and red box around the Open in Speedgrader button.
  • That will launch the Speedgrader where you can navigate between each student and provide a grade.

Keywords:
canvas, graded, discussion, speedgrader, 
Doc ID:
158084
Owned by:
Benjamin G. in Advancing Learning
Created:
2026-01-23
Updated:
2026-01-23
Sites:
UW-Milwaukee Center for Advancing Student Learning